Cheesy, savory, and full of bright flavors, this easy cheeseburger casserole recipe is the ideal comfort food recipe. This casserole has all the best flavors of a burger in each warm, cheesy bite.
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Cheeseburger casserole is the perfect spin on a classic, well loved food! This casserole is extremely easy to make, and uses many staple ingredients, so you can make it in no time, likely with stuff you already have in your pantry.
I love how the noodles cook in the broth, ground beef, and tomato sauce mixture making them extra flavorful and tender! This casserole will be a big hit, and may possibly become a go-to family favorite.
Why You'll Love This Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
- Quick Prep: This casserole recipe is incredibly time-efficient, requiring just 15 minutes of prep time, making it ideal for busy families.
- Cheesy Perfection: The dish captures all the beloved flavors of a classic cheeseburger but transforms them into a comforting, casserole format that's perfect for serving a crowd.
- Tasty Flavor: The combination of tender cavatappi noodles cooked directly in the seasoned beef broth and tomato sauce ensures every bite is packed with flavor. Plus, the melted cheddar cheese creates both a creamy interior and a deliciously crispy top layer that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
🍔 I'm always on the lookout for easy ground beef dinner ideas to get dinner on the table quickly on busy nights and to make empty bellies happy!
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef — The beef will soak up the seasonings giving you a juicy and savory taste.
- Cavatappi Noodles
- Beef Broth — Store-bought or homemade
- Sour Cream — For a smooth and creamy texture. You can also use plain Greek yogurt.
- Tomato Paste — Helps thicken the casserole and amplify the sweet tomato flavor.
- Tomato Sauce — Adds moisture and flavor to the casserole.
- Cheddar Cheese — Use pre-shredded for quick and easy or shred your own from a block.
- Garlic Salt
- Onion
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook the ground beef and onion in a large pan or skillet over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes, until the beef is no longer pink in the middle and the onions are soft. Drain grease, if needed.
Step 2: Stir in the beef broth, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Bring the broth mixture to a boil and then add the pasta noodles. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the pasta to cook for 10 minutes, or until soft.
Step 3: Fold in the sour cream and half of the cheddar cheese until the cheese is fully melted and evenly distributed among the beef and noodles.
Step 4: Transfer the casserole to an 8x8-inch baking dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
Recipe FAQs
This casserole will already have an amazing texture with the sour cream, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. However, if you are worried or want it extra creamy, you can add half a can of cream of mushroom soup or the homemade equivalent. This will give you additional richness as well as flavor.
Any kind of noodles work great in this casserole. Keep in mind that shorter noodles will work best because they will cook quicker and not take up as much space. In this recipe we use cavatappi noodles, but you can also use elbow, penne, or bowtie pasta. Chickpea or protein pastas will also cook just fine in the cheeseburger casserole.
Of course! The process will be a little bit different. Cook the beef as usual, then transfer into your slow cooker. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, sour cream, and broth and give it a good stir. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6. When there is about 30 minutes left, stir in the noodles and top with the cheese. It will look watery but don’t panic, because the noodles will soak up the broth as it cooks. Once it is done, scoop out of the slow cooker, serve, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Cheese Choice: Freshly shredded cheese will melt down much better than bagged cheese, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Sharp, medium, or mild cheddar cheese will all taste great!
- Bake Uncovered: There is no need to cover your casserole while baking it. Leaving it uncovered allows the cheese to melt nicely.
- Add Spice: For extra flavor or spice, add some chili powder or red pepper flakes before baking the casserole.
- Leftovers: Store your casserole in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep it in an airtight container and reheat a serving in the microwave for about a minute, stirring halfway through.
How to Serve & Store Cheeseburger Casserole
Cheeseburger casserole is great for potlucks, big parties, or your everyday dinner. You can serve this casserole with a side of spinach strawberry salad, roasted broccoli or carrots, baked beans, or corn on the cob. For a finished look, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top before serving!
If you have any leftover casserole, you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days! Keep it in an airtight container and reheat a serving in the microwave for about a minute, stirring halfway through. We love to have our leftovers for a quick breakfast the next day!
Other Easy Ground Beef Recipes My Family Loves
I'm getting quite the collection of easy ground beef recipes, but I just keep searching and trying new ones to keep the meal plan from getting too boring! Here are some of the dishes we rotate into the meal plan regularly because they're so, so good.
More Favorites From Longbourn Farm
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Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 pound cavatappi noodles (uncooked)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook the ground beef and onion in a large pan or skillet over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes, until the beef is no longer pink in the middle and the onions are soft. Drain grease, if needed.
- Once the ground beef is fully cooked, stir in the beef broth, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Bring the broth mixture to a boil and then add your pasta noodles. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pan with a lid. Allow the pasta to cook for 10 minutes, or until soft.
- Fold in the sour cream and half of the cheddar cheese until the cheese is fully melted and evenly distributed among the beef and noodles.
- Transfer the casserole to an 8x8-inch baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- There is no need to cover your casserole with tin foil while baking it.
- Other noodles you can use include elbow, penne, and bowtie. Any kind of noodle will work great in this recipe, but shorter noodles will work best.
- The sour cream helps add some smoothness to the casserole. If you don’t have sour cream then you can use plain Greek yogurt.
- Freshly shredded cheese will melt down much better than bagged cheese, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
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