The best casserole dishes for Thanksgiving sides that deserve the spotlight too

The turkey gets all the attention on Thanksgiving, but the casserole dish is the workhorse of the holiday that doesn’t get its due. It carries the green bean casserole, the sweet potatoes, the macaroni and cheese, the stuffing, and whatever your aunt brings that nobody can name. A good one goes from the oven to the table to the fridge without trouble and it heats evenly, so you don’t end up with a scorched edge and a cold middle.If yours is chipped, warped or just too small for the crowd you’re hosting, now is a good time to replace it before the holiday rush. Below, I rounded up some of the best casserole dishes, including classic ceramic and stoneware bakers and more budget-friendly glass sets.Selected.Our top picksBest budget-friendlyLearn moreEvery option on this list has a four-star average rating or greater at retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Crate and Barrel. Caraway’s rectangle pan has a ceramic nonstick coating, so cleanup is easy, even with baked-on cheese. It’s oven-safe up to 550 degrees, and the handles make it simple to carry from the oven to the table.When you need a deeper dish, reach for this Pyrex casserole pan. It’s 3 inches deep and holds about 5 quarts, so it has room for an extra-big batch of whatever you’re making. At under $20, it’s easy on the budget, too. The included lid also makes it easy to transport, so it’s a good choice if you’re bringing a side to someone else’s house.I pull out Le Creuset’s covered baker every Thanksgiving, and I’ve used it for everything, including my delicious mashed potatoes and even brussel sprouts. I also use it on a near weekly basis for things like baked ziti and chicken and rice casserole. At 4 quarts, it fits a big batch for a crowd. My favorite part is the lid, which keeps whatever’s inside warm while everything else finishes cooking. It’s also oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.BETAOxo’s Good Grips stoneware baking dish holds 3 quarts, so it’s a great size for Thanksgiving sides like stuffing, mac and cheese or sweet potato casserole. The stoneware heats evenly throughout, so the center of food cooks through as well as the edges. Sturdy handles make it easy to carry to the table, and the glazed finish cleans up with it. Plus, it comes with a lid that allows you to store leftovers easily.This budget-friendly eight-piece set (including the lids) covers a lot of ground on Thanksgiving. The large dish is roomy enough for a crowd-sized batch of stuffing, while the medium square dishes work well for green bean casserole or mac and cheese and the smaller square is perfect for cranberry sauce. The pans are made from borosilicate glass that’s oven-, freezer-, microwave and dishwasher-safe and come with lids for transport or storing leftovers after the meal.Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.How I chose the best casserole dishesTo find the best casserole dishes, I looked for options with an average rating of at least four stars (all but one received this rating from 500 or more customers). I also wanted to cover a range of budgets and cooking needs, so the list goes from affordable glass bakers to splurge-worthy picks. It includes ceramic, stoneware and glass options, with size variations that work for both big holiday spreads and smaller weeknight dinners.Why trust NBC Selected?I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers home and lifestyle, among other topics. I have recently written stories on the best meat thermometers, how to keep perishable foods safe during a power outage and more. For this story, I researched highly-rated casserole dishes and compiled a list based on options that would fit different needs. Catch up on NBC Selected’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok to stay up to date.