casserole

American  

[kas-uh-rohl] / ˈkæs əˌroʊl /

noun

1. a baking dish of glass, pottery, etc., usually with a cover.

2. any food, usually a mixture, cooked in such a dish.

3. a small dish with a handle, used in chemical laboratories.

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verb (used with object)

casseroles, present (3rd person singular) casseroled, past participle, past casseroling present participle

1. to bake or cook (food) in a casserole.

casserole British  

/ ˈkæsəˌrəʊl /

noun

1. a covered dish of earthenware, glass, etc, in which food is cooked and served

2. any food cooked and served in such a dish

   chicken casserole

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verb

1. to cook or be cooked in a casserole

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• casseroling
  present
• casseroled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• casserole
  simple
• casseroles
  simple
• have casseroled
  perfect
• has casseroled
  perfect
• am casseroling
  progressive
• are casseroling
  progressive
• is casseroling
  progressive
• have been casseroling
  perfect progressive
• has been casseroling
  perfect progressive

Past

• casseroled
  simple
• had casseroled
  perfect
• was casseroling
  progressive
• were casseroling
  progressive
• had been casseroling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will casserole
  simple
• will have casseroled
  perfect
• will be casseroling
  progressive
• will have been casseroling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of casserole

First recorded in 1700–10; from French: “ladlelike pan,” equivalent to casse “small saucepan” (from Old Provençal cassa “large spoon,” akin to Medieval Latin cattia “crucible”; of disputed origin) + -role diminutive suffix

Explanation

A casserole is a large, deep baking dish that can be used both in the oven and as a serving dish. Casserole is also what you call the food baked inside it, which is often a complete, gooey, one-dish meal. You can use the word casserole for a ceramic, glass, or metal baking dish that goes right from the oven to the table, and you can also call the food that's cooked in it a casserole. Many casseroles are thick and warm comfort food, baked by thoughtful people in aprons. Cream of mushroom soup is a popular ingredient in a casserole. In French, casserole means "sauce pan," from the Latin root cattia, "pan" or "vessel."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

casserole casseroles casseroled

It worked to pare down menus and offer dinner deals, and rolled out items like slow-braised pot roast and hash-brown casserole shepherd’s pie.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

On its menu are wines from Stellenbosch, delicacies like bobotie, a sweet and savory casserole, and creative-fusion dishes like oxtail tacos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

Potlucks are classic, yes — but they don’t have to be a casserole parade.

From Salon ● Jan. 27, 2026

To attract increasingly discerning consumers, Kroger has offered a precooked holiday meal for eight of turkey or ham, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry and gravy for about $11 a person.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2025

Cigarette brands and casserole recipes and the best way to get a Jell-O salad out of a mold.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

Pastas, casseroles, soups—they all live quite happily in that soft, velvety register.

From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2026

She said for some its about "relaxing" and prepping things such as casseroles, taking the pressure off cooking a big roast on the day.

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025

Like tuna casseroles and they’re very into hearty, grandma type food.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025

Granted, I have only praise for the casseroles of my youth, all of which remain in my repertoire today, but I have seen all sorts of creations across social media.

From Salon ● Feb. 27, 2025

“When you come back I want you to deliver these casseroles to the Community Center. Mr. Spizz will deliver them to the ladies who called in for a home-cooked meal.”

From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos

Blancmange — which means ‘‘white food’’ — referred to a family of recipes in which pale mixtures were casseroled together into a pap, often with rice and almond milk.

From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2015