Description
Comfort meets convenience in this mouthwatering Cheeseburger Casserole, blending classic burger flavors with hearty pasta. Families and friends will savor each cheesy, meaty bite, making dinner an instant crowd-pleasing celebration of home-style deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (e.g., elbow macaroni)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Protein and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Tomato-Based Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef with diced onions over medium-high heat, carefully draining any excess fat.
- Incorporate diced tomatoes, tomato paste, mustard, ketchup, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper into the meat mixture, stirring until well combined.
- Gently fold cooked pasta into the seasoned beef, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt completely and develop a golden, bubbly surface.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to help set the ingredients.
Notes
- Select short pasta like rotini or shells to help sauce cling better and create more textural interest.
- Use lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce excess grease without sacrificing flavor.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack for unique taste profiles.
- Replace pasta with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to make the dish keto-friendly and lower in calories.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 371 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg