Crowd-Pleasing Casseroles

Casseroles are a mainstay for feeding crowds. They're a great way to stretch meat and seafood, and they offer the built-in convenience of a one-dish meal that generally takes to the freezer. They also provide solutions for planning a party or weeknight dinner. With a little homework, you can shorten your meal preparation time to popping the casserole in the oven―leaving you more time to enjoy the company of family and friends.

We've gathered a dozen make-ahead recipes to the left that fit the bill: They feed a crowd and can be made at least a day in advance.

All Tied Up
If you're short on casserole dishes and don't want them tied up in your freezer, try this: Line the casserole dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray if the recipe says to spray the casserole dish. Assemble the casserole and freeze as the recipe directs. Once it's frozen, lift out the foil-covered casserole. Wrap tightly with more heavy-duty foil and return to the freezer. When it's time to thaw the casserole, simply pop it back into the casserole dish and follow the recipe instructions for thawing and cooking.