This Convenient Casserole Has Disappeared From Modern Dinner Tables

Some meals may not be the prettiest to look at or serve, but they sure can make good use of the ingredients you have stocked in your kitchen. Such is the case with a recipe that has become known as shipwreck casserole. Akin to a garbage salad, in which you use whatever produce you have on hand to make a salad recipe, shipwreck casserole involves making the most out of what you've got lying around your kitchen.

Although it's impossible to say who first came up with the idea of tossing ingredients into a dish to bake, it's believed that this resourceful casserole recipe has been gracing dinner tables since the 1940s. The one-pan process makes cleanup easy, and the modular, easy-to-customize recipe means that a range of dietary restrictions can be accommodated. 

Leftovers will last a few days in the fridge or can be frozen for an even longer shelf life, making this assembly a fantastic choice for Sunday meal prep projects. Unfortunately, the dish rarely shows up on modern menus, but the convenience and ease of tossing a bunch of ingredients into a dish to bake is a practice we fully support. 

Recipes for "Ship Wreck" are often found in 1940s cookbooks, with lists of ingredients often including sliced potatoes, cooked rice, chopped celery, and canned kidney beans — all without measurements. This left the ratios up to the individual cook to decide. Whether you've got some extra ground beef you need to make use of, cans of tomatoes in your pantry, or hash browns sitting in the freezer, adding some chopped vegetables or creamed corn, cheese, seasoning, and butter to the lineup is a surefire way to create a flavor-packed and filling meal. 

Topping your shipwreck casserole with corn flakes or tortilla chips can add a satisfying textural crunch, and enhancing dishes with your favorite seasonings — even taco seasoning will do the trick — can turn up the flavor dial. Serve with your favorite accompaniments, like sour cream or homemade ketchup, and add a touch of freshness with a garnish of garden herbs. 

Although shipwreck casserole isn't as popular as they once were, this is a creative culinary option that deserves some serious consideration. If you're looking to save a bit of money or cut time in the kitchen preparing meals, this kind of thrifty recipe may be just the ticket for some of this week's meals. Simply open the door to your pantry, browse around in your fridge, and let your cravings lead the way.