How to make a casserole

Moved here: ascorbic Klaproth says I ate your writeup How to make a casserole. Good, but it should be in the casserole node. Could you repost it there. Thanks. Node Heaven will become its new residence.

A casserole (apart from a dish) is a very basic all-inclusive meal that helps add on some extra padding during the winter months. It can be eaten any time of year, but is generally avoided in the summer because no one really wants to eat a heavy, hot supper. A casserole is comprised of 3-4 basic items:

Select a meat and cook it, cook some pasta, add some sauce and vegetables. Mix it all together, throw it in an oven-safe dish. Cover with cheese or bread crumbs (optional) and bake until the cheese is melted, the bread crumbs are toasty, or it has achieved your desired temperature.

Need more help? Here are a few common ingredients from each Category:
Meat:


Pasta
Sauce
Vegetables/Filler

You'll notice you do get some veggie goodness in some of the sauce selection. But it's always good to add your own, to round the casserole out a bit. Don't forget to add your favourite herbs and spices.

Experimentation is good. Mix and match, and enjoy.


Examples:

Tuna Casserole/Tuna Mac:
Meat: Can of Tuna
Pasta: Macaroni, Kraft Dinner
Sauce: Can of Tomatoes or the cheese sauce if using Kraft Dinner
Veggies: Celery, Onion, Garlic, Sundried tomatoes, Hot peppers
Directions: Give the tuna a quick warming with some olive oil and the veggies to bring out the flavours. At the same time, have the pasta cooking. Drain the pasta. Mash the tomatoes if using a can of tomatoes, or prepare the Cheese sauce. Mix the meat and veggies with the pasta. Throw it all into an oven safe dish. Cover with cheese and/or bread crumbs, and bake at 350-400 F until the cheese melts.
Tomato Macaroni Casserole:
Mom's favourite
Meat: Ground beef
Pasta: Macaroni
Sauce: Can of Tomatoes
Veggies: Onion, Garlic
Directions: Cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic. Cook the macaroni at the same time. Mix the meat and veggies with the pasta. Throw it all into an oven safe dish, and bake at 350-400 F until bubbling.
"Goulash" Casserole:
Meat: Any type of beef, about 1/2 pound
Pasta: Anything goes
Sauce: A can of Tomato soup and a can of Cream of your choice
Veggies: Onion, Garlic, celery, carrots
Directions: Cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic and other veggies. Cook the pasta at the same time. Mix the meat and veggies with the pasta, with the two cans of soup. It will be really thick and goey. Throw it all into an oven safe dish, and bake at 350-400 F until bubbling.
Chicken Penne Casserole:
Meat: some Chicken breast, cubed
Pasta: Penne (or anthying else...)
Sauce: A can of Cream of your choice
Veggies: Onion, Garlic, sundried tomatoes, and if you like, some peas
Directions: Cook the chicken with the onion and garlic and other veggies in some olive oil. Cook the pasta at the same time. Mix the meat and veggies with the pasta, with the can of soup. Throw it all into an oven safe dish, and bake at 350-400 F until bubbling.