This cheeseburger casserole has all the flavors of your favorite burger in cozy pasta form. It’s packed with ground beef, tomato, and cheese for a 30 minute one-pot dinner!
One Pot Cheeseburger Casserole
I buy ground beef quite often so having a bunch of easy ground beef recipes is a must. I’ve shared everything from cheeseburger sliders to goulash – each one is not only hearty and comforting but perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
This easy cheeseburger casserole is the unbaked version of ground beef casserole or hamburger casserole and combines all the flavors of a cheeseburger in a one-pot dish. It’s similar to homemade hamburger helper but with a cheesy twist!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy one-pot recipe: Everything gets cooked in the same pot, even the pasta noodles!
- Family-friendly: There is plenty of room to customize this cheeseburger casserole recipe to your family’s preferences.
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: I often have 80/20 lean ground beef on hand, but you can use up to 95% lean or make it with ground turkey or ground chicken .
- Elbow noodles: Elbow macaroni are classic to use but you can use other small pasta shapes like shells or rotini.
- Onion: Add savory taste to the beef.
- Tomato paste and beef broth: The paste adds rich tomato flavor while the beef broth helps thin it out.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Sprinkle in some red pepper flakes, chili powder, or a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- Sour cream: Make it so creamy! For a heavier sauce, use heavy cream.
- Shredded cheese cheese: Fresh mozzarella cheese can also be used.
How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole
In a large pot, brown the beef over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain grease if necessary.
Mix in tomato paste and seasoning. Cook for 1 minute and then add in the noodles and broth. Bring to a light simmer, cover with a lid and cook 10-12 minutes until noodles are tender.
Remove the pot from the heat and pour off any extra liquid. Stir in sour cream and 3/4 of the cheese. Sprinkle more shredded cheese on top and cover with the lid until it melts.
Tips and Variations
- I always recommend grating your own cheese for better taste and melting, but in this case pre-shredded will work just fine.
- Toss in some chopped veggies like celery, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- Prevent the sauce from separating by bringing the sour cream and cheese to room temperature.
- Cook the noodles only to al dente. They will continue to cook in the heat, so this will help to avoid mushy noodles.
- If you like golden brown melted cheese on top, transfer the mixture to a baking dish and place it under the broiler for a few minutes.
Make Ahead and Storing
- Make ahead: Assemble the cheeseburger casserole without the cheese on top. Place it in a casserole dish and let cool. Sprinkle the cheese overtop and cover with foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes with the foil on and then remove it for the last 5 minutes.
- Store: Keep leftovers store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Freeze: To freeze the entire cheeseburger casserole, transfer to a disposable aluminum tin and cover it tightly. Freeze it for up to 3 months and when ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake at 350°F for 30-45 minutes until hot.
More casseroles with ground beef include crescent roll taco bake, million dollar spaghetti casserole and tater tot casserole.
More One Pot Recipes
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Cheeseburger Casserole
Video
Equipment
- 1 6 qt enameled cast iron dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 ½ cups dry elbow noodles
- 3 ½ cups beef broth
- ¼ cup sour cream , at room temperature
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook one pound ground beef and 1/2 cup onion over medium heat. Break apart the beef with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain any grease, if needed.
- Stir in 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon oregano. Cook 1 minute. Stir in 1 1/2 cups dry noodles and 3 1/2 cups broth.
- Bring to a light simmer and cover with a lid. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. Stir halfway through cooking to prevent noodles from sticking.
- Remove from heat and pour off any extra liquid, if needed. Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and about 3/4 cup of cheese. Stir until melted. Season to taste.
- Sprinkle 1/2-1 cup shredded cheese over the top and cover with the lid until cheese is melted. You could also broil the cheese for a minute if desired. Serve while hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Casseroles, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Meal Prep, One Pot, One Pot, Pasta, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
All my kids love it!
Yeah! I love to hear about dinner wins, thanks for the review!
This meal was easy, one pot, and delicious! I’m thankful for all your recipes!
So glad you enjoyed the cheeseburger casserole Kristi!
Absolutely delicious.
Thanks for the review Peggy!
This was so easy to make and it turned out amazing since the whole family loved it.
This is the yummiest weeknight meal. My whole family devoured it!
The sour cream made it so creamy and delicious. We loved it!
The perfect recipe for those that love cheeseburgers but want some pasta, too! Family loved it.