Description
Hearty ground beef casserole weaves comfort and flavor into one delightful dish, bringing classic American home cooking to your dinner table. Layers of savory meat, creamy sauce, and tender vegetables promise a satisfying meal that connects family and friends around shared warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (elbow or rotini)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Sauces, Seasonings, and Dairy:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) while preparing the casserole ingredients.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, ensuring al dente texture, then drain thoroughly.
- In a large skillet, sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned.
- Eliminate excess fat from the meat by carefully draining the skillet.
- Pour tomato sauce and diced tomatoes into the meat mixture, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs.
- Allow the sauce to simmer for 5 minutes, developing rich flavor and melding ingredients together.
- Gently fold cooked pasta into the beef mixture, incorporating sour cream for added creaminess.
- 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 turns golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh chopped parsley.
- Serve hot, directly from the baking dish.
Notes
- Customize the protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Experiment with different cheese types like mozzarella or pepper jack to add unique flavor profiles to the casserole.
- Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños during the beef cooking stage for an extra kick.
- Prep ahead by assembling the casserole and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking, which helps develop deeper flavors and saves time during busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg