The BEST Quick and Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

This cheeseburger casserole recipe is so, so tasty. It combines seasoned ground beef and melty cheddar cheese, with macaroni noodles and a delicious creamy savory sauce. Honestly, it's better than the best cheeseburger you've ever had, and it's so easy to make too. In fact, all you need to cook this cheeseburger casserole is one skillet and 20 minutes!

My Take On Cheeseburger Casserole

This may go without saying, but if you love cheeseburgers, then you're going to love this cheeseburger casserole. 

I mean, it has the two best parts about a cheeseburger - the meat and the cheese - and it has a lot of it!

And what's even better about eating this casserole - instead of eating a cheeseburger - is that all of those meaty cheesy flavors get absorbed into the elbow noodles that it's made with. That means every bite of this stuff is just flavor on top of flavor. 

Also, for what it's worth, this cheeseburger casserole kind of reminds me of the Hamburger Helper my mom used to make me when I was a kid, but this stuff is ten times better! So, if you love Cheeseburger Helper, you're definitely going to love this recipe.

Why I Love This Recipe

Quick and easy. Everything for this recipe cooks in one skillet, and you can have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes!

Amazing cheeseburger flavor. This literally tastes like the best cheeseburger you've ever had but in casserole form with noodles. It's delicious!

Family favorite. Both kids and adults love this recipe, and it's always the talk of the night whenever I make it. In fact, my 2-year-old is probably the biggest fan of it.

It's a perfect comfort food meal. Warm, hearty, savory, and filling, this casserole has everything I look for in comfort food.

Ingredients

One of my absolute favorite things about this cheeseburger casserole recipe is that it's made with all really common ingredients. Honestly, you probably have most - if not all - of them in your pantry or kitchen already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this casserole:

• Lean ground beef - for that rich meaty cheeseburger flavor. I like to use 90% lean ground beef, but 80/20 or 85/15 will work too.
• Salt and pepper - ensures the beef is well seasoned.
• Onions - adds a slight sweetness and a hint of spiciness to the casserole.
• Tomato paste - contributes a little tanginess and balances out the creamy meaty components.
• Garlic paste - to add some warm aromatic depth to the dish. Sometimes I'll use freshly minced garlic in its place.
• Worcestershire sauce - it deepens the meaty flavor of the casserole and packs an umami punch. I used Lea & Perrins.
• Elbow macaroni - it's the best pasta to go with for this recipe. The sauce and meat cling perfectly to it.
• Beef stock - helps to cook and distribute the tomato paste in the beef.
• Sour cream - for some tangy creaminess. You can sub it out with Greek yogurt in a pinch.
• Shredded cheddar cheese - for some melty rich deliciousness. It helps to give the casserole its classic cheeseburger flavor and also gives it that gooey texture too.
• Milk - helps break down the sour cream and melt the cheese.
• Fresh parsley - add it as a garnish. Just make sure to give it a good chop.

See, not too bad, right?

By the way, if you've got some extra ground beef lying around after you make this recipe, you can put it to good use and make this pizza casserole, this hamburger potato casserole, or this hamburger noodle casserole with it. All of them are grand slams. 

Oh, and as always, for the actual ingredient amounts check the recipe card below.

How To Make Cheeseburger Casserole

1. Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and grease it with cooking spray. Add the ground beef and onions to it. Cook the beef until browned on all sides, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.

2. Add the flavor: Add the tomato paste and garlic paste to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for 1 minute. Add the Worcestershire sauce, elbow macaroni, and beef stock to the skillet. Give it a good stir. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. 

3. Make the sauce: Remove the lid after cooking and add in the sour cream, milk, and cheddar cheese. Cook everything for about 3 minutes - stirring gently - to coat the ingredients in the sauce.

4. Serve: Serve the casserole warm, garnished with fresh chopped parsley or anything you want, like this Big Mac sauce. Enjoy!

How To Make Cheeseburger Casserole In The Oven

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

2. Cook: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Cook the ground beef with the onions in one large skillet until the beef browns.

3. Combine: Add the cooked pasta, beef, and all of the other ingredients to a casserole dish. Stir to combine and top everything with the shredded cheese.

4. Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.

My Pro Tips

• Swap the cheddar cheese with Colby jack cheese, provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, or even pepper jack cheese for a little spice.
• Add some cooked bacon to make a bacon cheeseburger casserole. 
• Top the casserole with shredded lettuce, spicy relish, hot sauce, or drizzle it with something savory like this McDonald's breakfast sauce.

How To Store Cheeseburger Casserole

In the fridge: Store your leftover cheeseburger casserole in an airtight container, and it'll stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: If you want to keep your leftovers for even longer, you can freeze the casserole in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Reheating: Put the leftovers in a baking dish and warm at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes, or until it reaches your desired temperature.

Or put everything in a large skillet with a splash of broth - set the skillet over medium heat - and give it all a stir every few minutes until it's warm.

FAQS About This Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

What to serve with this cheeseburger casserole?

These Olive Garden breadsticks, Texas Roadhouse rolls, McDonald's french fries, or fried yuca are all side dish options I like to serve with it.

What is cheeseburger casserole?

Cheeseburger casserole is basically a homemade version of the iconic Hamburger Helper flavor "Cheeseburger Helper". It's made with seasoned ground beef, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and pasta in a rich creamy sauce.

More Casserole Recipes

We have a bunch of easy casseroles you can make next!  

Here are some of my favorites:

• Million dollar chicken casserole
• Cheddars broccoli cheese casserole
• Chicken divan
• Pineapple casserole
• Ground turkey casserole
• Carrot casserole
• Taco pasta bake

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