A casserole, from the French for "saucepan,"'s a large, deep pot or dish used both in the oven and as a serving dish. The word casserole's also used for the food cooked and served in such a dish, with the dish itself called a "casserole dish". Gastronomy Types of casserole include ragout, hotpot, cassoulet and carbonnade. A distinction may be made between casseroles and stews: stewing's a cooking process whereby heat's applied to the bottom of the cooking vessel (typically over a fire or on a ho… (More on Casserole)