When the kids head back to school, week-night dinners call everyone back to the table, and the whole family shifts to a different schedule. Now is when you need some vegetarian casseroles that the whole family will love.
Does that first week of school catch you off guard? One day you're still eating peaches over the sink, and the next you're scrambling to get dinner on the table between homework and backpacks and everyone's brand-new schedules.
These days, I don't need to worry about school schedules, but life always speeds up at the end of the summer. So, this is the season when I lean hardest on casseroles — the kind of meal you can build ahead, slide into the oven, and forget about until it's time to eat.
My Favorite Vegetarian Casseroles
These 12 vegetarian casseroles are the ones I turn to most on busy weeknights. Some are cozy and cheesy (hello, Mac and Cheese Impossible Pie), some lean into bold Mexican flavors, and a couple — like the Eggplant Parmesan Casserole with Pesto —take a little more time and feel special enough for a Sunday evening before you launch into your week.
Whether your family needs something hearty, something a little lighter, or just something that'll get everyone back to the table without a fight, there's a casserole here for you.
1. Cheesy White Bean and Tomato Bake
This cheesy white bean tomato bake is a perfect meatless meal the whole family will love. And it's so easy to make. Cannellini beans, garlic, onions, tomatoes, cheese and some Italian herbs is all you need for this back-to-school dinner.
2. Mexican Stuffed Pepper Casserole
This "dump-it" vegetarian Stuffed Pepper Casserole is made with a Mexican twist. It includes taco seasoning, black beans and corn, and the stuffed peppers are topped with cilantro (or parsley), sour cream and avocado.
There's only about 15 minutes of prep before covering this stovetop casserole for a 30 minute simmer. The rice cooks in the casserole, making this a one-pot meal!
3. Easy Broccoli Casserole with Cheese and Quinoa
This Broccoli Cheese Casserole is a cheesy, delicious side dish or vegetarian main entree. No need to make a roux sauce with this recipe, so it's super easy to make. But it still has the creamy cheesiness we loved as a kid.
4. Baked Spaghetti Casserole
This vegetarian baked spaghetti casserole is a favorite meal at our house, especially when the kids come to visit! A zesty sauce is combined with diced tomatoes, plant-based meat, and spaghetti noodles. There's a middle layer of cheese, and topped with more cheese.
5. Mac and Cheese Impossible Pie
Impossible Pies are so easy to make. In this version, you make a delicious macaroni and cheese in a casserole with Bisquick without having to cook the pasta first.
6. Vegetarian Meatball Casserole with Ziti Pasta
There's no need to pre-cook the pasta to make this easy weeknight meatball casserole dinner of pasta and vegetarian meatballs, just like with my vegetarian hamburger helper dinner! You just need 5 ingredients plus herbs and spices, and boom!, you have a kid-friendly, carnivore-friendly comfort meal.
7. Eggplant Parmesan Casserole with Pesto
This summer Pesto Eggplant Parmesan (aka Eggplant Parmigiana) takes eggplant slices coated in pesto, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese, and layers them lasagna-style with a fabulous roasted tomato - red pepper sauce you'll want to use for everything.
8. Skillet Corn Casserole with Poblano Peppers
This homemade Mexican corn casserole strikes the perfect balance between a creamy pudding texture and a soufflé-like consistency. It's laced with Monterey Jack cheese and has a little kick of roasted poblano heat.
9. Creamy Spinach and Spaghetti Squash Casserole
This easy, creamy, cheesy spaghetti squash casserole is full of comfort and is a perfect vegetarian dinner for a family dinner, or as a side dish for steak or chicken. There are three kinds of cheese, peppers, onion and a big helping of spinach tucked into this delicious casserole.squick without having to cook the pasta first.
10. Easy Vegetarian Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
This vegetarian version of a cowboy cornbread casserole is super easy since I use canned beans, canned tomatoes, frozen corn, and a store-bought cornbread mix.
11. Mexican Street Corn Casserole
This Mexican street corn casserole is a little dressed up from the norm with added diced peppers and red onion. Serve it in a crust like a tart, or in a casserole dish.
12. Cheesy Mexican Quinoa and Black Bean Casserole
This cheesy Mexican black bean and quinoa casserole is made healthy with quinoa and pumpkin seeds and eliminating the sour cream many similar recipes include. It's packed with protein from the quinoa, black beans and pepitas, making it a perfect main or side dish for the whole family.
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