Description
Hearty cheeseburger casserole delivers classic comfort with ground beef, melted cheese, and crispy potato topping. Home cooks can quickly prepare this satisfying meal that brings family dinner favorites into one simple, delicious dish you’ll want to make again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Pasta and Cheese:
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni or rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Canned Ingredients:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces / 227 grams) tomato sauce
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth or water
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C), ensuring an ideal cooking environment for the casserole.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature. Sauté ground beef and onions together, breaking meat into crumbly pieces until beef browns and onions soften, approximately 5-7 minutes. Eliminate excess grease thoroughly.
- Incorporate garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce, mustard, and seasonings into the meat mixture. Allow ingredients to meld and simmer for 5 minutes, developing rich flavor profiles.
- Simultaneously prepare pasta in boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm. Drain pasta completely and set aside.
- Blend cooked pasta directly into the seasoned meat mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients throughout the dish.
- Carefully transfer the combined mixture into a prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly to create a uniform layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the top, creating a melty golden surface.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden blanket.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch. Serve piping hot directly from the oven.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting black pepper or adding red pepper flakes for extra kick.
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for healthier protein alternatives.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish celiac-friendly and easily accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep ingredients beforehand to reduce cooking time and create a stress-free meal preparation experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg