We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Bakeware The 4 Best Casserole Dishes, According to Our Tests We baked more than 12 lasagnas to put the leading models to the test. By Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a New York-based food writer and private chef with a diploma in culinary arts. As an expert in cookware and kitchen tools, she has tested more than 100 kitchen products for Food & Wine, including hand mixers, nonstick pans, and carbon steel pans. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 20, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Favorite Casserole Dish How We Tested Casserole Dishes Factors to Consider Other Casserole Dishes We Tested FAQ Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson A casserole dish is one of the most essential pieces of bakeware you can add to your collection. They're just as important as a cookie sheet, a trusty muffin pan, or a nonstick brownie pan. They're durable and heavy-duty. If treated properly, casserole dishes can be passed down from generation to generation. Whether you make lasagna recipes, macaroni and cheese, or enchiladas, the best casserole dishes can handle cheesy, melty, meaty, and everything in between, effortlessly cleaning up afterwards. In search of the best casserole dishes (also often called lasagna pans), we tested some of the leading models from Great Jones, Made In, and Staub with an all-time classic dish: lasagna. They may not be flashy, but the best casserole dishes are workhorse tools that every baker needs. Our Top Picks Best Overall Casserole Dish: Great Jones Hot Dish at Greatjonesgoods.com Jump to Review Easiest to Clean Casserole Dish: Made In Rectangular Baking Dish at Amazon $79 Jump to Review Best Casserole Dish with Lid: Le Creuset Rectangular Baker With Platter Lid at Amazon $125 Jump to Review Best Value Casserole Dish: Staub Ceramic Rectangular Baking Dish at Amazon $80 Jump to Review Best Overall Casserole Dish Great Jones Hot Dish PHOTO: Great Jones View on Greatjonesgoods.com $90 at West Elm $90 at Urban Outfitters Pros This heavy-duty pan produced crispy lasagna both times we baked it, and we didn't notice any difference in quality when baking it straight from frozen. Cons Be careful when using metal tools — this pan is not scratch-proof. This chic casserole dish is one of the more functional options we tested, and we love that it comes in five colors. Large, looped handles make it easy to grab even with thick oven mitts. This dish performed exceptionally well in our lasagna test by baking casseroles with crispy edges and perfectly tender centers. We love that it fits in a standard oven both side-to-side or front-to-back and is easy to insert, remove, or rotate. The extra-deep sides are perfect for layering homestyle dishes like mac and cheese or enchiladas. This dish is made from ceramic and is not entirely scratch-proof, so be mindful when using metal tools. It's oven-safe up to 500°F and can also be used in the microwave or freezer. We didn't notice any difference in quality when baking lasagna fresh or frozen. The ceramic construction was able to warm up and maintain heat throughout, which ensured an even cooking experience. This is an affordable dish built to last, and the cute design and colorful options make it a joyful addition to any kitchen. Dimensions: 16.5 x 9.25 x 3 inches | Material: Ceramic | Oven-Safe: Up to 500°F | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Freezer-Safe: Yes | Microwave-Safe: Yes | Broiler-Safe: Yes, for short periods of time PHOTO: Food & Wine / Laura Denby PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Easiest to Clean Casserole Dish Made In Rectangular Baking Dish PHOTO: Courtesy of Made In $79 at Amazon View on Madeincookware.com Pros Thanks to the porcelain material and glaze, nothing sticks to this naturally slick dish that can handle high heat with ease. Cons The handles aren't as wide as we would like, so grabbing them with bulky oven mitts can be tricky. This super-slick casserole dish surprised us with how easy it is to clean. Not only did it bake up a perfectly gooey lasagna with a crisp bottom and golden edges, but each piece came away from the pan cleanly, meaning no bits of sauce or cheese were left to scrub away. Although it's dishwasher-safe, we had no trouble washing it by hand. It can accommodate 5.3 quarts of food, so it's perfect for roasting a big batch of veggies or loading up a tray of baked ziti. Thanks to the all-porcelain material, it can handle temperatures of up to 650°F and conducts heat evenly and efficiently with no hot spots. We didn't notice any difference in quality when baking lasagna directly from frozen, and this pan cooked up a crispy, golden, and gooey casserole. However, the handles aren't as big as we would like them. Wearing awkward oven mitts, we didn't feel like we could get the most sturdy grip. Dimensions: 10.75 x 17.25 x 2.75 inches | Material: Porcelain | Oven-Safe: Up to 650°F | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes (hand-wash recommended) | Freezer-Safe: Yes | Microwave-Safe: Yes | Broiler-Safe: Yes PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Laura Denby Best Casserole Dish with Lid Le Creuset Rectangular Baker With Platter Lid PHOTO: Le Creuset $125 at Amazon $125 at Nordstrom View on Le Creuset Pros The lid of this two-piece set doubles as a serving platter. Cons It can't hold as much as the other dishes we tested and is best for smaller batches. For a casserole dish that can transition straight from the oven to the dining table, look no further than this casserole. Like all Le Creuset goods, the enameled dish comes in gorgeous colors that make for a beautiful centerpiece on any dinner table. Its secret is the triple-purpose lid, which can cover the dish in the oven, flip over to act as a serving platter, or act as a cookie sheet-shaped baking dish. The glazed stoneware piece has a slick surface, and although a few bits of cheese and sauce stuck to the edges in testing, it was easy enough to clean by hand. Both pieces are dishwasher-safe and can handle the freezer, oven, microwave, or broiler up to 500°F. Le Creuset stoneware heats evenly and efficiently, and our lasagnas were crispy around the edges and perfectly cooked in the center. The multipurpose lid still creates a tight seal, and the large handles on the dish and lid are easy to grab. If you're looking for a two-in-one product that's just as functional as it is decorative, this option from Le Creuset is a great choice. The main downside is its fairly small capacity compared to the rest of our list, especially given its price. Dimensions: 15.25 x 8.88 x 3 inches | Material: Glazed stoneware | Oven-Safe: Up to 500°F | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes (hand-wash recommended) | Freezer-Safe: Yes | Microwave-Safe: Yes | Broiler-Safe: Yes Food & Wine / Laura Denby Best Value Casserole Dish Staub Ceramic Rectangular Baking Dish PHOTO: Amazon $80 at Amazon $114 $80 at Target $80 at Wayfair Pros This is a high-quality piece is available in six classic colors, at an affordable price. Cons With a lower capacity than some others, it can't accommodate large batches. Staub's enameled ceramic dishes come in an array of pleasing colors that can easily transfer from the oven to the dining room table. Nothing sticks to the porcelain-enameled ceramic, so the dish is easy to clean even when cooking cheesy, gooey casseroles. Each lasagna we cooked came out with crispy edges and golden crusts. We love how affordable this option is, and it's a great choice for any home cook looking to invest in a heritage piece from a reputable brand. Although we love the look of the porcelain enamel, we noticed that the lack of texture in the material made the dish feel more slippery than others. Though it was easy to clean, we were careful while handling it when it was wet and soapy. As long as you avoid dropping it, though, this dish is durable and safe in the microwave, broiler, freezer, and dishwasher. Dimensions: 9.8 x 16.1 x 3.1 inches | Material: Porcelain-enameled ceramic | Oven-Safe: Up to 572°F | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Freezer-Safe: Yes | Microwave-Safe: Yes | Broiler-Safe: Yes PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Laura Denby Our Favorite Casserole Dish Overall, we found the Great Jones Hot Dish to be the best casserole dish we tested because it combines form and function to deliver exceptionally crispy, golden casseroles. We love that the handles make it easy to maneuver, and the slick surface is easy to clean. It's an affordable and elegant addition to any home cook's collection. How We Tested Casserole Dishes We chose seven casserole dishes to test head-to-head for this story. After running a series of tests, we rated each in several categories, including ease of use, cooking performance, and overall design. Food & Wine / Laura Denby Holding and carrying: To assess how the pans felt in our hands, we picked them up with bare hands and while wearing oven mitts. We considered whether the casseroles felt sturdy, slippery, or especially heavy. We considered whether the handles offered enough room to hold the dish while wearing bulky mitts, and we also looked at how easy the hot pans were to rotate in the oven and remove from it. Lasagna tests: We baked two batches of Grandma's lasagna recipe in each pan, observing how evenly the lasagna cooked and whether the bottoms wound up crispy, soggy, browned, or mushy. We placed the second batch of lasagna in the freezer overnight, then reheated it in the oven and looked at the same characteristics. Since casseroles are popular big-batch recipes and are often frozen, we wanted to assess whether or not the fluctuation in temperature impacted functionality. Cleaning: Between batches of lasagna, we washed each casserole dish according to the manufacturer's instructions, paying attention to how much food stuck to the pan and how easily it was to remove. We used the dishwasher for pans labeled dishwasher-safe but found that most pans only needed a light scrub by hand. Factors to Consider Material A casserole dish generally has thick sides and is designed to cook food for a fairly long period, so a material that conducts and retains heat well is important. Glass pans are simple and convenient because they allow you to peer in between the layers of your dish to see how ingredients are cooking without cutting into it. However, glass doesn't conduct heat as efficiently or evenly as other materials. Ceramic dishes can handle very high heat and distribute heat quite evenly. Glazed ceramic is often nonporous and naturally nonstick, making it easy to clean. There are also enameled cast-iron casserole dishes with a heavy metal interior to transmit heat and a glassy glaze to prevent sticking. Baking pans made of bare metal like steel or aluminum can substitute for a casserole dish. However, these materials transmit heat very effectively to the outside of food, making metal casserole dishes prone to overcooking on the exterior before the inside can finish. Handles Casserole dishes are heavy-duty pieces of cookware that can be challenging to lift, particularly when hot. That's why handles are an essential feature to consider when shopping for one. Handles should be big enough to grab easily with bare hands, and while wearing bulky oven mitts. Larger, thicker handles give you a better grip and keep your thumbprints out of the lasagna, but they also increase the overall size of the dish. Handles can be loop-shaped or simple tabs; that's mostly up to personal preference but keep in mind that oven mitts won't fit inside small loops. Cleaning and Care As with any new cookware, it's important to consider cleaning and storage rules before purchasing a casserole dish. Many casserole dishes, like some of our other favorite kitchen tools, are dishwasher-safe, but they can be prone to burnt-on messes that require pre-soaking or extra scrubbing. Glazed and enamel-coated dishes are fairly nonstick and easy to clean, but remember that the glaze can sometimes chip or scratch if you use metal tools. Other Casserole Dishes We Tested Caraway Rectangle Pan ($55 at Caraway) This nonstick option from editor-loved brand Caraway baked up crispy, crunchy lasagna with golden crusts and tender insides. Nothing stuck to the pan, it was easy to clean, and we loved how easy it was to scoop out even the most gooey ingredients. Despite the functionality and convenience of this pan's interior, we found the handles to be a bit too shallow, which made it difficult to transport in and out of the oven even with gloves on. Be mindful when using metal tools as well; we noticed the nonstick surface had scratches after the first use. Food & Wine / Laura Denby Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between a casserole dish and a baking dish? “A casserole dish and a baking dish are the same thing: an oven-safe piece of cookware, usually made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass,” says Anthony Contrino, an Emmy Award–winning culinary producer and food stylist. "They can come in various shapes, with the most common being rectangular, oval, or square. They're most often used for pasta bakes, lasagna, gratins, bread puddings, and cobblers." These dishes have thick walls that transfer heat slowly but very evenly. The terminology gets confusing when you talk about baking pans. These are most often made of thin metal that heats and cools more quickly, and come in a wider range of shapes and sizes. They're used for things like cakes and breads – think cookie sheet or loaf pan. What is the average size of a casserole dish? Casserole dishes are one of the most important large-capacity kitchen tools you'll need. "The standard size of a casserole dish is 9 by 13 inches. However, due to varying shapes, they are often measured by volume, with three quarts being average,” says Contrino. “It is important to note that if a recipe calls only for a 'casserole dish,' it is most likely asking for a 9- by 13-inch rectangular size. Different shapes, like ovals, can be the same length but not the same volume. Also, most standard casserole dishes are two inches deep. So if your recipe asks for a deep casserole, it is likely needing the extra volume of a three-inch-deep vessel." Our Expertise Laura Denby is a food and wine writer with a degree in culinary arts from the Institute of Culinary Education. She has worked as a caterer and private chef in kitchens throughout the New York area and utilizes her professional culinary experience to guide her thoughtful, analytical product recommendations. Laura personally tested all the casserole dishes featured in this story. You can read more of her product reviews at Real Simple, Southern Living, FoodNetwork.com, and SELF. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit