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20+ Creative Birthday Party Ideas for Teens, According to Actual Teenagers

Whether your teenager wants to celebrate at home or go out, these themes are a hit! When kids are young,  birthday parties  are easy, or at least it may have seemed that way back then. As Jennifer Ciampi, a Massachusetts mother of two, says, “When they were kids it was: book a place they could run around, get a sheet cake from the grocery store and call it a day.” Add in a  goodie bag , and your job was done. But now that they're older, things have gotten more complicated. But all is not lost. Deciding what to do for the milestone teen birthday parties offers parents the chance to bond with their teens. “Teen and young adult birthday planning is more tailored to each child’s personality and likes,” Ciampi says. With these birthdays, there is an opportunity to create epic memories that will last a lifetime. To help you figure out which  birthday party theme for teens  is best, we’ve come up with a list featuring ideas from actual families with teenagers. Whether your teen seeks acti

20+ The Best Easy Casserole Recipes of 2024



Casseroles are the epitome of ease and simplicity, and will never go out of style. Whether a timeless favorite, like tuna noodle casserole, or an inspired take on a classic, any of our easy casserole recipes will hit the spot.

Why are casseroles so popular? They're always comforting to eat and filling to boot—not to mention that most can be prepared ahead of time and baked when you need them. Better yet, you serve them right from the dish they're made in, making cleanup a snap when the meal is finished.

And casseroles aren't just for dinner. Sure, they're a welcome way to get supper on the table quickly, but we consider anything from a vegetable-packed egg bake for lunch or a sweet breakfast French toast to fit into the casserole category. Give one of these delicious recipes a try this week.

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Colcannon Shepherd's Pie

colcannon shepherds pie
JOHN DOLAN

A creamy combination of mashed potatoes and Savoy cabbage sits atop this classic meat-based casserole. The simple, hearty topping makes something special out of an otherwise simple dish.

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Eggplant Meatball Casserole

eggplant-meatballs-0004-d112283.jpg
MIKE KRAUTTER

These meatballs are made with eggplant, so they're perfect for Meatless Monday and beyond. They're cooked in an easy homemade tomato sauce before they're topped with plenty of mozzarella cheese.

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Pepperoni Pasta Bake

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ROMULO YANES

Pepperoni pizza meets stuffed shells? Say no more! This easy casserole recipe has a generous amount of zucchini is hidden in each bite, but you'll be too busy enjoying all of the meaty pepperoni slices and gooey mozzarella and ricotta cheeses to notice.

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Cheddar, Beef, and Potato Casserole

cheddar beef and potato casserole
CHRIS SIMPSON

This dish is the solution to the question, what's for dinner? Sautéed onions, ground beef, and mushrooms add bulk, along with frozen mixed vegetables and cheddar cheese. The topping, frozen hash browns, is crisped up under the broiler.

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Baked Shells and Broccoli With Ham and Cheesy-Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

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CHRIS TESTANI

Plenty of broccoli (and an entire head of cauliflower) add fiber and other nutrients to this comforting casserole. A topping of crunchy, golden brown breadcrumbs is the perfect complement to the creamy texture of the dish.

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Chicken Divan

chicken divan
BRYAN GARDNER

A creamy, cheesy sauce brings together the chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms in this classic casserole. Using panko breadcrumbs on top adds just the right amount of crunch.

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Cheesy Spinach-Potato Egg Casserole

Cheesy Spinach-Potato Egg Casserole
CON POULOS

This vegetarian casserole is savory and satisfying thanks to a combination of Yukon gold potatoes, curly-leaf spinach, and plenty of fontina cheese. It can be baked and served in the same dish, which makes entertaining so much easier.

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Turkey-Pastrami Croque-Madame Casserole

turkey-pastrami croque-madame casserole served in white dish
LENNART WEIBULL

Feed your family this crowd-friendly casserole inspired by a French ham-and-cheese sandwich for breakfast or dinner. Swap the turkey pastrami for ham if you prefer but don't skip the fried egg on top of each portion—or the sprinkling of chives.

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Broccoli-Cheddar Hash-Brown Casserole

broccoli-cheddar-hash-brown-casserole-102797834.jpg
YUNHEE KIM

Sure to lure even laggards out of bed in the morning, this crowd-pleaser combines shredded cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, and Greek yogurt with grated potatoes and broccoli for an irresistible meal, morning, noon, or night.

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Baked Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Baked Blueberry French Toast Casserole
MIKE KRAUTTER

Making French toast casserole is so much easier than standing at the stove flipping each slice one by one. We used rich, buttery brioche for this dish. It will absorb the custard as it soaks overnight.

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Salmon Noodle Casserole

salmon-pea-pasta-casserole-069-d112355.jpg
BRYAN GARDNER

Serve this twist on an all-American classic for lunch or dinner. Chopped scallions and plenty of fresh dill add brightness and color to the creamy pasta.

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Broccoli Casserole

broccoli-casserole-062-ms-619044.jpg
MARTYNA SZCZESNA

Move over, green bean casserole. The base for this popular side is made with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, and gouda cheese. Then, broccoli is folded into the mixture before it's topped with crackers and baked until golden brown.

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Taco Casserole

taco-cassarole-0497-d112420.jpg
MIKE KRAUTTER

Nachos meet tacos in this 30-minute casserole. Sauté ground beef, bell peppers, and onions with aromatics like tomato paste, spices, tomatoes, and pinto beans, then top with tortilla chips and a combination of Monterey jack and cheddar cheese. Who could resist?

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Three-Pepper Corn Casserole

corn-cassarole-0583-d112420.jpg
MIKE KRAUTTER

Corn casserole is an all-American favorite. This recipe spices things up by adding minced chipotle in adobo and pepper jack cheese to the creamy corn mixture.

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Meatball Casserole

meatball-parmesan-caciocavallo-v2-016-d111633_f.jpg
ANNA WILLIAMS

This easy-to-make and easy-to-love casserole uses a combination of ground pork and ground beef. Plenty of mozzarella cheese is scattered on top and melted to ooey, gooey perfection.

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Tuna-Noodle Casserole With Cauliflower

tuna-noodle-casserole-024-d111386.jpg
LINDA PUGLIESE

We've upgraded this nostalgic side dish with a better-for-you twist—cauliflower florets add texture and heft to the creamy casserole.

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Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast Casserole

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ROMULO YANES

Make quick work of breakfast with this French toast casserole you can assemble the night before and bake the morning of. A cinnamon-spiced custard and plenty of raisins give the dish the flavor of sweet cinnamon toast.

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Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

chicken rice casserole
YUNHEE KIM

Talk about easy! This casserole is on the table in 40 minutes. It uses favorite shortcut ingredients like pre-cooked rice, frozen peas, and store-bought rotisserie chicken to streamline prep.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

sweet potato casserole
JOHN KERNICK

This qualifies as the ultimate Thanksgiving casserole, but we love it year-round. Sweet potatoes are boiled until fork-tender, then transferred to a baking dish and topped with mini marshmallows.

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Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

shepherds pie
KATE MATHIS

Cremini mushrooms and green lentils take the place of ground beef in this cold-weather casserole. It's super savory and it will feed a crowd.

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Read more : Comforting Casserole Recipes

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