How To Reheat A Casserole (3 different ways) with easy to follow instructions. Simple cooking tips to save time in the kitchen.
Who hasn't arrived home late from work, scrambling, trying to figure out what in the world to eat? Takeout menus come out, expensive orders are placed, budget is blown.
That's where a great make ahead casserole comes in handy. It's an easy weeknight dinner win that involves reheating something you've made ahead of time and just pulled out of the fridge.
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What Is A Casserole?
A classic casserole is an easy, family friendly recipe that is usually made by combining or layering a protein, vegetables, a starch, a sauce, topped with cheese, then baked in the oven. They're a delicious dish and the perfect make ahead meal for easy weeknight dinners, family gatherings, holiday meals, pot lucks, or game day tailgates.
They are a great way to use up leftovers, by combining them into one dish. Suffice to say, if you have any combination of protein, vegetable, starch, and sauce, and mix them all together and bake it in a casserole dish, that qualifies as casserole.
Types include, meat like beef and chicken, vegetable, and breakfast. Whatever the type of casserole, they are all easy family dinners everyone is sure to love.
Don't miss these family favorites: Easy Cheesy Potatoes, Instant Pot Mexican Casserole, and Pizza Casserole.
What Is A Casserole Dish?
Some say that the key to making casserole is in the dish you use. It is traditionally baked in a casserole dish, which is a wide, high sided baking dish, with or without a cover. But it's perfectly fine to use an 9x13 glass baking dish or disposable roasting pan.
How To Reheat A Casserole
We'll show you 3 different ways: in the oven, microwave oven, and on the stovetop.
General Reheating Rules Of Thumb
- For best results, bring the it up to room temperature before reheating.
- Add a ¼ cup of water or milk to the top before you put it in the oven to reheat. The added moisture will do wonders in preventing the it from drying out.
- The best way to is to cover it and put it into a cold oven. Covering the top will trap the steam in and keep it moist while it reheats.
- Set the oven temperature to 350°F and heat it to an internal temperature 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer to check that the it has reached a food safe temperature.
- You'll know it's ready when it is hot and bubbly. Slide a knife into the center of the dish. If it slides in easily and comes out and hot, it's ready to eat.
Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole. The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.
How To Reheat A Casserole In The Oven
The reheating process for an entire casserole in the oven is easy following a few simple steps.
Note: Reheating instructions and cooking times vary slightly for room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen.
Frozen Casserole. If it is frozen and is in a metal or disposable roasting pan, you can put it into a cold oven. Just make sure any plastic wrap has been removed and that it is covered with a lid or aluminum foil.
If it is in a glass baking dish, put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.
Refrigerated Casserole: Take it out of the refrigerator, put it in a cold or hot, 350°F oven. Reheat for about an hour.
Room Temperature Casserole. Put it into a cold or hot, 350°F oven, and reheat. It takes 20-30 minutes to reheat.
Heat to an internal temperature 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer to check the degrees F.
You'll know it's ready if it appears hot and bubbly. Slide a knife into the center of it. If it slides in easily and comes out hot, it's ready to eat.
Reheat In A Microwave Oven
The best way to reheat leftovers in the microwave oven is to reheat small portions in a microwave-safe dish.
Single Portions. A single portion can be reheated on high for 1-2 minute increments until it reaches the desired temperature.
Large Portions. The best way to reheat a large portion in the microwave is to break it up into smaller portions and microwave it in 3-5 minute increments. This can be as easy as just taking a knife and cutting the it into smaller pieces. Separating them just slightly will allow them to reheat more evenly.
Reheat On The Stovetop
In order to reheat it on the stovetop, it needs to be thawed and at refrigerator temperature so that it can be removed from the storage container and placed into a large skillet.
Break the whole casserole up into smaller pieces and reheat at a moderate temperature (medium heat). High temperatures will cause the liquid to evaporate and it will dry out.
You'll know its ready when it's hot throughout and bubbly.
FAQ's
The best way to reheat it is to cover it and put it into a cold oven. Covering the dish will trap the steam in and keep it moist while it heats.
Add a little water or milk to the top of the it before reheating. Allow the liquid to seep in between the casserole and the baking dish, without overflowing. Cover the top with aluminum foil. The added moisture will get trapped in by the foil and the steam created will moisten a dry casserole.
Generally, no. Putting a cold, glass dish into a hot oven may cause the dish to break. However, you can if you are using a metal pan or aluminum disposable pan.
For best results, reheat a cold dish by putting it into a cold oven and then turn the oven on, allowing the it to come up to temperature.
Depending on the size of the dish and the density of its contents, it takes about an hour for to come up to room temperature.
Add more time for a larger pan or one with dense contents.
There you have it. Now you know how to reheat a casserole. It's as easy as that! Let us know if you found this how to guide helpful or if you have any questions. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
Tasty Casserole Recipes
- Cheesy Hashbrowns - aka funeral potatoes, are a family favorite and the perfect side dish for everyday family dinners or for holiday meals. Make this easy crowd pleaser and you'll have them coming back for more!
- Instant Pot Mexican Casserole - made with ground beef, pantry staples and Homemade Taco Seasoning, is an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love. So satisfying and delicious!
- Pizza Casserole - a fresh take on pizza night the entire family will love. This pizza pasta is made with ground beef, Italian sausage, tangy pizza sauce, melted Mozzarella cheese and all your favorite pizza toppings.
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📖 Recipe
How To Reheat A Casserole (3 Different Ways)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 casserole
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- The reheating process for an entire casserole in the oven is easy following a few simple steps.Note: Reheating instructions and cooking times vary slightly for room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen.Note: Add ¼ cup of water to the top of a whole casserole and only 2 tablespoons for individual servings.Frozen Casserole. If it is frozen and is in a metal or disposable roasting pan, you can put it into a cold oven. Just make sure any plastic wrap has been removed and that it is covered with a lid or aluminum foil. If it is in a glass baking dish, put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw.Refrigerated Casserole: Take it out of the refrigerator, put it in a cold or hot, 350°F oven. Reheat for about an hour.Room Temperature Casserole. Put it into a cold or hot, 350°F oven, and reheat. It takes 20-30 minutes to reheat.Heat to an internal temperature 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer to check the degrees F. You'll know it's ready if it appears hot and bubbly. Slide a knife into the center of it. If it slides in easily and comes out hot, it's ready to eat.
Microwave Instructions
- The best way to reheat leftovers in the microwave oven is to reheat small portions in a microwave-safe dish.Note: Add ¼ cup of water to the top of a whole casserole and only 2 tablespoons for individual servings.Single Portions. A single portion can be reheated on high for 1-2 minute increments until it reaches the desired temperature.Large Portions. The best way to reheat a large portion in the microwave is to break it up into smaller portions and microwave it in 3-5 minute increments. This can be as easy as just taking a knife and cutting the it into smaller pieces. Separating them just slightly will allow them to reheat more evenly.
Stovetop Instructions
- In order to reheat it on the stovetop, it needs to be thawed and at refrigerator temperature so that it can be removed from the storage container and placed into a large skillet. Note: Add ¼ cup of water to the top of a whole casserole and only 2 tablespoons for individual servings.Break the whole casserole up into smaller pieces and reheat at a moderate temperature (medium heat). High temperatures will cause the liquid to evaporate and it will dry out.You'll know its ready when it's hot throughout and bubbly.
Notes
General Reheating Rules of Thumb
- For best results, bring the it up to room temperature before reheating.
- Add a ¼ cup of water or milk to the top before you put it in the oven to reheat. The added moisture will do wonders in preventing the it from drying out.
- The best way to is to cover it and put it into a cold oven. Covering the top will trap the steam in and keep it moist while it reheats.
- Set the oven temperature to 350°F and heat it to an internal temperature 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer to check that the it has reached a food safe temperature.
- You'll know it's ready when it is hot and bubbly. Slide a knife into the center of the dish. If it slides in easily and comes out and hot, it's ready to eat.
Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole
The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.Nutrition
Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back and give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and subscribe my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!
Russ B
Great tips!
Seanna Borrows
Yes. Good to know, for sure. 😊