Hamburger Casserole

Hamburger casserole always makes great comfort food and this recipe is certainly no exception. If you have some hamburger meat to use up, this dish is well worth making. Along with the meat you just need pasta shells, tomato soup, and 2 kinds of cheese. You probably already have all of those in the pantry and refrigerator, and it couldn’t be simpler to put together.

The hamburger can be flavored with any spices you prefer, such as the garlic powder and onion powder recommended in the recipe. 

You might also want to add some spice but that’s totally up to the cook. This tasty hamburger dish freezes really well, so why not double the batch and freeze half of it in portions.

You can thaw them in the microwave and warm them back up in next to no time, making this a great choice if you like to meal prep.

Why You’ll Love the Recipe:

Did you know a hamburger pasta bake could be this easy to make? It really is a straightforward recipe that makes good use of what you already have in the pantry. You can also come up with whatever spices and seasonings you want to use to personalize the casserole and make it your own.

How to Serve It:

Since there are no vegetables in the dish, you might like to enjoy some on the side. Examples include asparagus, zucchini, green beans, or even a crisp green salad with your favorite dressing. You might even like to serve a big pickle on the side, since the hamburger and cheese are already reminiscent of a burger.

Ingredients:

• pasta shells
• ground hamburger meat
• shredded cheese
• tomato soup
• Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, to taste

How to make Hamburger Casserole:

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Step 2. Follow the instructions on the package to cook the pasta and then drain it.

Step 3. Cook the meat until no pink remains, then add the 2 cans of soup to it and ½ can of water.

Step 4. Cook over a medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring often.

Step 5. Transfer the cooked pasta into a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Step 6. Pour the hamburger and soup mixture on top and stir to combine.

Step 7. Sprinkle cheese over the top and cover the baking dish with foil.

Step 8. Bake for 20 minutes.

Step 9. Take off the foil and cook for another 10 minutes.

Step 10. You can give the casserole 10 minutes under the broiler at this point if you want the cheese more crispy.

It’s so easy to make a delicious hamburger noodle bake. Once you’ve cooked the meat and noodles, the whole lot just goes into a casserole dish with cheese on top, and it finishes off in the oven. The resulting casserole is hearty, tasty and something you’ll want to add to your regular meal rotation.

Can You Make It Ahead?

You can make this up to a few days ahead and just microwave it when you’re ready to eat.

Storage Instructions:

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 4 days. You can also freeze individual portions for up to 6 months.

Variations and Substitutes:

Feel free to use any seasonings you want. Cayenne pepper or chili powder would add a touch of heat, as would a few drops of hot sauce. You can also add minced pickles to the hamburger mixture, or use different types of shredded cheese. If you want to, you can include finely diced vegetables, perhaps carrot or zucchini. A handful of canned peas would also work. Sub any pasta shape for the pasta shells if you want, such as pasta spirals or penne.