Mix and Match Casseroles

Submitted by Chef #429816

"Here is the mother recipe for hundreds of casseroles! Just mix and match the ingredients. Use your creativity! :) From southernliving.com"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 35mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 2 cups meat (see description)
• 2 cups cream soup, sauce (or alternative, see description)
• 1 (3 ounce) can mushrooms (or alternative, see description)
• 2 cups vegetables (see description)
• 2 cups uncooked rice or 2 cups pasta
• 1 1 cup bread or 1 cup cracker crumb
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

directions

1. The meat can be: 2 cans tuna, shrimp or crab, or 2 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey, or 2 cups chopped ham, or 1 lb. ground beef, cooked crumbled and drained.
2. The sauce can be: 1 can of cream of "your favorite, I like onion" soup or 2 cans (14 1/2 oz) tomatoes or 2 cups of your own sauce (barbecue, sweet and sour, teriyaki, curry, marinara, gravy, cheese sauce, etc etc).
3. The extra can be: 1 small can mushrooms, 1 small can sliced olives, 1/4 cup chopped red or green bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped celery, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 can chopped green chilies, 1 package taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, etc etc.
4. The vegetable can be: 1 14-1/2 ounce can vegetable of your choice (peas, green beans, spinach, corn, asparagus) or 2 cups frozen or fresh.
5. The starch can be: uncooked small pasta shells, egg noodles, uncooked rice, hash browns, etc etc.
6. You can use one or two toppings: 1/2 cup cheese of any kind, or 1 cup bread/cracker crumbs mixed with melted butter and sprinkled on top, or stuffing mix. Could be crushed taco or potato chips. Or French fried onions.
7. Once you have chosen your combination, combine 1 8-ounce container sour cream, 1 cup milk, 1 cup water, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper with sauce (omit sour cream and milk if using tomatoes).
8. Stir in Vegetable, Pasta/Rice, Meat/Fish/Poultry, and, if desired, Extras. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Bake, covered, at 350? for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with Toppings; bake 10 more minutes.

Reviews

[Sandra E.]

Recipes like this were what helped me learn how to experiment with different ingredients to come up with my own recipes and variations of classic recipes. I searched for a "mix and match" recipe to hopefully help me save on groceries. So glad I found this.

 

[greenie-green]

Years ago I had this page from Southern Living torn out and posted on the inside of a cabinet door for easy reference. Too many moves and I lost it, but I'm so happy to find this again online! Thank you SO MUCH for posting it. I remember always adding about 1/4-1/2 cup more milk or broth every time because without the extra liquid it becomes very dense/sticky and even more dry on reheat. But that's my only addition - this recipe is so simple and flexible! Though these days I'll probably use plain greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. :)

 

[lub2cook]

Awesome recipe !!! I've tried it several times, varying ingredients each time and it's always a hit at my house. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[M. Joan]

Thanks so much for all the good suggestions. Made dinner from them last night. Used 2 cups of chopped ham. I did precook the pasta, using 2 cups when cooked (eliminating the water). Used 1 can of mushroom soup with 1 cup of sour cream and 1 cup of milk. Sauteed some chopped green pepper, onion, carrots, canned mushrooms & celery....which made up about 2 cups of veggies. Salt, pepper & garlic powder for the seasonings. Topping was French Fried Onion Rings, and went so good with this dish. Great Post!!

 

[Cooking Mom of 7]

I had a recipe similiar to this that I lost. With our busy family plus homeschooling, casseroles are a staple in this house. Thanks so much for sharing.