We Tested Casserole Carriers—These 5 Deliver Stunning Meals Right to the Table

Our Top Pick

Rachael Ray Expandable Lasagna Lugger

$35 $30 at Amazon

This classy casserole carrier transports your favorite heated or chilled dish—or dishes if you unzip the expandable top to reveal a second, separate compartment. Each compartment zips along heat-welded seams and is protected by an insulated, leakproof liner. Still, when you pack a single pan of creamy au gratin potatoes, the extra space tucks so neatly into the carrier’s top that you’ll hardly notice it.

The bag’s straps are securely stitched to the main compartment yet long enough to stretch taut if you fill the expansion compartment. A padded handle wrap snaps the side straps together so that you can comfortably carry the bag in one hand. The second compartment and handle wrap come in patterned fabric that complements a range of solid colors. An outside zippered pocket on the top holds serving utensils.

Soft surfaces keep the carrier lightweight but lack a rigid dividing layer, so a smaller top pan could push the liner against an uncovered dish in the bottom section. Fortunately, the bag’s smooth lining makes messes easy to clean off.

Allstar Nikki Russell loved the size of this carrier, which fit her 9 x 13 baking dish perfectly. “It was snug enough to where it slid in nicely without a lot of extra space for it to be sliding around in transit,” she says. “I made a tater tot casserole to share with my coworkers and was very impressed at how hot it kept it. Between my long commute and then waiting for the entire team to arrive, it sat in the carrier for three hours.” There was no damage to the interior Triple-Tek foam insulation, even as the casserole came directly out of a 400°F oven, and the expandable design folded down nicely for storage. The only problem she found was that getting a heavy, piping-hot casserole in the carrier could be a bit tricky without a second set of hands since the corners fold inwardly.

The Details: 10.5 x 16.5 x 4.2 to 6.5 inches; holds two 9 x 13-inch casserole dishes; polyester fabric exterior, foam insulation, foil liner

Best Budget

LUNCIA Insulated Casserole Carrier

$22 $17 at Amazon

Most casserole carriers fall in a narrow price range, so our budget pick is as much about quality as cost. The water- and dirt-resistant exterior fabric encloses layers of waterproof coating, thick foam, and a food-grade foil liner. Heat-sealed seams make the main compartment leakproof, and all surfaces are easy to clean.

The design resembles a mini suitcase, with dual zippers that fully open the lid to the back side and a full-width, single-zipper pocket for utensils and napkins on the top. Sturdy straps wrap up the sides and meet over the top with a padded Velcro grip.

Although this bag only holds one pan, it’s tall enough for a deep-dish casserole or pie. It’s just large enough that you could probably squeeze in an 11 x 15-inch pan if it didn’t have handles, but a 9 x 13-inch dish fits most comfortably. If you need more room, Luncia makes a similar 8.3-inch tall carrier that holds two standard casserole dishes in separate compartments, but unlike our top pick, the extra compartment does not zip down when carrying just one dish.

After testing it herself, Allstar Jenny Aleman de Bolaños found this casserole carrier to be leakproof, stainproof, easy to clean, and comfortable to carry. She used it to carry homemade cinnamon rolls, which stayed hot for over 2.5 hours and warm for about six hours. “Despite its collapsible design, the Luncia Insulated Carrier is incredibly sturdy and effectively protects your dishes and food,” she says. “Smaller containers might experience some jostling during transport, but this can be easily prevented by surrounding them with kitchen towels.”

The Details: 11.4 x 15.7 x 4.7 inches; holds one 9 x 13-inch casserole dish; Oxford fabric exterior, foam insulation, foil liner

Best Hard-Shell

Arctic Zone Food Pro Deluxe Thermal Carrier

$35 at Amazon

Arctic Zone specializes in insulated products like soft coolers, so the look and protection that go into its single-dish food carrier come as no surprise. With a molded base and top covered by durable fabric on the outside, there’s no risk of the carrier collapsing unexpectedly or the lid pressing into the casserole inside.

The compact design still incorporates all of the expected casserole carrier features. The sturdy handle riveted into the lid is small but lightly padded for comfort. The compartment unzips around the back corners to open completely. The storage pouch hides inside the lid, making it most suitable for flat items, and unzips around three sides for easy access.

This carrier’s standout feature is the flexible and reversible neoprene trivet that fits inside the compartment. Arctic Zone says that glass baking dishes that have been in the oven at 450°F for at least 30 minutes can be placed directly on the trivet, whereas the carrier’s sewn-in liner is only heat resistant to 176°F. The trivet not only lets you move warmer food but also adds extra padding around the pan.

“While the hard shell design offers excellent protection, it's important to note that it's not collapsible, so storage might require more planning,” says Jenny. In tests, the top compartment for storing utensils, plates, or ice packs stood out, as well as the smooth two-way zippers that ensure effortless opening and closing for easy access to the interior compartment. She was also impressed with how it kept food hot for over three hours and warm for eight hours. While it kept cheesecake cold for two hours with ice packs, Jenny says it did perform better with hot items.

The Details: 11.25 x 17.5 x 5.25 inches; holds one 9 x 13-inch casserole dish; polyester fabric exterior, ethylene vinyl acetate-molded top and base, thermal insulation, reflective heat shield, poly-EVA liner

Most Durable

OXO Good Grips Insulated Bakeware Carrier

$36 $33 at Amazon $30 at Oxo $30 at The Container Store

This single-dish carrier has a narrower bottom and flared sides that cradle a baking dish. As you zip it closed with the dual zippers, the lid nestles against the pan’s handles. The bag closes so tightly around a 9 x 13-inch pan that the contents have little room to spill, but Oxo notes that it might not fit all bakeware.

Extralong straps give you the option of carrying it over your shoulder, although you’ll probably want to keep it in hand and as flat as possible unless it holds a solid 9 x 13 cake. The thick straps are sturdy enough that even a heavy meatless lasagna can be hefted with ease.

Oxo says the exterior is made from recycled material, even the zippered top pocket that’s large enough to hold serving utensils. The aluminum lining covers the insulative foam and wipes clean as easily as the exterior fabric. The carrier comes in cream and white or bright red tones.

There were several features that stood out to Allstar Nikki about this carrier during tests—most notably the length of the handles, which makes it easier to carry, as well as the reinforcement throughout the carrier (rather than flimsy edges that fold in), which makes it simple to drop the casserole dish in and go. “This thing is a workhorse,” she says. “The quality is exceptional. It is extremely sturdy, durable, and stands apart from others I've used in the past.”

The Details: 11.2 x 16.9 x 4.5 inches; holds one 9 x 13-inch casserole dish; polyester fabric exterior, foam insulation, aluminum fabric liner

Best Color Options

Mier Insulated Double Casserole Carrier

$34 at Amazon $33 at Walmart View on Miersports.com

This double-casserole insulated bag will make your potluck contributions the talk of the party even before people dig into the dishes. It comes in a dozen colors, most with a fun pattern around the top deck and bright, contrasting straps.

Once open, each deck features easy-to-clean lining and padded foam thick enough that you could put a hot, classic tuna casserole on one level and a cold, old-fashioned potato salad on the other. To transport just one dish, the top deck collapses and zips down to look like a single-dish carrier with an extra-thick lid.

Each level holds a standard casserole dish, but the lower deck has enough vertical space for a deeper dish. Two zippers meet at the front of each section, and a third zippered pocket on the lid offers bonus storage. A padded wrap joins the two handles and makes the loaded bag comfortable to lift and move. The carrier is built to last and comes with a limited two-year warranty if you buy it directly from Mier or an authorized retailer.

Allstar Jenny used it to carry a lasagna and a peach cobbler at the same time, both of which stayed hot for nearly three hours; although they cooled down significantly after six hours, they still remained warm. “The double capacity with two cases is perfect for transporting multiple dishes, especially during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas,” she says. “The carrier itself is incredibly sturdy and well-built, ensuring my food stays safe and secure. It's a fantastic purchase that I know I'll be using frequently throughout the year.”

She did find that the carrier struggled to maintain a low temperature with cold foods. Even with two ice packs, ice cream cups melted significantly within two hours, so she recommends using the carrier for cold food only when traveling short distances.

The Details: 11 x 16 x 4.75 to 7.5 inches; holds two 9 x 13-inch casserole dishes; polyester fabric exterior, foam insulation, foil liner