Description
Comfort meets convenience in this irresistible Cheeseburger Casserole that brings classic burger flavors to a hearty family-friendly dish. Melted cheese, seasoned ground beef, and crispy bread crumbs create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Dairy:
- 3 cups shredded cheese (any kind)
Pantry Ingredients:
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces/298 grams each) tomato soup
- 1 pound (454 grams) shells pasta (or any pasta of your choice)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains, breaking meat into small crumbles.
- Simultaneously cook pasta shells in boiling water, draining while reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water for later use.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend cooked ground beef, drained pasta shells, and tomato soup until evenly combined.
- Incorporate approximately half of the shredded cheese into the mixture, stirring gently to distribute ingredients thoroughly.
- Add reserved pasta water to create a smooth, creamy consistency that helps bind all ingredients together.
- Grease a baking dish and carefully transfer the beef and pasta mixture, spreading evenly across the surface.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes, ensuring ingredients are heated through.
- Remove foil and sprinkle remaining cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Return to oven, baking uncovered for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts completely and develops a golden-brown surface.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help set the dish and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Customize the protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Enhance creaminess by adding a splash of heavy cream or sour cream to the beef and pasta mixture for extra richness.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium tomato soup and reducing added salt during cooking to make the dish more heart-healthy.
- Boost nutrition by mixing in chopped spinach or diced bell peppers to increase vegetable content without compromising the classic comfort food flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg