Translation guide
A baked dish, often a one-pot meal, or the pot itself. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through specific dish names or descriptions.
A dish of meat, vegetables, and often a starchy binder, baked in a deep dish.
The most common Japanese word for a Western-style baked dish with a creamy sauce and often a browned cheese topping. It covers many dishes that English speakers would call a casserole.
今夜はマカロニグラタンを作ります。
I'm making a macaroni casserole tonight.
A direct loanword from English. It is understood, especially in cooking contexts, but less common than グラタン for the food itself. Often refers to the baking dish.
このキャセロールはオーブンで焼きます。
This casserole is baked in the oven.
A descriptive term meaning 'oven-baked dish'. Can be used to explain what a casserole is, but not a common name for a specific dish.
それはオーブン焼きの一種です。
That's a type of casserole.
A deep, oven-safe dish used for baking casseroles.
The loanword is the standard term for the baking dish, especially in recipes and cookware shops.
キャセロールにバターを塗ってください。
Grease the casserole dish with butter.
A general term for any heat-resistant container, including casserole dishes. Useful when the specific English loanword might not be understood.
耐熱容器に入れてオーブンで焼きます。
Put it in a casserole dish and bake it in the oven.
Specifically a dish for making グラタン. It is a type of casserole dish, but the term is less general.
グラタン皿にマカロニを入れます。
Put the macaroni in the casserole dish.
Traditional Japanese dishes that are similar to a casserole in being baked in a single pot.
Dishes cooked in an earthenware pot (土鍋). While often simmered, some are baked, resembling a casserole. Not a direct translation but a cultural equivalent.
土鍋料理は冬に人気があります。
Casserole-type dishes are popular in winter.
グラタン almost always refers to a creamy, cheesy baked dish. キャセロール can refer to the dish itself or a wider variety of baked one-pot meals, but it is less commonly used for the food. If you want to say 'I made a casserole', グラタン is usually the best choice unless you are specifying the cookware.
グラタンが焦げないようにアルミホイルをかぶせた。
I covered the casserole with foil so it wouldn't burn.
In English, 'casserole' can be a broad category. In Japanese, グラタン specifically implies a white sauce or cheese. A baked pasta with tomato sauce might be called オーブン焼きパスタ or simply パスタ, not グラタン. Use descriptive terms if the dish doesn't fit the グラタン profile.
彼女は持ち寄りパーティーにチキンキャセロールを持ってきた。
She brought a chicken casserole to the potluck.
このキャセロールはオーブン対応です。
This casserole dish is oven-safe.