Casserole Recipes for Two People (2024)

FAQs

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

"The standard size of a casserole dish is 9 by 13 inches. However, due to varying shapes, they are often measured by volume, with three quarts being average,” says Contrino. “It is important to note that if a recipe calls only for a casserole dish, it is most likely asking for a 9- by 13-inch rectangular size.

The general rule of thumb is to plan for 1 litre per person, and then round up. So for a family of four, you would want something that is a minimum of 4 litres. And then with rounding up, the ideal size would be somewhere in the 5-6 litre capacity.

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

So what's inside? Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese.

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

Starchy side dishes and casseroles: a 9 X 13 pan makes about 12 one cup servings. A 2 quart casserole will make 6 to 8 cups. A typical serving size for potatoes, stuffing, and yams is 1 cup.

The serving size of mixed entrée recipes (casseroles) must be stated in cups (1-1½ cups), not ounces.

The general rule of thumb is to plan for 1 liter per person, and then round up. One liter roughly translates into a typical serving size for most people. So for a family of four, you would want something that is a minimum of 4 liters.

A two-quart casserole dish will serve 12-15 people if you are baking a side dish. For main entrees, a two-quart casserole dish will serve 4-6 people.

How full can you fill a casserole dish? ›

Casserole dishes should be filled no more than three-quarters of the height of the dish to prevent overflow when cooking. And it is always a good idea to place the casserole dish on a sheet pan to catch spatters, or to place a sheet pan on the rack just below.

How Big is a 2 Quart Baking Dish?, measuring 8 inches wide by 12 inches long. It is also commonly found as 11 inches wide or 7 inches long, with a depth of 1.5 inches. Additionally, the rectangular variation is 11.1 inches x 7.1 inches x 1.7 inches deep.

Casserole history

Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

The browning adds a lot of good flavor. No. However, doing so gives better appearance to the meat as well as adding some flavor to a stew.

Many casseroles seem to improve in flavour if kept overnight (cool them quickly and keep them in a refrigerator, by the way, once they're cold). This means it's quite possible to make two casseroles while the oven is in full swing, and keep one for the next day.

The term “casserole” can refer to any dish prepared in a casserole dish—essentially a deep, wide baking dish—and baked in the oven. A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder.