A casserole is a one-dish meal that's baked and served from a sturdy baking dish that's itself known as a casserole. It is a kind of large, deep pan or bowl used for cooking a variety of dishes in the oven; it is also a category of foods cooked in such a vessel. To distinguish the two uses, the pan can be called a "casserole dish" or "casserole pan," whereas the food is simply "a casserole"
. A casserole typically consists of a mix of different ingredients cooked together in the oven, such as chopped vegetables, meat, and a starchy binder like flour, potato, rice, or pasta. It can also include a crunchy or cheesy topping and is usually served from the same dish it is cooked in
. In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat or fish, various chopped or canned vegetables, and a starchy binder
. Casseroles can be simple dump-and-mix dishes or elaborate, old-fashioned, and multi-step recipes, and they can be prepared in various oven-safe vessels typically made from glass, ceramic, or enameled cast iron
