Chicken is okay. Pork is perfectly fine. But there's something about beef casserole recipes that make the meal hearty and comforting. Try it in the form of cottage pies, lasagna, and more.

Meatball Casserole

Go ahead and have a ball with dinner: Handmade meatballs (2-inch thick) simmer in a large ovenproof skillet with flavorful add-ins like pepper flakes, garlic, parsley, and pecorino.

More of a traditional "meat and potatoes" person? These two ingredients come together in one baking dish with this classic bake.

This skillet casserole is made with layers of sliced zucchini, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese. The secret ingredient is our quick meat sauce, which you can make in less than 30 minutes ... and pretty much put on anything.

Here's a hearty shepherd's pie that's worth every effort. The seasoned beef stew and topping components can each be made up to five days in advance, and then easily assembled and baked at a moment's notice.

Lasagna never disappoints at supper time, especially since this one is made with a mix of ground sirloin and ground veal.

Lasagna is a guilty pleasure, but that doesn't mean it can't be a wholesome meal. We swapped typically heavy ingredients for whole-wheat noodles, low-fat cottage cheese, and lean ground sirloin. (Believe us, you'll taste the difference.)

In this baked dish, crispy leaves of green cabbage are stuffed with a hearty mixture of onion, long-grain white rice, and (you guessed it) ground beef.