Description
Hearty Simple Ground Beef Casserole delivers comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending savory beef with creamy layers of cheese and tender pasta. Home cooks savor this classic one-dish meal that promises delicious satisfaction in every warm, satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Carbohydrates:
- 2 cups pasta (elbow or penne)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare a casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, sauté chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking meat into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture to reduce greasiness.
- Pour tomato sauce into the skillet and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, stirring to combine thoroughly.
- Allow beef mixture to simmer for 5 minutes, developing rich flavor profiles.
- Create layered casserole by spreading half the pasta across the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Evenly distribute the seasoned beef mixture over the pasta layer.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese generously across the top, ensuring complete coverage.
- Transfer casserole to preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
- Serve hot, offering a comforting and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Drain pasta thoroughly to prevent watery casserole texture and ensure ingredients bind well.
- Select lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce excess grease and create a cleaner, healthier dish.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella and cheddar for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Consider gluten-free pasta options to make the recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.
- 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: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg