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Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef and Cheddar

Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

A family-friendly casserole made with browned ground beef, short pasta, tangy tomato sauce, and melted sharp cheddar. Pickle chips and classic burger toppings make each serving taste like a comforting cheeseburger dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Ground beef, preferably 85–90% lean
  • 1 medium Medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
  • 10.75 ounces Condensed tomato soup
  • 8 ounces Tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 8 ounces Elbow macaroni or other small pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Seasonings
  • 1/2 teaspoon, plus more for pasta water Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Optional Toppings
  • To taste Dill pickle chips or chopped pickles
  • To taste Diced tomato, shredded lettuce, sesame seeds, additional ketchup, or mustard

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
  2. Cook the macaroni in salted water until just barely tender, about 7–9 minutes or according to the package directions. Drain it well, taking care not to overcook it because the pasta will continue cooking in the oven.
  3. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef and diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break the beef into small pieces and cook for about 6–8 minutes, until it is no longer pink; drain excess fat if necessary.
  4. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly so it becomes fragrant without browning.
  5. Stir in the condensed tomato soup, tomato sauce, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the mixture for 2–3 minutes so the flavors come together.
  6. Fold the drained pasta into the beef mixture until the macaroni is evenly coated. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for the topping.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the greased casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar over the top, covering the center and edges.
  8. Bake the casserole uncovered for 15–20 minutes, until it is hot and bubbling and the cheese has melted. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then add pickles or other cheeseburger toppings before serving.

Notes

Undercook the pasta by about 1 minute for the firmest texture after baking. For stronger cheeseburger flavor, add chopped dill pickles before serving or replace 1/2 cup of the cheddar with American cheese. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container and reheat gently until hot.