Hamburger Casserole

Life sure can get busy! Meals like this delicious Hamburger Casserole Recipe make for an amazing dinner while being so easy. I love that this recipe uses pasta and a really delicious cream based sauce. It is different from traditional hamburger casserole recipes and a nice change.

Everyone is happy, dinner is easy and my grocery wins as well. This is a great way to stretch the ground beef so just a great meal all around to try. You may even like this Hamburger Hash Recipe, Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole Recipe, Italian Crescent Casserole, Cornbread Casserole or Gluten Free Hamburger Casserole Recipe.

Why We Love This Recipe

If you love comfort food, try this beef casserole. From the shredded cheese to the tomato base sauce, it is amazing.

Not only is it so quick and easy but the entire dish is delicious. This hamburger casserole recipe is just the best.

You can toss this together in minutes for the best dinner. Enjoy a great meal even without during busy weeks.  It’s perfect for busy nights.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – Change meat to ground turkey, Italian Sausage or ground chicken
• Onion – You can also sneak in bell peppers or shredded carrots
• Tomato Sauce – Adds liquid to give it amazing flavors
• Garlic Powder – See The Best Garlic Powder Substitute if you are out
• Italian Seasoning – Learn How to Make Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Macaroni Pasta – Any noodles will work, you can even use egg noodles
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese (divided) – Add in Mozzarella Cheese for a delicious melty cheese mixture to add to the ground beef casserole recipe

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Hamburger Casserole

• Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13×9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. 
• Step 2 – Cook noodles according to directions on the package to al dente. 

Step 3 – In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onion together (breaking up of the beef as it cooks) until all the pink is gone.  Drain off any excess grease if needed. 

Step 4 – Stir in the tomato sauce, sugar, garlic powder, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. 

Step 5 – Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the cooked pasta and ½ cup of the shredded cheese. 

Step 6 – Pour the ground beef mixture into the baking dish and top with the remaining shredded cheese. 

• Step 7 – Bake for 10-15 minutes (uncovered) until the cheese is melted.  
• Step 8 – Remove from the oven.  Let the casserole sit for at least 10 minutes and then it’s ready to serve and enjoy.

Expert Tips

• Baking Dish – We make this hamburger casserole in a nice 9×13 casserole dish. Amazon has some on sale right now. Or if you want to make clean up a breeze try using one of these foil pans. They are great because you just throw them away when you are done.
• Cut Vegetables – To easily chop the onions and any vegetables that you might add, use a small food chopper or processor to quickly and easily dice the onions.  If you do not have one of these, I highly recommend them. Prepare ahead of time and learn how to freeze peppers and  how to freeze onions and you will save so much time in the kitchen.
• Prepare Baking Dish – To easily serve and cleaning the baking dish, make sure to spray with cooking spray before spreading in the cheeseburger casserole.
• Cooking Ground Beef – Cook the ground beef in a large skillet before mixing with the other ingredients. You will need to drain off any excessive grease.

Serving Suggestions

Serve it with a simple green salad and you are set!  We also like steamed broccoli or grilled green beans for an easy side dish.

If you have a few extra minutes, we also love Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks Recipe. It is perfect for getting every last bit of that tasty sauce.