Few culinary experiences are closer to a hug than sitting down to a homemade casserole right out of the oven. Every culture I can think of has one-pot wonders to soothe the soul. My go-to is my grandmother’s macaroni, cheese, and tomato casserole, served with piping hot cake bread.
The word casserole comes from French, meaning saucepan. A little culinary history lesson reveals that the word derived from the Latin word cattia and the Provençal word cassa, both meaning ladle, evoking the idea of sharing food from a pot — no doubt the reason casseroles are still crowd pleasers when family and friends gather.
While most of us grew up with the staple macaroni and cheese or tuna casserole, the modern-day casserole has evolved with access to international ingredients and flavours. While it still might be hard to beat your Mum’s hamburger casserole, we have five recipes from Chef Erin Pettipas that might become your new favourites. These recipes are developed for baking in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. If you have extra time in the kitchen, consider doubling the recipe and making one to share with someone who might need a comfort-food hug.
Recipes