Busy Nights? Try These Delicious Make-Ahead Pan Meals Your Family Will Love!
When life gets busy, having a few make-ahead dinner recipes can be a real lifesaver. That’s where the trusty 13×9-inch pan comes in handy—it’s perfect for preparing hearty meals that you can throw together ahead of time and bake when you’re ready. From casseroles to baked pasta dishes, these recipes are all about convenience without sacrificing flavor and making dinners stress-free.
Cool Ranch Turkey Taco Casserole
This simple casserole with ground turkey is a tasty recipe using Doritos and several south of the border ingredients. Dorito casserole is perfect for busy weeknights when you want all of the flavour without a long prep or cooking time.
Get the Recipe: Cool Ranch Turkey Taco Casserole
Pizza Casserole
This Pizza Casserole is an easy way to enjoy all taste of pizza without the hassle and carbs of the dough.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Casserole
Lasagna Al Forno
Lasagna al Forno (or oven-baked lasagna) is one of my favorite meals for entertaining! It can be made in advance and everyone loves a comforting slice of lasagna! It is layered with a delicious meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and pasta then topped with lots of grated mozzarella cheese.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Al Forno
Baked Tomato Orzo
It’s perfect as a weeknight meal when you’re tired and don’t want to be bothered to cook. Just throw all of the ingredients into a pan and bake, in the meantime, enjoy your day without worrying about dinner!
Get the Recipe: Baked Tomato Orzo
Taco Pasta
This Taco Pasta casserole recipe combines all the delicious Tex-Mex flavors we love in a tangy, satisfying dish that’s ideal for a busy weeknight or casual gathering. If your family loves tacos, they’ll adore this dish!
Get the Recipe: Taco Pasta
Mushroom Gruyere Chicken and Rice Casserole
This chicken and rice casserole is really easy to put together and you can easily double or triple the recipe to make extra portions you can freeze for future meals.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Gruyere Chicken and Rice Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole checks all of the boxes with creamy chicken, mixed veggies, and crispy tater tots on top! Make it ahead and freeze for later, or bake it now and enjoy this favorite casserole that even picky eaters will love!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Chili Relleno Casserole
Follow this easy recipe for Chili Relleno Casserole made with Bisquick, green chilies, and two kinds of cheese. It’s creamy, cheesy, and great for a meatless meal.
Get the Recipe: Chili Relleno Casserole
Creamy Pesto Tortellini Bake with Mozzarella
If you’re a foodie who loves comfort food, then you’ll love this creamy pesto tortellini bake with mozzarella. It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, it’s full of pesto, and it’s super hearty. Let us easily walk you through a few steps to make this delicious pasta bake that will be a new favorite for the cold months.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pesto Tortellini Bake with Mozzarella
Black Bean Veggie Enchiladas
These vegan enchiladas are stuffed full of delicious and nutritious vegetables, and are covered in a mild Creamy Jalapeño Ranchero Sauce that you’re going to love.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Veggie Enchiladas
Classic Chicken Pot Pie with Homemade Biscuit Topping
It features a colorful array of tender vegetables and roasted chicken enveloped in a creamy sauce and topped with flaky buttermilk biscuits. One recipe feeds the entire family…..and leaves enough for the best lunch leftovers the next day.
Get the Recipe: Classic Chicken Pot Pie with Homemade Biscuit Topping
Mexican Style Cheesy Ravioli Bake
This Mexican Style Cheesy Ravioli Bake is supremely easy and incredibly flavorful. It’s a favorite busy weeknight meal that’s delicious enough for guests.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Style Cheesy Ravioli Bake
Ground Chicken Enchiladas
A delicious recipe for easy ground chicken enchiladas with corn tortillas, black beans, and cheese. A great make ahead meal to serve company or for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Chicken Enchiladas
6 Cheese Mac and Cheese
This 6 cheese mac and cheese is what dreams are made of! A blend of 6 cheeses is layered with pasta coated in the creamiest sauce. A crisp, buttery breadcrumb topping adds the perfect hint of texture.
Get the Recipe: 6 Cheese Mac and Cheese
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is an old fashioned recipe made with only 6 ingredients. It’s creamy, savory, and creates its own delicious gravy! Enjoy this comforting casserole for busy weeknights, potluck dinners and Sunday suppers.
Get the Recipe: Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers takes a classic comfort dish in stuffed peppers and adds a spicy twist that really kicks up the heat. Instead of rice and beef, these are stuffed with a delicious buffalo chicken mixture that everybody will love. This is great as an easy weeknight dinner, or something to spice up a Friday night.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Rigatoni Al Forno
Rigatoni al forno is baked to perfection with a hearty meat sauce and a crisp, melted cheese topping. This authentic Italian recipe is versatile, making it perfect for weeknights and effortless entertaining!
Get the Recipe: Rigatoni Al Forno
Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
Baked ricotta beef stuffed pasta shells are full of ground beef and four different types of cheese. It is a meal the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
Mediterranean Baked Fish with Artichokes and Olives
Mediterranean Baked Fish with Artichokes and Olives is an easy, fast, and incredibly healthy dinner perfect for any night of the week. In this beautiful dish, you will discover tender baked white fish smothered in a light tomato sauce and topped with delicious artichoke hearts, capers, lemon, and feta cheese.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Baked Fish with Artichokes and Olives
Baked Rigatoni with Sausage
Baked rigatoni with sausage is a 5 ingredient, 30-minute recipe for a zesty, cheesy pasta casserole your family will love for dinner tonight!
Get the Recipe: Baked Rigatoni with Sausage
Freezer Lasagna
Make your own homemade freezer lasagna with this delicious recipe! This recipe makes perfect freezer meals and can easily be doubled or tripled.
Get the Recipe: Freezer Lasagna
Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole
This casserole is everything we love about artichoke dip BUT a bit less rich and with plenty of cheese, tons of fresh spinach, and chicken of course. Plus a buttery, crispy layer of panko.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Cheeseburger tater tot casserole is a tasty spin on burgers and fries! This kid-friendly dish is comfort food at its finest!
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
