14 Light Summer Casseroles the Entire Family Will Love

For Potlucks, Cookouts, and More

By
Laurel Randolph
Photo of Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.
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Published on 06/17/20
Spinach casserole

The Spruce

Casseroles are total lifesavers. Just toss some ingredients together and bake for an easy main dish or a filling side dish. While you may think of hot, bubbly casseroles as cold weather food, they can also be great in the summertime. Whip one up for a potluck, barbecue, or family dinner and watch it disappear. This collection of summer casseroles highlights seasonal produce like tomatoes, peppers, corn, and squash, and is overall lighter than some heavy ones best reserved for cold weather. They also require a relatively short trip in the oven, so you won't get overheated baking these casseroles.

  • 01 of 14

    Zucchini Gratin With Cheddar Cheese

    zucchini gratin
    Diana Rattray

    Zucchini is at its peak in the summer and if you grow it at home, then you know how much healthy plants can produce, leaving you with tons of ripe squash. Toss the green veg with a cheesy sauce and bake for a satisfying casserole. Zucchini gratin might just win over your vegetable-hating kids, too.

  • 02 of 14

    Baked Corn Casserole

    baked corn casserole

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    While this recipe can be made with frozen corn, it's that much better using fresh corn. Similar in texture to a corn soufflé, this baked corn casserole only contains a touch of flour. It's a fun and delicious way to serve the summer vegetable and takes less than 30 minutes to bake.

  • 03 of 14

    Easy Baked Eggplant Casserole With Cheese

    Eggplant bake

     The Spruce

    Eggplant is at its best in warm weather months and it really shines in this tasty baked eggplant casserole. The vegetable is cubed and salted before using, which helps release some water and ensures it turns nice and tender when cooked.

  • 04 of 14

    Unstuffed Peppers Casserole

    Unstuffed Peppers
    Diana Rattray

    Stuffed peppers are a fun and tasty dish, but they can be a pain to prepare if you're feeding a crowd. For a deliciously easy main dish, deconstruct the classic dish and make unstuffed peppers casserole. It has all of the same ingredients and flavors—ground beef, peppers, rice, tomato, and cheese—without the fuss.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.
  • 05 of 14

    Yellow Squash Casserole

    squash casserole with cheese and breadcrumb topping

     Diana Rattray

    Yellow squash is easily transformed into a dish the whole family will love when you make yellow squash casserole. Cooked in a creamy sauce and topped with cheese and breadcrumbs, it pairs well with any meat main or other veggies.

  • 06 of 14

    Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

    Easy chicken and broccoli casserole recipe

    The Spruce / Zorica Lakonic

    If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner solution, look no further. Cooked chicken is tossed with broccoli and a few other ingredients before heading in the oven for less than half an hour. Serve chicken and broccoli casserole with salad and bread for a simple summer dinner.

  • 07 of 14

    Tomato Casserole With Onions and Cheese

    tomato and cheese casserole or gratin

     Diana Rattray

    Turn a few summer ripe tomatoes into a tasty casserole with onions and cheese. You'll only need a few simple ingredients to throw this side dish together. Serve with chicken, fish, or grilled meat like steak.

  • 08 of 14

    Scalloped Corn Casserole

    Scalloped corn casserole

    The Spruce 

    Summery fresh corn and bell pepper are combined with a creamy batter and topped with breadcrumbs for scalloped corn casserole. Frozen corn can also be used if that's what you have available. This casserole is cheese-free and can be made dairy-free with non-dairy milk.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.
  • 09 of 14

    Ham and Broccoli Casserole

    ham, broccoli, and cheese casserole

    Diana Rattray 

    Broccoli, ham, and cheese are a delicious combination. This ham and broccoli casserole makes a great main dish or one-dish dinner and reheats well, too. Plus, it only bakes for 25 minutes, making it fitting for a summertime weeknight.

  • 10 of 14

    Eggplant and Zucchini Casserole

    Eggplant and Zucchini Casserole

    Diane Rattray

    If you have a summertime garden, this eggplant and zucchini casserole is the perfect way to use up excess produce. You can even swap the canned tomatoes for homemade stewed tomatoes. Serve as a hearty vegetarian main with a cooked grain or bread or serve alongside a meat main.

  • 11 of 14

    Spinach Casserole

    Spinach casserole

    The Spruce

    For a lighter vegetable side dish, try baking a spinach casserole. The recipe can be made with fresh or frozen spinach and includes tons of variations on the simple recipe. Serve alongside grilled shrimp, steak, or chicken.

  • 12 of 14

    Chiles Rellenos Casserole

    Chile Relleno Casserole

     Kristina Vanni

    Chiles rellenos are a classic Mexican dish of roasted poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and sometimes meat before being deep-fried and drenched in sauce. Totally delicious but difficult to make, this recipe turns the dish into a simpler but still impressive chile rellenos casserole.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.
  • 13 of 14

    Ritzy Chicken Casserole

    Ritzy Chicken Casserole

    The Spruce

    Combine a few ingredients in a baking dish and top with crispy crackers to make this easy-as-can-be Ritzy chicken casserole. It's a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken when it's too hot to make chicken soup.

  • 14 of 14

    Baked Succotash Casserole

    corn and lima bean casserole

    Philip Dowell / Getty Images

    Succotash is a classic Southern summertime dish of lime beans and corn and can also include peppers like pimentos. This creamy, baked succotash casserole is a real treat and is especially good served alongside honey baked ham.