Hamburger Casserole Recipe - Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

This easy, cheesy hamburger casserole is destined to become one of your favorite recipes! Made with ground beef or turkey, with noodles, cheese, and a delicious sauce, your family will think it’s one of the best dinners in your rotation.

Raise your hand if you were a picky eater as a child. If you’re not reluctantly waving in the air right now, chances are someone in your house regularly made (or continues to make) gagging noises at the dinner table. Cooking for kids can be a challenge, to say the least, but I have a sure-fire winner you’ll want to add to your repertoire, whether those picky eaters in your house are children or adults: my Hamburger Casserole.

This is my son Kyle’s favorite casserole. He’s the family’s “picky eater,” but this dish still puts a big smile on his face. In fact, I made Hamburger Casserole so often when he was little, my whole extended family always referred to it as Kyle’s Casserole! For years I’ve wanted to share this treasured family recipe on my blog but Ky, well, he’s a bit possessive. I was finally able to break him with enough begging, and a suggestion that his little concession could benefit picky eaters all over the world.

We both hope the Kyles in your life enjoy this ground beef goodie as much as my sweet Kyle does!

Listen, I absolutely love recipes with ground beef! They’re always great at the dinner table, no one can ever have too many of them, because this American staple makes dinner worthwhile. Here are a few of my favorites, which are very popular with readers, I truly hope you try them next!

• Johnny Marzetti Casserole
• Hamburger Potato Casserole
• Beef Noodle Casserole
• Sloppy Joe Casserole

I promise you and your family will love each and every one of these casseroles! Let’s make this casserole!!

Hamburger Casserole Recipe Ingredients

• Farfalle Pasta –Don’t confuse this with some of the other hamburger noodle casserole recipes. Since this dish has an Italian flair, I really don’t like to use egg noodles. Instead, I choose a good quality Italian pasta like farfalle, campanelle, or a short tube-shaped pasta like penne.
• Vegetable Oil – Any neutral flavored oil will work.
• Onion – Use a white or yellow onion.
• Green Pepper – Any color bell pepper will work.
• Ground Beef – I use 80/20 ground beef. Ground turkey works well, too.
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Condensed Tomato Soup – Use as an ingredient straight out of the can.
• Water
• Chili Sauce –You’ll find this in the condiment aisle, and I like the one in the round jar labeled “homade” by a company called Sona. If you can’t find that brand, Heinz will work too.
• Sriracha Sauce – Use any hot sauce you like.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Shred it off the block for the creamiest, best tasting results.
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Soft Fresh Bread Crumbs – I generally use sliced sour dough processed in the food processor.
• Butter – I use unsalted.

How Do You Make Hamburger Casserole?

1. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
2. Cook the onion and green pepper until the veggies are beginning to soften.
3. Add the beef to the skillet. Sprinkle meat and veggies with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook. Drain excess fat.
4. Mix sauces and cheese. Dry the pasta pot then use it to mix together soup, water, sauces, cheddar, and mozzarella until combined.
5. Stir in drained noodles and beef mixture.
6. Transfer to a greased 11×14 baking dish.Sprinkle the top of the casserole evenly with the remaining mozzarella and cheddar.
7. Toss bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the casserole.

8. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Serve,

***See Full On Instructions On Recipe Card Below

Tips

• Pasta – Don’t confuse this with some of the other hamburger noodle casserole recipes that use egg noodles. Instead, I choose good quality Italian pasta.
• Pan Size – I use an 11×14 Pyrex baking dish. A 9X13-inch baking dish is too small.
• Can you put Pyrex in the oven? Never put cold Pyrex in a hot oven. Bring the dish to room temperature before placing it in a preheated oven.
• Leftovers – As you can tell, this recipe makes a large amount which is great if you have a big group to feed (or can send leftovers in lunchboxes during the week).
  • If not, this is a perfect casserole to toss in the freezer.
  • If you’re saving some to freeze, I’d also suggest cooking that pan without the topping, covered with some aluminum foil. Adding the topping before reheating, rather than pre-freezing, will make sure it has a nice crunch.

Storing + Freezing+ Make-Ahead

• How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?This recipe does great in the fridge as leftovers! Seal it up, and let it sit for up to 3-5 days. Toss any leftovers after that point — the pasta will have lost its integrity, and you risk bacteria growth.
• Can You Freeze This?Yes indeed! That said, the pasta will soften and possibly be slightly mushy after freezing. If you only like pasta cooked al dente, do not freeze it! As a mom, slightly soft pasta doesn’t deter me! My kids and Hubby aren’t that picky. If you want to freeze it as I do all the time, portion the leftovers from your casserole into sealable containers or 1-quart resealable bags and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
  • To reheat,thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm slowly on the stovetop, adding water as necessary and seasoning to taste.
• Make-Ahead Tips:You can put together this recipe in advance if you plan to freeze the recipe, and a couple of days in advance of serving, thaw it in the refrigerator. Cook as directed. Some say it tastes even better after a day of sitting!

What To Serve With Hamburger Casserole

As with mostcasseroles, this is great with my copycat KFC coleslaw or a simple green salad tossed with my homemade balsamic vinaigrette (takes mere minutes to make and it’s sooo delish!).

If you’d prefer a hot vegetable my Southern style green beans are a huge family favorite. My roasted broccoli is quick to make and super tasty. Bisquick biscuits are always a great addition to any meal.

More Comforting Ground Beef Casserole You’ll Love!

• John Wayne Casserole
• Cowboy Casserole
• Dorito Casserole
• Chili Cornbread Casserole
• Taco Casserole
• Stuffed Pepper Casserole
• Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
• Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole
• Runza Casserole

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