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Cheeseburger Casserole
This cheeseburger casserole recipe is the perfect choice for a quick weeknight meal. Mix browned ground beef with cheddar cheese, macaroni, and pantry staples for a homemade take on good old Hamburger Helper.
Prep
15 min
Cook
35 min
Total
50 min
Serves
8
Instructions
- 01
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- 02
Put a large pot of salted water on to boil (1 tablespoon salt for every 2 quarts of water). Once the water has reached a rolling boil, add the dry pasta, and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 9 to 11 minutes, until mostly cooked through but still a bit firm to the bite. Using a colander, drain and set to the side.
- 03
As the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Season with oregano, sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, and ground cumin. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- 04
Add the butter, onions, garlic, and tomato puree to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir until all ingredients are combined.
- 05
Add the cooked pasta to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the heavy whipping cream, chicken stock, parsley, basil, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until combined.
- 06
Transfer to a 9x13-inch casserole dish (no need to grease) and top with the remaining cheese.
- 07
Bake the casserole for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is browned and bubbly.
- 08
For a looser casserole, serve right away. For a casserole that holds its shape a bit, let sit 10 minutes before serving. The casserole will keep, refrigerated in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it by storing it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To reheat, microwave or place in the oven at 350°F oven until it is heated through (this will depend on the portion size you are reheating). Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 773
- Protein
- 44g
- Carbs
- 34g
- Fat
- 51g
- Fiber
- 2g
- Sugar
- 3g
- Sat. fat
- 27g
- Sodium
- 740mg
- Cholesterol
- 182mg
Variations & swaps
Cheeseburger Casserole Swaps
- Ground beef: For this recipe, we’re using 80/20 ground beef, but feel free to substitute with ground turkey, ground chicken, or a plant-based alternative.
- Canned tomatoes: The great part about this ingredient is you can use any canned tomatoes you have one hand. Instead of canned pureed tomatoes, you use crushed tomatoes for some additional texture.
- Cheese: Pre-packaged shredded cheese will work great for this recipe and may be your preference for minimal preparation; however, while using a grater to shred a block of solid cheese may be a little more work, the cheese melts better due to the oils present in block cheeses. This recipe uses a combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack. You can substitute any cheddar cheese, like white cheddar.
- Pasta: Elbow macaroni closely resembles the Hamburger Helper we all know and love, but rotini or mini shells would also work well.
- Cream: This beefy, cheesy casserole needs some moisture, so all ingredients combine in perfect harmony. Heavy cream is an excellent choice, but you can use sour cream if you don't have heavy cream on hand. Make sure your heavy cream or sour cream is at room temperature before adding it to your warm pasta. The consistency will be creamy and will not separate or curdle.
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