Our Most-Saved Recipe of 2025 Is the Casserole You Need to Make

It's an instant favorite.

By
Sheela Prakash
Sheela Prakash
Sheela Prakash
Food and wine writer, recipe developer, and the author of Mediterranean Every Day. Her work can be found in numerous online and print publications.
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Published December 16, 2025
Sheela Prakash
A baked casserole topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions one serving removed with a spoon in the dish

Simply Recipes ; Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

I love a recipe with a good name. For example, Italian fish in crazy water (acqua pazza) or British Eton mess. The intrigue is what causes me to want to make it immediately, whatever it may be. 

You, our readers, clearly feel similarly, since Simply Recipe’s most-saved recipe of 2025 was in fact a recipe with a clever name. Shipwreck casserole is a retro dish with an interesting history that also happens to be quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing. It’s no wonder you all were so eager to give it a try.

This recipe was our most saved on MyRecipes, a free service for collecting your favorite recipes in one place. Join MyRecipes to save, search, and sort recipes! To start saving, click on a recipe on our site, then tap the heart 🩷 icon.

What Is Shipwreck Casserole?

Shipwreck casserole is a layered dish of potatoes, ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and cheese that’s baked until bubbling and golden. What about the name? Legend goes that after a shipwreck, the passengers saved what they could and turned it into this casserole for dinner. Whether you believe the story or not, it’s a deeply warming, satisfying meal for certain. 

An Easy, Make-Ahead-Friendly Recipe

The true brilliance of shipwreck casserole is in its ease. This recipe calls for frozen shredded hash browns so you don’t have to bother slicing potatoes. It’s also ripe with ways to modify it:

  • Swap out the peppers and onions for mushrooms, carrots, peas, corn, or beyond. 
  • Use taco seasoning or chili powder as the spice of choice instead of paprika and cumin. 
  • Replace the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. 
  • Or instead of cheddar, grab another melty cheese like Monterey Jack, gouda, or provolone. 

What’s more: Shipwreck casserole can be made days or even months ahead of time. Prepare the entire casserole, cover, and refrigerate it up to a couple of days before baking. Or bake then refrigerate it for up to five days or freeze it for up to three months.

If you freeze it in individual servings, you can count on having a quick meal for one or many at the ready whenever you need it.

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