15 Make-Ahead Easter Casseroles for a Stress-Free Sunday
The day will go smoothly if you prep in advance.
For the Drummond family, Easter is like a "mini Christmas," Ree Drummond says. "After the baskets, we head to church, and after church, we have an egg hunt, complete with cash prizes and the occasional backyard brawl." And then, of course, there's the food! Easter brunch is a must after they've worked up such an appetite, but it can be a challenge to plan with such a flurry of activities. And that's where make-ahead Easter casseroles come in!
When you have a lot of mouths to feed, casseroles are the way to go. They're an easy way to serve a meal all in one dish. All you have to do is heat (or reheat) it in the oven and pop it on the table for a feast in a flash. Imagine biscuits and gravy without all the muss and fuss. Now that's a make-ahead breakfast casserole that every bunny will love! Or you can make a side dish like asparagus casserole in advance and save time and oven space for that big ol' glazed ham.
Not only do make-ahead Easter recipes take the stress out of prepping and serving, but they also let you clean up so much in advance. That gives you more time to enjoy the celebration without all those dirty prep bowls piled up in the sink. So go on, hop to it and make some or all of your Easter menu ahead of time this year. You'll thank yourself for the extra time to celebrate (and maybe enjoy an extra piece or two of Easter candy while you're at it).
Easter Breakfast Casserole
What could make layers of ham, cheese, bread, and a creamy custard mixture even better? You can make this up to one month in advance and stash it in the freezer! Then all you have to do is thaw overnight and reheat.
Get the Easter Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Asparagus Casserole
Seasonal asparagus, a creamy homemade cheese sauce, and a buttery panko topping make for a showstopper of a side dish. You can assemble it a day ahead and just wait to sprinkle on the crunchy topper just before baking.
Get the Asparagus Casserole recipe.
Ham Casserole
Here's a way to serve your ham and sides all in one dish! It has rice, green peas, and lots of cheese. Make up to a day in advance and just hold off on the buttery cracker topping until you're ready to bake.
Get the Ham Casserole recipe.
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Get the classic flavors of a Caprese salad for breakfast! You can assemble most of it the night before and top with fresh cherry tomatoes and mozzarella before popping it in the oven.
Get Ree's Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
The Drummonds love classic biscuits and gravy for Easter. But you can skip the assembly line and pack it all in a casserole dish for easy scooping. Plus, most of this recipe can be made the night before.
Get the Biscuits and Gravy Casserole recipe.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
This longtime Drummond family favorite is a great way to get picky eaters to get their veggies. Cover them in a creamy, cheesy sauce, and they'll ask for seconds! Bonus: You can assemble it up to two days in advance.
Get Ree’s Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe.
Baked French Toast
Making French toast is such a treat. The best way to feed a crowd is to bake it as a casserole so you're not stuck over a hot stove making individual pieces. Plus, it tastes better if you assemble it the night before!
Get Ree's Baked French Toast recipe.
Potatoes au Gratin
Ree says that potatoes au gratin is "the kind of dish that makes any meal feel a little more special." It pairs particularly well with ham, and is also the "hero of holiday cooking" because you can assemble it a day ahead.
Get Ree's Potatoes au Gratin recipe.
Crescent Roll Casserole
Talk about easy to assemble! Start with refrigerated crescent roll dough and layer on onions, peppers, ham, and cheese. Make most of it the night before, and Easter brunch will be a breeze.
Get the Crescent Roll Casserole recipe.
Ham Tetrazzini
While you may think of this classic as a way to use leftovers, why not consider it as a main dish? The creamy pasta, green peas, and salty ham make an excellent day-of dish that you can make the night beforehand.
Get the Ham Tetrazzini recipe.
Mashed Potato Casserole
You might think it's hard to make mashed potatoes even better, but Ree has done it! She tops them with bacon, cheese, fried onions, and even potato chips for an epic side dish that you can make two days ahead of time.
Get Ree's Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Transform tater tots into mini hash browns by layering them over eggs, bacon, and cheese. Assemble this dish up to 24 hours in advance and then bake until golden brown on Easter Sunday for a perfect breakfast.
Get the Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Ree uses this recipe for her leftover ham, but you can also make it the star of the holiday show! Serve it with a fresh salad or easy veggie, and you've got yourself a meal that you can start the day before.
Get Ree's Scalloped Potatoes and Ham recipe.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
With a hearty combo of sausage, eggs, vegetables, and potatoes, this breakfast casserole will please every bunny at the table. Plus, it can be made ahead and is easily customizable to the types of veggies and meat you like.
Get the Sausage Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Spinach Casserole
If you like classic creamed spinach, you'll love this comforting side dish. It has a garlicky, cheesy base, and the crispy fried onions and breadcrumb topping really make it pop. Make the filling up to a day in advance for easy assembly.
Get the Spinach Casserole recipe.
Broccoli Salad
Greek Lemon Potatoes
Strawberry Pavlova
Pull-Apart Garlic-Herb Biscuits
