Vintage Casseroles
Love them or hate them, you can’t talk about classic American cooking without talking about the casserole. They have a complicated reputation, in fact a famous food critic, John Mariani, blamed casseroles for the beginning of the Dark Ages of American cooking. But we all probably remember a casserole dish we absolutely love, and casseroles still remain a huge part of most people’s diet. So how did we get here, and what exactly is a casserole anyway?
CASSEROLE HISTORY
They actually have a pretty interesting and long history. Did you know the very first documented casserole was from the year 1250? It was baked macaroni and cheese. A classic. And as humble as they are now, the French are actually given credit for inventing them. In fact, the word ‘casserole’ is French, meaning sauce pan. And they were far from humble. They were considered pretty fancy, actually. They used a lot of expensive ingredients that took a lot of time to prepare with equipment and dishes that weren’t practical at the time.
Humble food was stew, or porridge. Things that could be cooked in a large quantity, and over an open fire. Casseroles were considered pretty fancy stuff. So why the change from fancy living to as humble as it gets?
Well there are lots of reasons, like ready access to easy to use ovens, but there are really two things that are considered responsible for the advent of the modern American casserole. Two companies, actually - Campbell’s, and Pyrex.
In midcentury america, Campbell’s soup made creamy, complex soups, the base for most casseroles, that would otherwise take all day to make, cheap and readily accessible.
And Pyrex brought this - the casserole dish. Believe it or not, there was a time when a Pyrex Casserole dish wasn’t in every American kitchen. I know, weird. They didn’t invent it or anything, but they did make it practical and tough, perfect for any average home.
That did it. With tasty, easy Campbell’s soup in one hand, and a 9x13 Pyrex dish in the other, American home cooks began their love affair with the casserole.
Sometimes it was delicious, sometimes it was a mess, but it was always creative, and cooks found a way to express themselves, and feed the whole family, without spending all day at the stove, or breaking the bank.
THE ORIGINAL PEASANT MEAL
It’s awesome, really, and it totally makes sense why they were so popular. Which is why I was super sad when I read a Buzzfeed article recently about how modern cooks consider casseroles too expensive to make anymore.
Too expensive? How? I remember all the casseroles I ate growing up. It was like magic - a little pile of leftover meat became a whole big cheesy, crunchy dish with a can of soup, a handful veggies, and a starch. It was as cheap as it gets. So what happened?
Well, the real purpose of casseroles got lost somewhere along the way, and as much as I love and admire all the fancy ways you can make them extra special and beautiful, looks and gourmet ingredients were never an important factor. Cheap was important, quick and easy was important, and using up leftovers was important. Not much else mattered.
WHAT IS A CASSEROLE, ANYWAY?
So to get back to that, let’s talk about what a casserole is exactly. There aren’t a lot of rules, but one of the only ones - they’re baked. Specifically, baked with something on top, either cheesy, or crunchy, or sometimes both. And inside? A rich sauce. No rules on what kind of- rich cream, bright tomato, it doesn’t matter, but a flavorful sauce is the a must. And to soak up all that sauce? Usually some sort of starch. Noodles, or rice, or stale bread, use your imagination. From there, it’s veggies and some sort of protein (usually leftovers).
That’s about it. With just those things, you’ve got a casserole.
MAKE ONE WITH ME!
Now talking about casseroles has gotten me hungry, so it’s time to make some! And what better place to find some awesome OG casseroles than straight from the source?
Vintage community cookbooks are packed with authentic, midcentury casserole recipes, so let’s make a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them, and even recreate them, but more importantly that you use them as an anchor for your own creative expression, and make your own casseroles. Delicious, comforting, and most importantly cheap. You’ll find links to some amazing vintage casserole recipes below. I’d love it if you joined me to celebrate our most humble dish.
WANT TO COOK THE RECIPES IN THIS SERIES? SEE BELOW FOR LINKS!
KITCHENWARE USED IN THIS SERIES
VINTAGE PYREX
Homestead from the 1970’s
Other Recipes in this Series
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Viva La Chicken Casserole
A classic creamy chicken casserole everyone grew up with a version of.
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Chicken Curry Rice Casserole
Sometimes taking the time to do things the slow way is best. You’ll see what I mean with this delicious creamy casserole.
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Bride’s Pride Casserole
A surprisingly fresh casserole with Asian flavors, packed with veggies.
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Sea Shell Casserole
A meaty, delicious pasta casserole the whole family will love.
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Cheese Grits Casserole
Delicious, cheap, and satisfying. Everything a great casserole should be!
