8 Casseroles to Carry Us Through Winter

In the doldrums of winter, we do best to bundle up and stay close to home. The cold, dark evenings call for hibernation and prod our appetites toward all things baked, gratinated, and—whenever possible—laced with cheese.
In the interest of staying warm, we also want our meals to be simple but hearty, require few ingredients outside of pantry staples, and take as little time as possible to prepare. In that sense, the ideal weeknight dinner is inevitably the casserole, which can be thrown together in a snap, adapted to what’s on hand, and baked while you stay snug under the blankets.
Here are 8 warming casseroles that will take you through the winter and beyond:

All it takes is 20 minutes to prep this creamy casserole that you’ll want to make time and again. Sounds like dinner tonight.

You’ll need to prepare it the night before, but this egg casserole, akin to a savory bread pudding, is worth it. Plus, the leftovers taste even better—for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

With layers of mozzarella, tomato sauce, and eggplant, it should take little convincing that this Italian classic will warm and satisfy you to the core this winter.

If you’re in the mood for a light but cozy meal, look no further. Salmon and broccoli make for a healthy but creamy dish that will please the whole family.

A new spin on an old favorite, baked spaghetti Bolognese is an easy crowd-pleaser that you can serve to anyone, any day of the week.

Homemade mac and cheese is the stuff cold-weather dreams are made of. Whip up a batch and revel in the magic that cheese brings to all things.

It couldn’t get easier than a variety of chopped vegetables baked with herbs, tomatoes, and feta. Use whatever is in your fridge for the easiest of weeknight meals.

As a side or main, rich potato gratin is on the must-make list this winter.