Hamburger Casserole
This easy hamburger casserole is made with saucy beef, macaroni noodles, flavorful veggies, topped with cheese then baked. It's easy, family-friendly and so good it's been a menu favorite lately!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ⅔ cup diced onion , about 1/2 onion
- 1 bell pepper , diced
- ⅓ cup diced carrots , or thinly sliced (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes , drained
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , more to taste
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups dry elbow noodles
- 6 ounces cream cheese , softened and cubed
- 2-3 Tablespoons butter , softened
- ⅔ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large skillet, brown 1 pound ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Remove the the cooked beef and place in a paper towel-lined bowl to absorb excess grease.
- Add 2/3 cup onion, 1 diced bell pepper and 1/3 cup carrots (if desired) to the skillet and sauté 3 minutes. Stir in 3 cloves minced garlic and cook an additional minute.
- Stir in 14.5 oz drained tomatoes, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Add the beef back in. Simmer for a few minutes until heated through.
- In a large pot, boil noodles according to package instructions, drain, and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in 6 ounces cream cheese and 2-3 Tablespoons butter until well coated
- In the bottom of the baking dish, spread half of the noodles. Top with half of the meat mixture. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Evenly cover the top with 2/3 cup cheddar and 1/2 cup mozzarella.
- Bake 25 minutes. Serve while warm.
Notes
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 9x13 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 440kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 98mg, Sodium: 684mg, Potassium: 551mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 3078IU, Vitamin C: 29mg, Calcium: 168mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
