14 Cheesy Beef Casseroles You Can Make Ahead

Johnny Marzetti Casserole

“Johnny Marzetti stands out in that it’s marbled and crowned with cheese (often mild orange cheddar) and baked. This makes it less-suited to throwing together on the fly but very well-suited to assembling in advance en masse. The baked casserole freezes well, so you can even freeze the entire casserole to reheat later.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

“Personally, I think of this as a hearty weekend dinner that I can casually prepare in the afternoon and pop in the oven while I’m doing chores or playing games with the kids.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

Once baked, the casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to five days. Alternatively, it can also be stored in the freezer, wrapped well, for up to three months.

Easy Taco Casserole

“This taco casserole comes together in no time, but you can break up the prep to make dinnertime even quicker. Make the ground beef mixture ahead, storing it in the fridge for up to three days. Just don’t add the chips until you’re ready to bake, so they don’t get soggy.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

Cattle Drive Casserole

“You can assemble this casserole and freeze it, covered tightly, for up to three months. To bake it from frozen, keep it covered with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F until heated through. Alternatively, leave the frozen casserole in the fridge to thaw for a night or two. Bake as directed, adding about 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

Cheeseburger Casserole

“This recipe can be made in advance and served later in the week. It is the perfect meal prep option! You’ll cook your beef and your pasta, then place them in separate containers and keep them in the fridge until ready to assemble. You can also freeze the baked casserole for up to three months.” —Eric Jones, Recipe Developer

Shipwreck Casserole

“This casserole could be made entirely in advance and baked right before serving, or you can bake it completely and then reheat it in a 350°F oven. If you are planning on making it in advance, don’t add the cheese topping until you reheat it. This casserole stores beautifully, which is great because the recipe makes a lot. You can store it in the fridge for up to five days.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Bake

“Bake and cool the casserole before freezing; it cuts down on oven time the day of serving. You’re essentially reheating the frozen casserole, which shaves valuable minutes off the baking you need to do to serve it.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

Beef Enchilada Casserole

“You can assemble this casserole and store it in the fridge for two days. Just be sure to store it well-covered and allow the baking dish to come to just about room temperature before putting it into the hot oven. You can also freeze the casserole, baked or unbaked. Wrap the container well and freeze for up to two months.” —Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

Walking Taco Casserole

“You can easily prepare this casserole ahead of time with a few simple tricks. Prepare the meat and bean filling (without the toppings) up to two days ahead and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just before serving, transfer the filling to a casserole dish and top with cheese and Fritos.” —Karishma Pradhan, Recipe Developer

Beef Noodle Casserole

“Meal planners, rejoice! You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance, cool it, then cover with foil and refrigerate. Freeze an uncooked, fully assembled casserole for up to three months. Cover the casserole in its dish with foil, and then wrap with two layers of plastic wrap.” —From the editors of Simply Recipes

Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna)

Once baked, the Pastelón can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Alternatively, it can also be stored in the freezer, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, for up to three months.

Cowboy Casserole

“You can make the filling a day or two ahead, let it cool, then refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. Reheat the filling before adding it to the dish and topping it with the potato tots. You can also completely assemble the casserole, then tightly wrap it and freeze it for up to three months. Defrost in the fridge before baking.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

Mexican Lasagna

“As you can imagine, it is a filling dish, perfect for potlucks and large gatherings of hungry people. You can assemble it ahead of time, refrigerate, and bake it before serving, or you can bake, cool, and warm it back up in the oven (covered with foil).” —Elise Bauer, Founder

The Best Homemade Lasagna

Once baked, the lasagna can be stored in the fridge for up to five days. Alternatively, it can also be stored in the freezer, baked or unbaked, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, for up to three months.