This one dish, make ahead chile cheese casserole recipe is ideal for brunch, lunch or dinner! Made from pantry staples, it goes together in minutes and goes well with just about everything!
Much and all as I'm happy that "fall" has arrived I am not so happy about the "madness" that accompanies it... and no, I am not talking about football! No, I am talking about the madness of the fall calendar - a meeting, work, a conference call and back-to-school-night all at the same time? If that isn't madness than I don't what is. This, of course is nothing new, and has pretty much been happening every year, without fail, since my kids started school.
But it still throws me... every year.
Don't get me wrong, it's all good but it makes dinnertime a little "impossible/crazy/throwing my hands in the air.... oy... and I know everyone of you knows exactly what I am talking about!!! Stressing about dinner (or the lack thereof) doesn't help and so even though I can't always plan the schedule I can at least plan dinner... and I've found that if I have dinner covered than all the other stuff seems much more manageable. Well, that and remembering to breathe.....
So what's my plan? Well, first I acknowledge that a a sit down dinner with a main dish and a couple of side dishes is not gonna happen and that dinner, for better or worse, is going to be a "catch as catch can" affair - everybody eating at different times as they blow through the kitchen on their way to their evening meeting/work/conference call/whatever. Don't ask me why, but it has taken me years to be ok with this....
Which means that dinner has to be a "one dish" affair that can be cooked and re heated ... and over the years I've built a collection of recipes that fit the bill... and this is one of my favorites... Chile Cheese Casserole. You can have it for breakfast, for dinner or just about anytime in between ... and you can make this a day ahead so then all you have to do is pull it out of the refrigerator and bake it... that alone makes it worth it's weight in gold in my book.
📖Recipe
Chile Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 10 eggs
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- ¾ cup roasted Hatch Chiles or other roasted green chiles
- 4 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
- ½ cup flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch casserole (or two pie plates) with cooking spray. Combine eggs, cottage cheese, chiles, and 3 ½ cups of cheese in a large bowl and whisk to blend. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared casserole/pie plates. Bake for 40 minutes or until top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and spread the tomato sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese. Return to oven for 5 - 8 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 - 15 minutes and then slice and serve!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
I've been baking too much; even for me. I'm actually craving something like this...to the point that the pantry is next as soon as I finish this comment. Seriously.
Lora @cakeduchess says
I know the madness you're talking about and love this. I love this because I'm looking for dinner ideas to make life easier. This is delicious!
marla says
Pinned to Comfort Food ~ love it Nancy!!!
the urban baker says
I love, love, love dishes like this! I am with you, Nancy - however unlike you, I am still trying to figure out how to breathe!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Even though I haven't had a school-aged child for years, I remember those busy days so well! Everyone running in different directions and no time to sit down for dinner as a family. Take it from someone who's been there, done that - it gets better.
And would you believe it - I actually have a green chili casserole on my weekend cooking plan? Only hope mine turns out as pretty as yours.
TidyMom says
this looks delicious, we have my daughter's vegetarian friend living with us right now and I think she would love it if I made this!
Allison [Girl's Guide to Social Media] says
This looks fantastic! I def know what you mean about the "craziness."
Madonna says
My mind is just bouncing around like crazy; Sunday Brunch, Saturday Morning Meeting, Sunday Night Dinner. Love the one pie-pan wonder.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
This is just the kind of dinner recipe I love! I like to have things made ahead of time it makes dinnertime so much less stressful.
aida mollenkamp says
It's been a crazy fall for me as well, Nancy! Here's to making it a tasty one even if it continues to be crazy!
nannette says
Look great, but I have one question. Did you use can roasted Hatch Chiles whole or chopped?
thanks
Nancy says
Hi Nannette!
I've actually used both but I think chopped works better - easier to disperse through the casserole and easier to cut! Hope you enjoy it!!
Jeanne Massingill says
Great recipe! I have taken it to different groups and am always asked for the recipe! I have substituted salsa for tomato sauce on top which gives it a little "kick."
Nancy says
Awww... thanks Jeanne!!! Oooh... salsa on top would be fabulous!! It's a great recipe for potlucks and I'm glad everyone enjoys it! Hope to see you at Missy's next month!!!