Hamburger Casserole: Quick and Easy Dinner

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Easy Hamburger Casserole is made of pasta, ground beef, a rich sauce, and gooey, melty cheese for a simple, hearty weeknight dinner everyone loves!

A 35-MINUTE CASSEROLE RECIPE

Hamburger Casserole is the effortless dinner you’ll want to make again and again. I think this is one of those meals that even the picky eaters enjoy. Pasta is mixed with seasoned ground beef and your favorite pasta sauce, then topped with plenty of melted cheese for a family friendly meal. It’s simple to customize with different pastas, cheeses, or added veggies, and you can even prep it ahead or freeze it for later. It checks all the boxes!

Close up looking down into a casserole dish with a scoop of Hamburger Casserole.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What if I like a saucier casserole?

If you like a saucier casserole, use a larger (32 ounce) jar of spaghetti sauce.

Can I make this in the Slow Cooker instead?

While I suppose you could, I don’t think it’s worth it in this instance. You pretty much have to cook everything before adding it to the Crock Pot, so I don’t know what it is really saving you. I feel like it’s definitely easier to do in the oven in this case. Plus, the pasta can get mushy in the Slow Cooker if you aren’t careful and layer it just right.

Can I make this with gluten free pasta?

Certainly. That should work. Use whatever gluten free pasta you prefer and have on hand. Always check your seasonings and sauces to be sure they’re gluten free too. Some sauces are not gluten free.

What to serve with Hamburger Casserole?

This is a filling casserole on its own, but it does go nicely with some crusty bread, Dinner Rolls, Breadsticks, Garlic Bread, etc. You can’t go wrong with a good ole green salad, Caesar salad, or steamed broccoli either.

Can I freeze this Hamburger Casserole before baking?

Definitely! Once the casserole is prepared, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake the next day.

Can I freeze this casserole after baking?

Yes! This casserole can be frozen once you’ve made it if you have leftovers. Keep them in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating those leftovers in the oven until warmed through.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare this casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Just cover the dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, add about 10 extra minutes to the cooking time since it will be starting out cold.

What else can I add to this casserole?

This is a versatile recipe because you can add anything you’d like such as spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, or peas. If you like a little spicy food, there’s options for that too. You can definitely spice up this dish by adding a little heat with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.

What’s the best way to store leftover casserole?

You can keep this in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze this dish in an airtight container after baking for up to 1 month.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

The best way to heat this up (without it drying out) is to bake at 350° with foil wrapped on top. You can also heat this up in the microwave for 30-second increments. If you feel the pasta is a little dry, you could add additional spaghetti sauce (or sprinkle a little water on it) when reheating.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

penne pasta– You can use any of your favorite pasta for this dish. Rotini, spaghetti, elbow, or rigatoni would all work perfectly.
ground beef– You can swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken. You can also replace the beef with shredded chicken or even use Italian sausage in this dish. Even black beans would be a great vegetarian option.
yellow onion– If you don’t have a fresh onion, you can use about 1 Tablespoon of dried onion flakes in a pinch.
garlic powder– If you love garlic, you can also add 3 cloves of minced fresh garlic for extra flavor.
green bell pepper– If you’re not a fan of bell peppers, you can simply omit them from the recipe.
spaghetti sauce– You can use any jar of spaghetti sauce you love, and Homemade Marinara Sauce works great as well!
cheddar cheese– In place of cheddar, you can use mozzarella or Colby Jack. For a little extra kick, try using pepper jack cheese.

HOW TO MAKE HAMBURGER CASSEROLE:

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cook the pasta while you proceed with the recipe. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than what is on the packaging. Drain and transfer the pasta to a 9×13-inch baking dish. To a skillet, over medium heat, add the ground beef, bell pepper and onion. Cook and crumble until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Season the cooked meat with garlic powder and onion powder. Stir until combined.