Hamburger Casserole (Ground Beef Casserole)
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This easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe is pure comfort food. Done in under an hour, and easy to make ahead, this one will be a family favorite!
I love easy casserole recipes. Pulling together some pantry ingredients for an easy meal that the entire family will love (even the picky eaters) is my favorite thing!
Prep and assembly time is about 15 minutes, and then bake time (hands off) is around 30 minutes.
This ground beef casserole recipe is perfect for busy nights, and is great to make ahead. Like Lasagna and Baked Ziti, this delicious meal tastes even better the next day. For another family-friendly one-pot pasta dinner, try American Goulash – a hearty ground beef and macaroni recipe.
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!
Why you’ll love this
- Simple ingredients with easy substitutions (see the ingredient list or notes box)
- Easy to make – perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!
- Budget Friendly. This one will not break the bank to make! Just use what you have on hand.
If you are looking for more hearty casserole recipes, check out this Chicken Rice Casserole, or Tuna Noodle Casserole.
What to serve with Hamburger Casserole
Since this is very much a carbs, fat and protein kind of dinner, some greens alongside it would be a great idea. Try an simple green salad, or some roasted broccoli.
Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead
Kylee’s Notes
What to do with leftovers
Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat until it is piping hot!
Substitutions/Additions
A can of tomato soup will be great in place of the tomato sauce.
Use Tuscan seasoning or any blend of basil, oregano etc in place of the Italian Seasoning.
Adding in some red or green pepper (any bell peppers or onions will work) when cooking the ground beef will bump up the veggie content.
Freezing instructions
This recipe can be frozen before baking. Wrap tightly in foil and plastic wrap. Freeze. Thaw and bake.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.
- Tomato Sauce. This can be canned diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, tomato sauce or tomato soup.
- Sour Cream. You could use cream cheese or plain Greek yogurt here. Even cottage cheese works.
- Seasonings. I use onion powder, garlic powder and a bit of Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Additional seasonings like chili powder or Worcestershire sauce are good too. Make it your own, then change it up next time to suit what you have on hand!
- Cheese. I use cheddar cheese, but mozzarella cheese or Colby jack or any blend works great too.
- Pasta. Any small pasta works. Shells, rotini, penne, macaroni, or even egg noodles. Use what you have!
- Olive Oil.
- Ground Beef. I use lean ground beef. If you use one with a higher fat content, no worries. Just drain it after browning.
You can also use ground turkey in place of beef if you prefer. You will need to add a little extra salt if you use turkey, as it can be bland otherwise.
How to make Hamburger Casserole
This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
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Get prepped
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, combine the tomato sauce, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir through half the cheese.
Cook pasta. Cook the pasta shells in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain.
Cook the ground beef. In a large skillet heat the olive oil and cook the ground beef until browned.
Assemble. Add the cooked pasta and the tomato sauce & sour cream mixture to the skillet with the ground beef and mix well. Pour entire ground beef mixture into a 9 x 13 baking dish
Bake. Bake 20 minutes at 375°F, then remove and add the remaining cheese.
Continue to bake another 10 minutes until cheese melts and slightly browned on top.
More easy dinner recipes:
- Chili Mac with Turkey. We’re bringing childhood back! Lightened-up with turkey vs beef, and made in one pan – this one is a family favorite!
- Skillet Mac & Cheese. Comfort food at its finest, this skillet mac & cheese is so easy! Just the skillet and a pasta pot, the and a quick broil, and this is ready FAST!
- Italian Stuffed Peppers. This is a yummy weeknight meal with fresh Italian flavors, that is done in under an hour (less if you prep ahead)
- Hamburger Steak Recipe. Fried patties made from ground beef, smothered in a delicious onion gravy, and served with mashed potatoes.
- Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. A family-friendly easy prep and clean up meal that you can set and forget. This yummy tater tot casserole recipe has allll the good stuff – you can’t go wrong!
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Hamburger Casserole (Ground Beef Casserole)
Ingredients
- 15 ounces can tomato sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups cheese shredded (I use half cheddar, half mozzarella) divided – some goes in the casserole, some goes on top
- 1 lb pasta shells
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
Instructions
Get prepped
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, combine 15 ounces can tomato sauce, 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir through half of the 2 cups cheese.
Cook pasta
- Cook 1 lb pasta shells in salted boiling water until tender. Drain.
Cook the ground beef
- In a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook 1 lb ground beef until browned.
Assemble
- Add the cooked pasta and the tomato sauce & sour cream mixture to the skillet with the ground beef and mix well.
- Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish
Bake
- Bake 20 minutes at 375°F, the remove and add the remaining cheese.
- Continue to bake another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and slightly browned on top.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
Comfort food is right! So easy to put together. Ground turkey and greek yogurt were excellent substitutions. Thank you!
Really liked it : )
I would love this! Unfortunately too many carbs. Your recipes look so good but again for me being a diabetic, too many carbs. Sucks!