Food and Recipes Side Dishes 8x8 Side Dishes That'll Steal The Spotlight Give your 9x13 casserole dish a rest, and enjoy all the side dish possibilities with your 8x8 casserole dish. By Emma Phelps Emma Phelps Emma Phelps is an Editorial Fellow who covers lifestyle, beauty, and food content for Southernliving.com.She also works on Southern Living's social media across all platforms from Facebook to TikTok. You'll find everything from her grandma's crisp linen secrets to products she can't live without under her byline. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 23, 2024 Close Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox The convenience of casseroles will never be lost on us. Whether prepping for a dinner party or looking for an easy and filling weeknight dinner, a casserole will always have your back. If your 9x13-inch casserole dish is just a bit too large for your dinner crowd, then the small but mighty 8x8-inch casserole dish is just the kitchen sidekick for you. We rounded up our favorite 8x8 side dishes to simplify your weekly dinner plans. It's no surprise that these casseroles are all hearty, creamy, and cheesy and include practically any vegetable you can name. Looking for a healthier alternative to your kid's favorite mac and cheese? These recipes won't disappoint. With the side dishes under control, now you just need to figure out what to serve for the main course. 40 Side Dishes For Chicken The Whole Family Will Love 01 of 13 Cabbage Casserole Photography: Victor Protasio, Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck, Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This casserole is inspired by the creamy taste of Au Gratin Potatoes, so your kids won't even notice that there's a leafy green hiding under the Parmesan bread crumb topping. The potato disks of au gratin are replaced with a base of cabbage and onions that lead with a dynamic, snappy texture. Get the Recipe 02 of 13 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall A cross between cornbread, a soufflé, and cornbread dressing, this savory spoon bread complements a casual weeknight dinner or a holiday spread. Add in cooked sausage, ham cubes, cheese, or corn for a heartier dish. Get The Recipe 03 of 13 Shoepeg Corn Casserole Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Make this dish ahead of time and freeze up to 6 months to give yourself a head-start on any holiday meal or family dinner. If frozen, let the casserole thaw completely before adding the topping. Pop the dish in the oven just before guests to arrive. Get the Recipe 04 of 13 Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas This recipe saves time because you make the grits ahead and bake before serving. Adding the grits to the pot slowly while stirring is key to the dish's creaminess and no lumps. Instead of individual ramekins, you can make this in your 8x8 casserole dish. Get The Recipe 05 of 13 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Everyone will reach for a second helping of this traditional Southern casserole. It's hard to resist the flakey, buttery cracker topping with the creamy cheese and squash mixture. This savory and satisfying recipe requires only affordable and readily available ingredients. Get the Recipe 06 of 13 Pineapple Casserole Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This holiday side dish is good enough to serve any time of year. Pineapple chunks, cheddar cheese, and Ritz crackers may sound like a strange combination, but it's truly a delicacy. The unique flavors are enough to impress even the choosiest casserole connoisseur. Get the Recipe 07 of 13 Hashbrown Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Your 8x8 casserole dish is the best option, if you don't have another 2-quart baking dish on hand. Southerners are unapologetic about their knack for turning practically any dish into a creamy, cheesy affair, and this Hashbrown Casserole is no exception. If you’re reheating leftovers and wish to have something more substantial, you can put an egg on top. Get the Recipe 08 of 13 Macaroni Corn Casserole Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Combine the creamy pasta goodness of Mac and Cheese with the sweetness of creamed corn, and you have yourself a Macaroni Corn Casserole. Dry mustard, garlic, scallions, and cayenne pepper bring a hefty dose of flavor, but it's the browned panko topping that will truly have you melting from the very first bite. Get the Recipe 09 of 13 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray This casserole is comfort in a 2-quart dish. Serve it alongside your favorite soup or protein for a filling meal. You can prepare this recipe one day in advance and chill the unbaked dish, covered, in the refrigerator. Let the dish come to room temperature before popping it in the oven. Get the Recipe 10 of 13 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This cauliflower casserole is ready in just 45 minutes, and it may even fool your kids into thinking it's a mac and cheese dish. This is a great weeknight casserole option. It makes a statement at any potluck supper, too. For a party-ready touch, add a dash of parsley to your casserole as soon as you pull it out of the oven. Get the Recipe 11 of 13 Asparagus Gratin Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin This decadent casserole dresses up spring's favorite veggie. You'll want to add this cheesy casserole to your Easter sideboard. Just know that making extra is probably your best option. Get the Recipe 12 of 13 Potato-And-Rutabaga Gratin Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Revamp this favorite side dish with healthier ingredients. Swap half of the potatoes for sliced rutabaga and heavy cream for milk. The earthy, slightly sweet rutabaga flavor will make this creamy side a favorite you'll want to make again and again. Get the Recipe 13 of 13 Skillet Squash Blossom Iain Bagwell Don't let the short ingredient list fool you. This is one incredibly flavorful—and beautiful!—side dish. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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