Our 37 Favorite Side Dishes That Bake In A 13x9

From a laid-back brunch at home to a dinner party with friends, these 13x9 side dishes are guaranteed to please your crowd every time.

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Updated on August 28, 2024

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese — Photo: Victor Protasio

In the South, we love high-quality, multi-functional tools that make our lives a little bit simpler. From cast-iron pans to Dutch ovens, there are a few kitchen workhorses that we keep on our stove top 24/7—and it doesn't hurt if they look cute to boot. Casserole dishes are items we'll always collect, and not just for the pretty Pyrex patterns. The ability to cook, transport, and serve recipes all in one dish simply makes our lives easier. It's no wonder the 13x9 is one of the South's most beloved dishes to use for cooking. From breakfast to dinner, this trusty vessel does it all. Plus, cooking in this size dish ensures that you always have enough food to go around when you're serving a larger group.

We've been cooking in casserole dishes for as long as we can remember, so we've compiled some of our all-time favorite Southern Living side dishes that bake in a 13x9 casserole dish. From a laid-back meal at home with your family to a dinner party with friends, these side dishes are guaranteed to please your crowd every time.

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Party Potatoes

Party Potatoes — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The only thing better than the texture of this easy 9x13 side dish is the flavor. Party Potatoes do it all, and you probably have all the ingredients you need to make them already on hand.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

Scalloped Corn Casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You'll know this casserole is ready to come out of the oven when the center is set and the top is golden brown. This traditional flavor combination knocks it out of the park, and you won't see any leftovers lingering on the potluck table. Be sure to consider this dish when you need an easy approach that will feed many.

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Okra And Rice Casserole

Okra and Rice Casserole — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

This casserole recipe proves that there's more ways to enjoy okra than just deep frying it. The smaller pods are the most tender, so look for ones 3-4 inches long. This dish is simple to make, but it packs an amazing amount of flavor from tender sautéed okra, sweet corn, Cajun spices, and buttery garlic breadcrumbs.

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Reunion Pea Casserole — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You don't have to be going to a reunion to make and enjoy our Reunion Pea Casserole, a blend of black-eyed peas, chopped green chiles, squash, and zucchini, but it sure is fun if you do.

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Mac And Cheese With Ham

Southern Living Mac And Cheese With Ham — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

Mac and cheese is always a crowd pleaser. Even the pickiest eaters in the family love it, and you can sneak a bit of protein (and extra flavor) in with the addition of a bit of savory ham.

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Tomato Pudding

Southern Living Tomato Pudding after baking — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

If you've never tried tomato pudding, you're in for a treat. This big-batch side incorporates juicy tomatoes, sourdough bread, tomato sauce, fresh thyme, and brown sugar, i.e., all the good stuff.

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Cornbread Casserole

Southern Living Cornbread Casserole with a serving scooped out into a bowl — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Combine the crunch of cornbread with the silky sweetness of creamed corn in this baked cornbread casserole. You're destined to put it in the dinnertime rotation.

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Macaroni Corn Casserole

Macaroni Corn Casserole — Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

If you can't decide between serving corn casserole and baked macaroni and cheese, this recipe gives you the flavor of both in one dish. We took the melty, gooey goodness that one can only achieve with a duo of white Cheddar and Gruyere cheeses, then upped the ante with crumbled bacon and pretty little corn kernels. Dry mustard, garlic, scallions, and cayenne pepper bring a hefty dose of flavor, but it's the panko topping that will truly have you melting from the very first bite.

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Sweetie's Sweet Potato Casserole

Sweetie’s Sweet Potato Casserole — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Chef and restaurateur Kelsey Barnard Clark shares her great-grandmother's sweet potato casserole recipe, which she says actually tastes like sweet potatoes as they aren't over-powered by sugary ingredients. This dish is a great tradition to start for your holiday menu, as it appeals to many diet approaches. Fearing too much sugar is no way to eat on a holiday.

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Tennessee Onions

Tennessee Onions — CAITLIN BENSEL; FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX

When it comes to easy 13x9 side dishes, Tennessee onions really bring the flavor with very little effort, which is always a win in our book.

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Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cubes of French bread come alongside sweet potatoes in this hearty casserole. The potatoes are made even more comforting with flavors that meld into a savory custard. When there is bacon in the plan, it simply cannot be bad.

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Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole — Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

From a laid-back barbecue to a formal dinner party, this versatile recipe has a place at any gathering. You will see just how popular this is, when all of your other sides get ignored. Be prepared to have an extra pan ready.

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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole - Southern Living — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Since sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, add a savory flavor with a Parmesan-herb streusel topping to achieve a sweet-savory combo that your dinner guests will find addicting. This isn't so much a side as it is a main dish, and those sidling up to your 13x9 for their second serving won't be offering any arguments.

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Zucchini, Squash, And Corn Casserole

Southern Living Zucchini Squash and Corn Casserole ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Three of our favorite veggies come together in one casserole. The topping is the golden crumb of day-old white bread, used in the best way. The white breadcrumbs double as binder within this melty combo, and will help to make this dish disappear.

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Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese

Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese — Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

No matter the occasion, you can't go wrong with this classic dish. Our best-ever version beats out the rest in a field that is simply laden with pasta and cheese. Don't be surprised if you find yourself serving it at church potlucks, Sunday suppers, and weeknight dinners all year long.

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

loaded cauliflower casserole in a baking dish and bowls — Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Think of this recipe as a veggie-packed version of a loaded baked potato. The sinfully delicious ingredients will make you forget that this is fully vegetarian and more good for you than bad. This is an excellent way to get the kids in your life to embrace cauliflower.

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Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole

Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole — Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Using two different potato varieties give this casserole our fluffiest texture ever. Browning the butter is a simple technique that imparts a nutty flavor and shouldn't be skipped. You can substitute white cheddar cheese for the parmesan, if you wish. As quick and easy as this holiday side dish is to make the day of your dinner, it can be prepped a day ahead.

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole — VICTOR PROTASIO; PROP STYLING: GINNY BRANCH STELLING; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL

Serve up plenty of green veggies at your next holiday meal or family dinner with this casserole that's packed with both green beans and Brussels sprouts. The texture packs a punch along with the flavor, and you can feel good about the nutritional value of this dish. We like to see this as further proof that bacon makes everything better.

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Homemade Baked Beans

a casserole dish of baked beans — Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

Southern baked beans typically feature a hint of sweetness from molasses, brown sugar, or sorghum. To balance that, this recipe uses several slices of bacon for a hint of smoky meatiness. Don't worry about starting the beans dry. This recipe makes delicious use of canned beans.

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Hashbrown Casserole

Hahsbrown Csserole — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

From brunch to dinner, we think this cheesy dish can be enjoyed at any time of day. We highly encourage the "breakfast for dinner" approach when you consider the uses for this delightful pan of cheesy potato goodness. Will it be enough, considering this flavor combo has a special place at the table? Just try making one pan, and see how far you get.

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Hot Potato Salad

Hot Potato Salad — Helen Norman

A warm take on the classic cookout side, our hot potato salad steals the show from those homemade mashed potatoes your aunt brings every year. Who needs gravy when you can have a plate full of potato salad with bacon, cheese, and salty, briny olives? This is the winner of that special occasion dinner, auntie's mashed potatoes or not.

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Broccoli-Cheese Casserole

broccoli cheese casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This casserole comes together a little faster with the help of steam-in-bag broccoli florets. We love an easy shortcut and the steam-in-bag does not compromise the texture of the broccoli. You can use this stroke of genius for other recipes, too.

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Savory Corn Pudding

Savory Corn Pudding — Emily Laurae / Southern Living

There's no shortage of corn in this savory casserole, six cups to be exact. Although corn pudding is technically a casserole, it has a rich, soft texture that's almost dessert-like. This corn pudding recipe puts a savory spin on the classic with the addition of chopped onion and fresh thyme.

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole — Greg DuPree

Our Test Kitchen looked back at multiple oyster casserole recipes, and, after some tinkering, came up with what we think is the best version ever: plump oysters baked in a rich Parmesan cream sauce and topped with buttery breadcrumbs. You will not be sorry you tried this version, which will turn every oyster stuffing effort before this on its head.

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Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes With Cream Cheese

mashed potatoes in a white oval dish — Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living

These potatoes are great to prepare ahead on the weekends so on busy weeknights all you have to do is pop them in the oven. Just take them out of the refrigerator and let them stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking as directed. If you have it on hand, you can garnish with fresh parsley or paprika.

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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, And Greens Casserole

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole — Hector Sanchez

Make use of an entire head of cauliflower in this veggie-packed recipe. This is an excellent option for those at the table who abstain from meat, and your selection in recipe will get you high praise. Keep this in the rotation for the vegetarian set, and you'll always have a winner.

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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes — Beth Dreiling Hontzas

This cheesy scalloped potato casserole recipe doesn't require much hands-on time and also has a short ingredient list so it comes together quickly. Stirring the potatoes every 10 minutes while they are cooking will help them cook evenly and help the dish stay creamy. And since it's made in a 13x9 dish, there will be plenty of this crowd-pleasing side dish for everyone.

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Candied Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Candied Sweet Potatoes in the baking dish to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

An ingredient as reliable as sweet potatoes needs to get dressed up every once in a while, and this 9x13 recipe really gives them their due. Adorned with rosemary, ginger, and a bit of bourbon, this is one dish to savor.

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Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole - Southern Living — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Skip the stress of making individual twice-baked potatoes, and make a big-batch, much-easier alternative—Twice-Baked Potato Casserole, which is super savory and, importantly, seconds-worthy.

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Corn Pudding Casserole

Corn Pudding Casserole — Courtney West

Another excellent corn pudding, this casserole recipe bakes up a creamy, almost-caramelized corn casserole that will have the whole table talking (and going back for seconds).

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Rum Baked Beans

Rum Baked Beans — Hector Sanchez

Rum is the secret to this side made with a combination of black beans, navy beans, light and dark kidney beans, and a can of baked beans. Brown sugar, ketchup, and bacon provide that smoky-sweet taste the dish is known for.

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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Two-Cheese Squash Casserole — Jennifer Davick

When your summer squash bounty is working overtime, reach for this recipe. This breadcrumb-topped casserole is creamy, cheesy, and so good. Use sliced zucchini for half of the squash in the filling if you have both.

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Grits Dressing

Grits Dressing Recipe — Laurey W. Glenn

Don't reserve dressing only for the holidays. This recipe breaks from tradition and begins with bread made from grits instead of cornmeal. Crumble the bread, combine it with onion, eggs, celery, and herbs, and bake.

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Savannah Red Rice

Savannah Red Rice — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Serve this Georgia rice casserole alongside shrimp, chicken, or pork. Made with tender long-grain rice, tomatoes, and bacon, you can also serve this pilaf dish as a main. Don't be tempted to stir the dish as it bakes so you'll get fluffy rice on top and a nice crust on the bottom.

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Parker House Rolls

Bakes parker house rolls in a baking dish on a wire rack — Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Yeast rolls belong on the Sunday dinner table, and this recipe for Parker House Rolls pairs with almost anything. These buttery, fluffy rolls bake right in a 13x9 pan.

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Creamed Cabbage And Leek Gratin

Creamed cabbage and leek gratin in a casserole dish on a table with water glasses, a small bowl of thyme, a serving spoon, and a napkin. — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Comforting enough for a weeknight and impressive enough for dinner guests, this dish hits all the criteria for a cozy casserole. It's creamy, cheesy, and has a crunchy golden topping. For the best results, grate the cabbage yourself rather than buying pre-shredded from the store.

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Roasted Tomato Macaroni And Cheese

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese — Victor Protasio

This grown-up twist on traditional mac and cheese will be ready in just 30 minutes. Dressing up this tried and true version with fresh tomatoes makes it even more appealing and creates a more restaurant-worthy version. Don't forget the fresh basil—it is there to do more than just fancy-up the presentation.

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