12 Make-Ahead Dinners You Can Prep in Your 9x13 Pan
Stacy Allen Even if you’re not much of a baker, you probably have at least two baking pans in your kitchen: a sheet pan and a 9-by-13-inch-pan. That’s because they’re so versatile! A sheet pan can bake a crowd-pleasing sheet cake as well as it can make a throw-everything-on-it sheet pan dinner .
Another benefit to the 9-by-13 pan? You can assemble many meals ahead of time, stash them in the fridge, and then bake them when you’re ready to eat. These make-ahead 9x13 dinners are the ultimate meal prep hacks for getting cozy comfort food on the table, even on the busiest weeknights. Bonus: You can also make plenty of them ahead and freeze them. So go on, make a bunch and thank yourself a few months from now.
Casserole lovers, there’s plenty here for you! Take Ree Drummond’s lasagna, for example. “There’s something so satisfying about pulling a bubbling pan of cheesy baked pasta out of the oven,” she says. You’ll find that, plus plenty more Italian-inspired dinners—and you don’t need special ingredients or Nonna’s special pan to make them. You just need your trusty 9-by-13 pan for these make-ahead dinners . So, let’s get prepping!
The Best Lasagna Ever
“Anyone can make this, anywhere, anytime,” Ree says, thanks to easy-to-find ingredients. It can be assembled up to two days in advance or frozen. Bonus: “This lasagna actually tastes even better the next day.” Get Ree's The Best Lasagna Ever recipe.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Great news: You don't have to roll up individual tortillas to get your Tex-Mex fix with these enchiladas. You just layer a creamy chicken filling, tortillas, and plenty of cheese in a casserole dish a few hours in advance. Get Ree's Chicken Enchilada Casserole recipe.
Taco Casserole
Taco Tuesday just got easier! The ground beef, pepper, and onion mixture can be made up to two days in advance. Then just layer with chips and cheese when you’re ready to bake and top with your favorite fixings. Get the Taco Casserole recipe.
King Ranch Chicken
If you’ve never had this Texas classic, it's made with shredded chicken, a zesty cream sauce, corn tortillas, and plenty of melty cheese, all layered like lasagna. It can be assembled up to a day in advance. Get Ree’s King Ranch Chicken recipe.
Ham Casserole
You don’t have to wait for holiday leftovers to make this all-in-one meal. Chop up store-bought ham and mix it with cooked rice, green peas, peppers, onions, and a creamy, cheesy homemade sauce. You can assemble it up to a day in advance, but wait to add the cracker crumb topping until just before baking. Get the Ham Casserole recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
“If saucy, beefy, cheesy pasta is your idea of comfort food, you’ve got to try this,” says Ree. You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance and refrigerate it—just wait until you’re ready to bake to add the crispy fried onions. Get Ree’s Hamburger Casserole recipe.
Chicken Spaghetti
This is a Drummond family favorite for a reason. “It’s pasta baked with tender chicken, peppers, and a creamy, cheesy sauce that coats every single bite,” explains Ree. “This really is one of the all-time greatest ‘make before’ comfort foods.” Get Ree's Chicken Spaghetti recipe.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Grandma knew what she was doing with this retro bake. Use pantry ingredients like egg noodles, canned tuna, and cream of mushroom soup to get dinner on the table. You can assemble it up to a day ahead and refrigerate, then add the cheese and crushed potato chips just before baking. Get the Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe.
Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells
Get ready for the best Italian dinner mashup: creamy chicken Alfredo and big, cheesy stuffed shells. Assemble a day in advance and get ready for a bite of cozy comfort for dinner the next day. Get Ree’s Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells recipe.
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Here’s another Drummond family classic! Creamy noodles are layered with a hearty meat sauce. Put it all together and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake it. Ree calls it “delicious, easy weeknight grub.” Get Ree's Sour Cream Noodle Bake recipe.
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Love meaty, cheesy lasagna but don’t love all the assembly? This spaghetti will taste like a million dollars with less work. You can throw it together a day in advance or freeze it for up to three months. Get Ree’s Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe.
Turkey Tetrazzini
Make this with leftover turkey, chicken, or ham—whatever you have on hand. Toss it with cooked spaghetti, a creamy, cheesy white wine sauce, mushrooms, and green peas. Refrigerate the assembled casserole for up to two days, then add the panko just before baking so the topping stays crisp. Get Ree’s Turkey Tetrazzini recipe.
