I don’t know about you, but I am sure making a lot of soups and casseroles right now to feed my family. While I’m having quite a bit of success searching for recipes based on a couple ingredients I type in the search bar, a reader Penny shared the coolest blog post with me that shows how you can actually make casseroles with a FORMULA, not just a RECIPE. 

By choosing one item from each of five categories and combining them together, you can throw together a fabulous meal from things right in your kitchen pantry and freezer. Get ready to be amazed! 

Without further ado….here is the fool-proof-5-step formula in which you can create original, homemade, delicious and nutritious entrees designed by YOU, using the items you have on hand.

STEP 1: Combine (1) 8-ounce carton sour cream, 1 cup milk, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper with one item below from Group A, which is coming up below. (Omit sour cream and milk when using tomatoes).

STEP 2: Stir in one item from each of Groups B, C, D and E (These items will also be listed below). 

STEP 3: Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish.

STEP 4: Sprinkle with one or two choices from Group F (also listed below).

STEP 5:  Cover and bake casserole at 350 degrees F, for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 additional minutes. Servings: 6.

Group A: 
• *1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• *1 can cream of celery soup, undiluted
• *1 can cream of cheddar soup, undiluted
• *2 cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
• *1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• (Don’t forget that if you don’t care for canned soups, you can make your own from scratch!)
  
  Group B:
• *2 cans solid white tuna, drained and flaked
• *2 cups chopped cooked chicken
• *2 cups chopped cooked ham
• *2 cups chopped cooked turkey
• *1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
  
  Group C:
• *2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• *1 cup uncooked rice
• *4 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
• *3 cups uncooked medium pasta shells
  
  Group D:
• *1 package chopped spinach, thawed
• *1 package frozen cut broccoli
• *1 package frozen peas
• *1 package frozen sliced yellow squash
• *1 package frozen whole kernel corn
• ***packages should be about 10 ounces
  
  Group E:
• *1 small can sliced mushrooms, drained
• *¼ cup sliced ripe olives
• *¼ cup chopped bell pepper
• *¼ cup chopped onion
• *¼ cup chopped celery
• *2 cloves garlic, minced
• *1 small can chopped green chiles
• *1 packet taco seasoning mix
  
  Group F:
• *½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• *½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
• *½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• *½ cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
  
  

SAMPLE COMBINATIONS:

Chicken Casserole. Cream of chicken soup, broccoli, rice, chicken, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs.

Ham Casserole. Cream of celery soup, Italian green beans, wide egg noodles, ham, garlic and two portions Swiss cheese.

Turkey Casserole. Italian-style diced tomatoes, spinach, medium pasta shells, turkey, onion, garlic, mozzarella cheese, and breadcrumbs.

Vegetarian Casserole. Italian-style diced tomatoes, yellow squash, rice, olives, four portions celery, four portions bell pepper, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs.

Have you made up your own casserole-type recipe before? Does this sound like something fun you’d try? What kind of casserole sounds yummy for you to try? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thank you so much to our reader Penny and also a big thanks to Mary Hunt (from www.everydaycheapskate.com) for these ideas of how to create your own delicious casseroles. I thought this was super helpful as I’m looking in my pantry, trying to use a can of this or a frozen bag of that to make something edible that my picky eaters will eat. This helps me feel confident I can come up with a tasty meal for my family.