Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe

An Easy Dinner Recipe

This hamburger casserole has all the comforts of baked mac and cheese, and baked ziti with a hint of Instant Pot goulash in an easy casserole dish the whole family will love.

Whether I’ve prepared this simple casserole in advance or I’m whipping it up on the spot, I know this easy ground beef recipe, my ground beef casserole recipe or tater tot casserole will always be a win!

Complete this hamburger noodle casserole with a slice of cornbread, a dinner roll or a Caesar salad and it’s a winning meal idea any night of the week!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Simple comfort. Nothing says “welcome” like a homemade hamburger casserole. Whether it’s your family on busy weeknights or a larger crowd for Sunday supper, nothing beats easy, cheesy, comfort food.
• So tasty! Juicy seasoned beef, a zesty sauce, 2 kinds of melty cheese, and Italian seasoning come together to give us all the flavors!
• Make ahead and freezer friendly. Just as a casserole should be :)
• Customizable. There are several ways to make this easy hamburger casserole recipe your own. Use a different protein, swap the cheese, add some veggies, and play around with the seasonings.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Lean ground beef: The beef will be cooked and drained of excess grease, but I still like to use lean beef, about 80/20.
• Veggies: Thinly sliced carrot rounds and diced bell pepper are the two veggies I like to put into my hamburger casserole, but this is an excellent opportunity to clear out your fridge of whatever veggies you’ve got.
• Aromatics: Onion and garlic add so much flavor.
• Diced tomatoes & tomato paste: Both give the hamburger casserole a saucy vibe and a delicious zesty tomato flavor. The tomato paste will help to thicken the meat mixture and intensify the tomato flavor.
• Seasoning: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
• Worcestershire sauce: This will give the entire dish an umami flavor.
• Uncooked elbow noodles: These will be cooked on the side and then added in. Use whatever short pasta you desire.
• Unsalted butter & cream cheese: Together these will be mixed with the noodles giving them a creamy, tangy coating. Bring the cream cheese to room temperature ahead of time and cut the block into cubes.
• Cheeses: I use a combination of freshly grated cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.
• Fresh parsley: For garnish.

Hamburger Noodle Casserole Substitutions

There are all kinds of ways to revamp this hamburger casserole with noodles. As mentioned earlier, elbow noodles are just a jumping-off point. Feel free to use pasta shells, bowtie pasta, egg noodles, or even penne or fusilli.

Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or crumbled Italian sausage for a different taste.

Instead of diced tomatoes and tomato paste, you can decide to use tomato sauce if you prefer. You can even omit the cream cheese and use sour cream instead. Some people even enjoyed it with cream of mushroom soup!

Toss in any extra veggies you’d like, mixed frozen vegetables are always easy!

How to Make Hamburger Casserole

With very little prep time and about 30 minutes in the oven, the whole thing can be ready in under 1 hour!

1. Brown the meat and set aside. In a large skillet cook the beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked beef to a plate lined with a paper towel, leaving behind the grease in the skillet.
2. Saute the veggies. Add the carrots, onion, and bell pepper to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, stir in the garlic for another 30 seconds.
3. Add back the meat. Return the beef to the skillet, then stir in the drained tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring everything to a boil, and reduce the heat to a low simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Cook the noodles. Cook the noodles according to package directions and drain the cooked pasta. In a large bowl combine noodles with cream cheese and butter and stir until noodles are well coated.
5. Assemble the hamburger casserole. Spread half of the noodles into a greased baking dish. Then, layer half the ground beef mixture on top. Repeat the layers once more and then top with an even layer of shredded cheddar and mozzarella.
6. Bake. Transfer the dish to a preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until heated through. If using fresh parsley, garnish just before serving. Let the hamburger casserole rest for 10 minutes, then dig in!

Expert Tips

• Cook pasta to al dente. It’s usually about 1 minute less than it states on the box to get it tender with a bit of a bite left. It will continue to cook as it bakes in the oven and this is a good way to avoid overcooked noodles.
• Freshly grated cheese from a block melts much better than packaged pre-shredded cheese. I highly recommend it, but by all means, use what you’ve got. It’ll still be great.
• Use cream cheese from a block. The spreadable kind in the container has a higher water content that may cause the casserole to be runny. Remember to bring your cream cheese to room temperature, here are some tips on how to soften cream cheese.
• For a darker brown cheese crust, place the hamburger casserole under the broiler for a minute or two at the end.

Serving Suggestions

This really is a whole meal all on its own, but when there’s a sauce, there’s gotta be bread! A sliced french baguette and garlic knots are perfect for scooping. A simple side chopped salad is also a family favorite.

If you want to add some veggies, you can also serve roasted vegetables or steamed vegetables on the side.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you’ve got a lot left, portion it out and keep some in the fridge and some in a freezer-safe container if you don’t think you’ll eat it all.

To freeze before baking: Assemble the easy hamburger casserole in an 9×13 disposable foil tray or a metal tin wrapped in foil. Freeze until you’re ready to bake it. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until hot.

You can reduce the baking time by taking it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking.