Cheeseburger Casserole

This cheeseburger casserole is the perfect, hearty, and flavorful meal with pasta and ground beef baked in a cheesy, bubbly sauce that is sure to be a new family favorite.

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You won’t have to call them to the table twice when you’re serving this hearty cheeseburger casserole. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner with its easy ingredients, like beef, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and spices. You’ll never settle for another box of hamburger helper again. Make lots because everyone will ask for seconds!

Cheeseburger Casserole Ingredients 

You’ll need:

• 2 cups water
• 3 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 pound lean hamburger (92%)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 ounces diced tomatoes
• 2 cups dried large elbow macaroni
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded from the block
• 1½ cups mild cheddar cheese, shredded from the block

Substitutions and Additions 

HAMBURGER: Substitute ground turkey or pork for a lighter version of this cheeseburger casserole.

BACON: Turn your cheeseburger casserole into bacon cheeseburger casserole by simply adding pre-cooked, crumbled bacon to your sauce.

ELBOW MACARONI: You can use rotini or any small pasta that will hold the gooey meat and sauce.

SOUR CREAM: Use plain greek yogurt in place or sour cream for a lower-fat alternative.

How to Make This Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe 

STEP ONE: Add 2 cups of water and 3 beef bouillon cubes in a medium bowl. Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until the beef bouillon cubes are dissolved. Set aside.

STEP TWO: In a large saucepan, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain grease and return beef to the pan.

PRO TIP: Busy families can make this cheeseburger casserole even easier by keeping pre-cooked ground meat in the freezer to use as needed.

STEP THREE: Turn the heat down to medium and add the chopped onion, salt, pepper, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir well and let it cook until onions are soft and translucent about 5 to 7 minutes.

STEP FOUR: Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (in their juices) and stir together.

STEP FIVE: Add the dried large elbow macaroni noodles and beef bouillon broth to the beef mixture and stir together.

STEP SIX: Cover and let simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir. Cover again and let cook for another 5 minutes or until the pasta is done.

STEP SEVER: Stir in the sour cream and milk.

STEP EIGHT: Pour half of the beef and pasta mixture into a 9×13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the casserole.

PRO TIP: For the creamiest result, shred your own cheese. Store-bought shredded cheese is often dusted with a coating to keep it fresher and to keep it from clumping together. This tends to change the way it melts.

STEP NINE: Pour the remaining mixture into the dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.

STEP TEN: Bake uncovered at 400°F for 10 minutes or until the sides of the casserole are bubbling.

How To Serve 

Cornbread or any sweet roll are my favorites with this casserole, but any fresh bread to sop up all the tasty sauce will do. A fresh salad goes well alongside, or add some veggies by garnishing with some diced tomato or lettuce.

Storage 

IN THE FRIDGE: Tightly cover any leftovers or casserole that you have prepared ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

IN THE FREEZER: Keep the cheeseburger casserole tightly sealed in the freezer for 2-3 months.

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: Keep covered and bake in the oven at 350 degrees until piping hot and enjoy.

This easy-to-make hamburger helper knock-off is the perfect family meal. The blend of ground beef, cheese, tomato, onion, and garlic, perfectly seasoned and blended with tender pasta, is an absolute winner!

FAQ:

Q? Can I make this cheeseburger casserole ahead of time?

A: This recipe can be assembled the night before and popped in the oven when you are ready to bake it.

Q? Can I double this recipe?

A: You will need to separate the ingredients into 2 separate 9×13” casserole dishes at step 8. Complete steps 9 and ten and enjoy!

Q? Can I make a “Tex-Mex” version of this cheeseburger casserole?

A: You can ramp up this recipe with some spicy Jack cheese, Tex-Mex blend, or by adding some hot chilies to your sauce while it simmers. Put a bottle of hot sauce on the table when you serve it so everyone can do their own thing!

Cheeseburger Casserole

This cheeseburger casserole is the perfect, hearty, and flavorful meal with pasta and ground beef baked in a cheesy, bubbly sauce that is sure to be a new family favorite.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Casserole

Cuisine American

Servings 5

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups water
• 3 beef bouillon cubes
• 1 pound lean hamburger 92%
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 15 ounces diced tomatoes
• 2 cups dried large elbow macaroni
• 1 cup sour cream
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded from the block
• 1½ cups mild cheddar cheese shredded from the block

Instructions

 

• In a medium bowl, add 2 cups of water and 3 beef bouillon cubes. Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the beef bouillon cubes are dissolved. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain grease and return beef to the pan.
• Turn heat down to medium and add the chopped onion, salt, pepper, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir well and let it cook until onions are soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes
• Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (in their juices) and stir together.
• Add the dried large elbow macaroni noodles and beef bouillon broth to the beef mixture and stir together.
• Cover and let simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir. Cover again and let cook for another 5 minutes, or until the pasta is done.
• Stir in the sour cream and milk.
• Pour half of the beef and pasta mixture into a 9×13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the casserole
• Pour the remaining mixture into the dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
• Bake uncovered at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until the sides of the casserole are bubbling.

Notes

Make sure you shred the cheese fresh from the block rather than buying pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese tends to be coated with a preservative which means it doesn’t melt as well.

This recipe can be assembled ahead of time the night before and popped in the oven when you are ready to bake it.

Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time in larger batches and frozen until you need it. Add the cooked ground beef and continue the recipe as written.

Keyword Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe