8 Savory Casserole Dishes for Children to Relish

Here are some of the nutritious recipes for your kids which can be made at home and yet get the taste and feel of a restaurant. These easy casseroles for kids are loaded with healthy ingredients and the best way to make the kids love the dish is by topping it up with a generous amount of cheese and baking it.

Delicious Kid-friendly Casserole Recipes

Finding something healthy and tasty for kids is indeed not so easy, so try these delicious casserole recipes that are loaded with healthy ingredients.

1. Chicken Bacon Casserole With Ranch Dressing

Looking for comfort food for your children tonight? then check out this easy casserole recipe which has a melt in mouth cheese and chicken topped with ranch dressing.

Ingredients 

• Rotini/ Penne – 250 gms
• Chicken – 1 1/2 cup cooked and shredded
• Bacon – 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled
• Alfredo sauce – 2 cups
• Ranch dressing – 1 1/4 tbsp
• Mozzarella cheese – 1/2 cup shredded
• Gouda cheese – 3/4 cup shredded
• Basil leaves – 1 tbsp chopped
• Parsley – 1 tbsp diced

Preparation time 

20 min

Total cooking time

40 min

Servings 

6

Method 

• Cook the Rotini pasta or Penne pasta whichever you are using according to the instructions in the package and keep it aside.
• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
• Take a large casserole dish and add the cooked and cooled pasta at the bottom.
• Then add the chicken and bacon and give it a gentle mix.
• Now pour in the Alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese, Gouda cheese and ranch dressing and mix.
• Top it up with 1/2 cup Gouda cheese and bake it for 15-20 minutes.
• Once done, garnish with parsley and basil and serve.

2. Cheezy Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This baked goodness of chicken casserole is perfect for family dinner time.

Ingredients 

• Chicken broth – 2 cups
• Milk – 1 cup
• Poultry seasoning – 1 tsp
• Flour – 1/2 cup
• Water- 2 cups divided
• Quinoa – 1 cup
• Bacon – 1/4 cup cooked and crumbled
• Chicken breasts – 1/2 kg
• Seasoning – 2 tbsp
• Cheddar or mozzarella cheese – 1/4 cup shredded
• Broccoli – 3 cups

Preparation time 

15 min

Total Cooking time 

1 hour

Serving 

6

Method

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease a 9 * 12 baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a heavy bottom saucepan, bring the chicken broth and 1/2 cup milk to a boil on a low flame.
• In a deep bowl whisk the remaining milk along with seasoning and flour.
• Now pour the milk mixture into the boiling liquid in the saucepan and cook till a smooth creamy sauce texture is formed.
• In a large glass bowl pour the boiled creamy sauce, quinoa, 1 cup water, and bacon and mix. Now pour this mixture into the greased baking dish.
• Now thinly slice the chicken breasts and layer it on top of the quinoa mixture.
• Sprinkle with seasoning and bake for about 30 minutes.
• While the dish is cooking in the oven. Take the florets of broccoli and drop it in boiling water for 1 minute and then run it in cold water and keep it aside.
• Remove the casserole from the oven and check if the chicken and quinoa are cooked, otherwise bake it for another 15 minutes.
• Now add the broccoli and about 1/2 cup water or as needed by checking the consistency of the casserole.
• Top it up with cheese and bake till you see the cheese melt and serve.

3. Cilantro and Lime Baked Shrimps

Looking for an easy recipe that is loaded with goodness? then this Cilantro and baked shrimp casserole are just perfect for you.

Ingredients 

• Fresh shrimps – 1 kg
• Garlic – 3 cloves minced
• Lime – 1 zest and juice
• Cumin – 1/2 tsp
• Pepper – 1 tsp
• Salt – as per taste
• Butter – 2 tbsp melted
• Panko bread crumbs – 1/4 cup
• Cilantro – 2 tbsp chopped
• Lime slices – a few pieces for garnish
• Parsley – 1 tbsp for garnish

Preparation time 

10 min

Total cooking time 

30 min

Serving 

4

Method 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease a 9*13 inch baking dish with butter or oil and keep it ready.
• In a deep bowl add cleaned and de-veined prawns along with salt, pepper, cumin, juice, and zest of lime and garlic and toss well.
• Now transfer the seasoned shrimp to the greased baking dish.
• In another bowl, mix the melted butter with panko crumbs and cilantro and pour it on top of the shrimp mixture and bake for roughly 20 minutes.
• Once the shrimp is cooked well, that is the shrimp should be pink and no longer opaque.
• Garnish with lime wedges and parsley.

4. Alfredo Sauce Pasta and Sauteed Mushroom Casserole

This cheezy pasta with mushrooms makes the best meal for your little one this season. Perfect for a lunch date with friends, this pasta is gently coated with Alfredo sauce and tossed mushrooms for a hearty delight.

Ingredients 

• Penne pasta – 1/2 kg
• Cauliflower – 6 cups of florets
• Reduced sodium chicken broth – 3 cups divided
• Milk – 3/4 cup
• Olive oil – 1/4 cup
• Salt – as per requirement
• Garlic – 2 cloves minced
• Mushrooms – 1/2 kg sliced
• Butter – 2 tsp divided
• Gruyere cheese – 1 cup shredded
• Sage – for sprinkling
• Optional – caramelized onions, bacon, and sausage

Preparation time 

10 min

Total cooking time 

40 min

Serving 

9-10

Method 

• Boil water in a heavy bottom pan and cook the pasta until just done and drain it and rinse the pasta in cold water, drizzle 1 tsp of oil on top of the pasta and keep it aside.
• Bring another bowl of water to a boil and add in the cauliflower florets and cook for 5 minutes until tender-crisp.
• Take a pan and saute garlic with a tsp of butter and keep aside.
• Transfer the cooked cauliflower florets to a mixer along with 2 cups of broth, milk, oil, salt and saute garlic. Blend smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• In a hot pan, add 1 tsp of butter and saute the mushrooms until golden and toss in the cooked pasta along with cauliflower sauce,
• Add the remaining broth and adjust the consistency to a saucy texture.
• Grease a 9*13 inch baking dish and transfer the pasta mixture into the greased baking dish, top it up with shredded cheese and bake for 15 minutes.
• Once baked top it up with fresh sage ribbons and serve.

5. Pizza Quinoa Casserole

There is something immensely satisfying about a wholesome casserole dish for dinner. Pizza quinoa casserole is going to be one of the favorite dinners for your family to relish upon.

Ingredients 

For quinoa

• Quinoa – 1 1/2 cups
• Water – 2 1/4 cups
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Salt – as per taste

For casserole base

• Extra virgin olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Yellow Onions – 1 thinly sliced
• Fresh Oregano – 2 tbsp chopped
• Fresh Basil – 2 tbsp chopped
• Fresh Kale – 3 cups ribboned
• Fresh Baby spinach – 6 handful
• Artichoke – 3/4 cup artichoke hearts drained
• Sundried tomatoes – 1/4 cup
• Olives – 1/4 cup halved
• Salt – as per taste
• Black pepper – 1 tsp
• Mozzarella cheese – 2 oz shredded
• Chilli flakes – 1 tsp (optional)

For cheese mixture

• Ricotta cheese – 1/2 cup
• Whole milk – 1/4 cup
• Large grated mozzarella – 1/2 cup
• Black pepper – 1/4 tsp

Preparation time 

20 min

Total cooking time 

1 hr 15 min

Serving 

6

Method 

• In a deep pot, heat olive oil and add in the quinoa and saute for 3-4 minutes.
• Now add water and salt and reduce the flame to simmer and cover the quinoa and cook for 15-20 minutes. Once quinoa is cooked switch off the flame.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large pot heat olive oil and add in the onions, garlic, and salt and saute, then add basil, oregano and cook for 2 minutes, then add the kale and spinach and cook for 3 minutes.
• In another bowl, whisk the ricotta cheese and milk until smooth. Stir in salt and cheese and give it a good mix.
• Now remove the cooked greens mixture from heat and add artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, salt, and pepper.
• Measure about 4 cups of quinoa and fold it in the pan along with the vegetables.
• Now add in the ricotta cheese and milk mixture into the quinoa and fold well, check for seasoning at this stage and add more if needed.
• Now pour this prepared mixture into a 9/13 inch greased baking casserole and spread evenly.
• Bake the dish covered with foil for 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven and set to broil and top the dish with 2 oz mozzarella cheese and broil for 3-5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and garnish with fresh herbs and chilli flakes.

6. Cheezy Spinach Casserole

This cheezy spinach is a toddler casserole recipe and is soon going to be a favorite dish for kids at your home and it makes your dinner planning so much easier.

Ingredients 

• Cottage cheese – 2 cups
• Eggs – 3 lightly beaten
• Flour – 3 tbsp
• Butter – 3 tsp
• Cheddar cheese – 1/4 cup cut into cubes
• Frozen spinach – 1 lb

Prep time 

10 min

Total cooking time 

1 hr 10 min

Serving 

3-4

Method 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease a small baking dish with cooking spray including all the sides.
• Take a deep bowl and mix all the ingredients.
• Pour the mixed ingredients into the greased casserole.
• Bake for about 1 hr or until you see the golden brown on top of the dish.

7. Simple Sausage and Butterbean Casserole

If you are struggling to find a quick and delicious recipe that appeals to your child’s palate then look no further, as this simple sausage casserole recipe ticks all the boxes.

Ingredients 

• Olive oil – 1 1/2 tbsp
• Sausages – 8 vegetarian or meat-based
• Onions – 1 diced
• Carrots – 2 diced
• Garlic – 2 cloves crushed
• Tomato – 400 gm chopped (fresh or tinned)
• Tomato puree – 1 tbsp
• Vegetable stock or chicken stock – 200 ml
• Paprika – 1/2 tsp
• Mixed herbs – 1/2 tsp dried
• Butter beans – 400 gm (tinned drained)

Prep time 

10 min

Total cooking time

40 min

Serving 

6-7

Method 

• Heat olive oil in a frying pan and saute the sausages until they turn golden brown, remove the sausages and keep them aside.
• In the same pan, add onions and saute till the onions turn translucent.
• Now add in the garlic and carrots and saute for 4 minutes.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, paprika, stock, salt, and mixed herbs and give it a good mix.
• Now drop the sausages into the curry and stir well and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.
• Add in the butter beans and cook for 5 more minutes until the butter beans are warm through.
• Serve this with bread or rice.

8. Lemon and Asparagus With Cheesy Pasta

This cheezy pasta with a lemony flavor will be a go-to recipe for kids. You can make it and set it in the fridge and just pop it into the oven just before serving time.

Ingredients 

• Spiral pasta (any pasta) – 3 cups
• Spinach – 1/2 cup chopped
• Asparagus – 1/2 bunch chopped
• Vegan cheese – 3/4 cup shredded (provolone or jack cheese)
• Mushrooms – 1/2 cup thinly sliced
• For cashew cream
• Cashews – 3tbsp chopped
• Non-dairy plain milk – 3 tbsp
• Lemon – 1/2
• Fold in
• Lemon slices – 4 pieces thinly sliced
• Black pepper – 1/3 tsp

Prep time 

10 min

Total cooking time

20 min

Serving 

2-3

Method 

• Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package.
• Soak the cashews in hot water aside.
• While they cooked and drained, pasta is steaming hot add in the vegan cheese and fold in so that the cheese melts.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In another pot add a cup of water and bring it to a boil. Add in the asparagus and cook for a couple of minutes, drain and put them on a bowl of pasta.
• In a frying pan saute the mushrooms with some olive oil and put them in the pasta bowl.
• In a blender, add in the cashew cream ingredients and blend smooth.
• Pour the blended cashew cream into the pasta and add some lemon zest for added lemony punch.
• Pour the pasta into a well-greased baking dish and top it up with lemon slices and cover it with a foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Once done sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve.

Parents are often on the lookout for healthy and delicious recipes to please their little ones and to make sure that they get enough nutrition at home. So to make your job easier here are hand-picked casserole recipes that are super nutritious and delightful for the kids.

Also Read:

Breakfast Recipes for Children
Potato Recipes for Kids
Sandwich Recipes for Children