33 Christmas Eve Casseroles Fit For A Crowd

The easiest ways to feed a full house this holiday season

Ham and Noodle Casserole
Photo: Jen Causey

With these Christmas-worthy casserole recipes, you can feed and satisfy any Christmas Eve crowd, whether it's at a laid-back gathering or an elaborate dinner party. With high yields and easy prep, these casseroles are ideal for December 24. And with recipes like lasagna, chicken-and-wild rice casserole, and enchiladas, even the pickiest eaters at your table will be happy. Since casseroles freeze well, you could even make them ahead and reheat just in time for Christmas Eve dinner.

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Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Stacy K. Allen; Props: Josh Hoggle; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

If you've got Tex-Mex fans in the house, satisfy them with this comforting, cheesy casserole made with rotisserie chicken, corn tortillas, pinto beans, pepper Jack cheese, and a few pantry staples.

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Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Southern Living Cottage Cheese Lasagna sliced and ready to serve

James Ransom; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Senior Lifestyle Editor Ivy Odom makes this family recipe every Christmas Eve. Like many family recipes passed down by word of mouth, a few of the ingredients have changed over time, but for the Odoms, it's just not Christmas without Cottage Cheese Lasagna.

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Cabbage Casserole

Southern Living Cabbage Casserole in the dish after baking ready to serve

Will Dickey

If you think cabbage is diet food, you've never tasted this rich and creamy dish. Cabbage Casserole may be humble, but it's never out of place on the dinner table, which is why it's one of our readers' favorite dishes.

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Million Dollar Potato Casserole

Southern Living Million Dollar Potato Casserole in the dish ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Whether you serve this as a main dish or a side, this ultra-rich take on a hash brown casserole will win everyone over. Even better, you can prep it and freeze it, covered, for up to three months.

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Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Browned butter and sage give this hearty, vegetable-packed baked pasta a warm, earthy flavor that's perfect for colder nights.

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Cheesy Chicken Casserole

Southern Living Cheesy Chicken Casserole after baking ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Think of this as a comforting mac and cheese bulked up with the addition of chopped chicken breasts, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup. Any tube-shaped noodle will work well in this recipe.

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Best Breakfast Casserole

Southern Living Best Breakfast Casserole in the pan ready to serve

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve? Why not start a new tradition this year with this hearty sausage-and-egg casserole.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding
Emily Laurae / Southern Living

Yes, corn pudding is technically a casserole, and yes, it's delicious. Chopped onion and fresh thyme add a savory twist in this recipe.

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Southern Living Chicken Spaghetti Casserole in the dish to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

This casserole is excellent for any occasion, but it's especially easy to throw together on a busy Christmas Eve.

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Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole
Alison Miksch

This dish combines some of our favorite ingredients — hot ground sausage, flaky croissants, and Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses — for cheesy goodness in every bite.

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Southern Living Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole on a plate to serve

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Buffy Hargett

This comforting baked pasta comes together quickly thanks to jarred Alfredo sauce and rotisserie chicken. It's a cozy Christmas Eve meal, or any dinner when your house is full of hungry guests.

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Chicken Tamale Pie

Chicken Tamale Pie
Antonis Achilleos

Chicken, spices, green chiles, Cheddar, and a corn muffin mix combine to make this spicy, comforting casserole that tastes like a tamale.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Published in the pages of Southern Living in November 1990, this casserole has stood the test of time. The recipe has endless replacement options, so you can use whichever ingredients are in already your fridge.

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole
Greg DuPree

As dish that's part of many Southerners' Christmas traditions, this oyster casserole is our test kitchen's best version ever.

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole

broccoli-cheese casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

We wanted a more flavorful base for this casserole than the traditional condensed soup, so we whipped up a delicious sauce made with whole milk and Cheddar cheese.

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Ham And Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole
Jen Causey

This reader recipe from 2001 is packed with carrots, broccoli, and asparagus, plus ham, noodles, and a creamy mushroom sauce. Bonus: the recipe makes two casseroles, so you can feed a huge crowd, or freeze one for later.

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Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Overnight Eggnog-French Toast Casserole
Caitlin Bensel

This recipe combines Challah, a traditional Jewish braided bread; eggnog that suites your desired sweetness; and Turbinado sugar, brown sugar's more coarse and flavorful cousin.

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Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole
Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

We don't mean to brag, but this might be the fluffiest mashed potato casserole of all time. Prep it a day ahead to mitigate stress holiday morning.

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Italian Casserole

Italian Casserole
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Mrs. Harland J. Stone from Ocala, Florida, sent us this recipe that was published in the November 1990 edition of Southern Living, and it was too delicious to leave in the archives.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole
Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole will always be a staple at Southern gatherings, including those during the holiday season.

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Baked Ziti with Sausage

Southern Living Baked Ziti with Sausage in the dish baked and ready to serve

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Don't worry about missing any valuable family time. This ziti is on the table in under an hour.

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Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas

Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas
Southern Living

We heard that the Bush family eats chicken enchiladas on Christmas Eve, and that's a family tradition we can support!

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French Onion Soup Casserole

French Onion Soup Casserole

JENNIFER CAUSEY; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX

This hearty, indulgent take on French onion soup is fitting for a cozy Christmas Eve dinner. The casserole is rich with layers of crunchy bread, onions, and melted cheese.

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Tomato-Basil Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls
Hector Sanchez

These meatless lasagna rolls make for such a pretty (and yummy) Christmas Eve dinner plate.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole
Hector Sanchez

Wow your Christmas Eve guests with this gorgeous entrée of country ham, tangy gravy, mushrooms, and nutty wild rice.

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New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips

New Tuna Casserole
Greg Dupree

Both crunchy and creamy, our New Tuna Casserole one-ups the classic with the help of crunchy potato chips.

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Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole
Iain Bagwell

This earthy, aromatic casserole is the definition of company-worthy. A tip from the test kitchen: Let this dish stand a few minutes after baking so the rice will absorb the liquid, yielding a creamy texture.

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Hector Sanchez

This easy casserole is basically an enchilada version of lasagna, with corn tortillas separating the layers instead of noodles.

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Eggplant Rollups

Eggplant Rollups
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This low-carb meal will satisfy your family's lasagna cravings, and it looks beautiful when plated.

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Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

You can put this classic lasagna together and freeze up to three months in advance. Planning for Christmas Eve dinner has never been easier.

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Meatloaf Casserole

Meatloaf Casserole
Micah A. Leal

If you thought meatloaf was just for busy weeknight dinners, think again. This classic dish has a flavorful ground beef base topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.

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Brussels Sprouts With Bacon And Shallots

Southern Living Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Bacon and shallots add a smokey, savory flavor to this dish, which is sure to woo even brussel sprout skeptics.

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Extra-Easy Lasagna
Southern Living

You'll have a seemingly endless to-do list the week of Christmas, so make Christmas Eve stress-free with this five-ingredient lasagna recipe.

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