Holiday tables across the United States are filled with dishes that hold as much history and nostalgia as they do flavor.

Before the word “casserole” ever appeared on a mid-century recipe card, the concept already existed in kitchens centuries earlier. Early cooks didn’t have canned cream soups, boxed pasta, or frozen ...

American casseroles span many periods, exemplified by Depression-era shipwreck casserole and the million dollar recipes of the '50s. And while some have become engrained in modern gastronomy, others — ...