Description
Midwestern cheeseburger casserole delivers classic comfort with ground beef, cheese, and pasta layers. Home cooks appreciate this hearty dish that combines familiar flavors in one satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Optional Garnish:
- Pickles
- Ketchup
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Cook pasta until al dente, then thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, sautéing chopped onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small pieces and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Eliminate excess fat from the meat by carefully draining.
- Pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and season with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer and meld flavors for 5 minutes.
- Combine cooked pasta with the seasoned beef mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Transfer the combined mixture to a greased casserole dish, spreading evenly.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the top of the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts completely and develops a golden, bubbly texture.
- Optional: Garnish with sliced pickles or drizzle ketchup before serving hot.
Notes
- Customize the cheese by swapping cheddar with pepper jack or mozzarella for different flavor profiles.
- Reduce carbohydrate content by substituting pasta with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a low-carb alternative.
- Enhance protein intake by adding extra lean ground beef or mixing in ground turkey for more nutritional variety.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to meld and making weeknight dinners faster and easier.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg