Easy Recipe for Hamburger Casserole

Hamburger casserole is one dish comfort food at its finest. Noodles are mixed with ground beef and vegetables and then topped with cheese and baked to bubbly perfection.

You Will Love This Easy Hamburger Casserole

COMFORTING AND HEARTY: This casserole offers a warm and satisfying meal, perfect for chilly evenings. The combination of pasta, ground beef, and cheese provides a hearty and comforting experience.

FLAVORFUL INGREDIENTS: The recipe includes a mix of flavorful ingredients like diced onions, green peppers, garlic, Italian seasoning, and a tomato-based sauce.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Hamburger casserole is a crowd-pleaser that appeals to both kids and adults alike. It’s a convenient way to serve a complete meal in one dish, making it a favorite for busy families.

I love how quick and simple this hamburger casserole is to make. Everything comes together in a snap in one dish and is ready after a few minutes baking in the oven.

The end result is rich, cheesy comfort food that is perfect for busy weeknights that the whole family will love.

Hamburger Casserole Recipe Ingredients

This casserole features lean ground beef, diced onions, and green peppers, and a hint of Mediterranean herbs from minced garlic and Italian seasoning.

The tomato sauce and diced tomatoes provide a tangy base, while frozen peas, carrots, and corn add a touch of sweetness.

The star of the dish is the gooey, golden layer of shredded cheddar jack cheese on top, creating a creamy, cheesy contrast that ties the dish together.

You’ll need:

• 4 cups of dry egg noodles, cooked
• 1 pound of lean ground beef
• 1 cup of diced onion
• 1 cup of diced green pepper
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
• 14-ounce can of diced Italian-style tomatoes
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• ½ cup of frozen peas and carrots
• ¼ cup of frozen corn
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar jack cheese, divided in half

How to make Hamburger Noodle Casserole

Savory layers of seasoned ground beef, creamy sauce, and melted cheese make this hamburger casserole with noodles a real winner for weeknight meals.

Here’s how you make our recipe:

STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. 

STEP TWO: In a large pot, prepare four cups of dry egg noodles to al dente according to package directions, then set aside once cooked.

STEP THREE: Next, in a large skillet, cook the ground beef until it is almost done, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you go.

STEP FOUR: Add the onion and green pepper to the skillet and cook for about four minutes, then add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for one minute more.

STEP FIVE: Pour the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes into the skillet, add salt and pepper to taste, and cook together for a few minutes, stirring frequently.

STEP SIX: Put the egg noodles in the bottom of the greased baking dish, then pour the meat mixture on top.

Add in the peas, carrots, corn, and half of the cheese. Mix everything together thoroughly.

STEP SEVEN: Top with remaining cheese and bake for 25 minutes in the oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.

After taking the casserole out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to be redistributed and makes it easier to serve.

Ground Beef Casserole Substitutions and Additions

PEAS AND CARROTS: If you don’t enjoy peas and carrots, you could add more corn and bell peppers as a substitute. 

MEAT: Any type of ground meat, such as ground chicken, ground turkey, or even sausage, would work in this great recipe in place of hamburger meat.

CHEESE: A sharp cheddar cheese is delicious, but you could either replace it or add more of a different type of cheese.

Try mozzarella cheese or an Italian cheese blend. You could even add a bit of cream cheese or sour cream to the beef mixture to increase the creaminess.

SPICE: To kick up the heat a notch, add a dash of red pepper flakes to the mixture.

PASTA: Any bite-size pasta would be a great choice in this recipe. Try pasta shells, penne, or rotini.

SAUCE: Any type of spaghetti sauce would work for this recipe. Choose either plain or one with spice and extra veggies.

Hamburger Casserole Recipe Tips

• For a successful Hamburger Casserole, cook the egg noodles to al dente to prevent them from becoming mushy during baking.
• Substitute ground beef with ground chicken, turkey, or sausage for a different flavor.
• Enhance the vegetable mix with more corn and bell peppers if preferred.
• Experiment with different cheeses, like mozzarella or an Italian blend, and add red pepper flakes for extra spice.
• If you don’t have cream of mushroom soup, you can use cream of celery soup or cream of chicken soup.
• For a cheesier casserole, stir in shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese before baking.
• Cover the casserole with foil initially to prevent the cheese from burning.

How to serve Hamburger Casserole with Noodles

There’s nothing like a slice of garlic bread to soak up the rich flavors of the casserole.

It also goes great alongside our cheesy pull-apart bread, dinner rolls or rustic Dutch oven bread.

Balance out the heartiness of the casserole with a crisp green side salad or Caesar salad.

Mashed potatoes of any kind pair beautifully with hamburger casserole.

Try our creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes, or mashed potato casserole.

A chilled glass of iced tea is the perfect drink to go with hamburger casserole. Drinks with a slight fruitiness also pair well.

If you’re looking for refreshing, fruit-infused options, try our peach iced tea, raspberry iced tea or strawberry sweet tea.

Need more easy dinner recipes full of simple ingredients?

This chili recipe is a favorite, as is Grandma’s classic goulash.

We also love crockpot mac and cheese and our baked mac and cheese for easy meal ideas.

How To Store Ground Beef Casserole

If you have leftovers or you’re planning to prep ahead, here are some handy storage tips to ensure every bite remains as delicious as the first.

MAKE AHEAD: This hamburger casserole recipe is a dream for those who love to plan their meals in advance.

You can assemble the entire casserole, but instead of baking, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to enjoy, simply bake as instructed, adding an extra ten minutes to the cooking time since it’s starting from chilled.

In addition, ground beef can be cooked ahead of time in larger batches and frozen until you need it.

To use pre-cooked ground beef, just add the ground beef where indicated and continue the recipe as written.

IN THE FRIDGE: Once your casserole has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container or cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil.

Your hamburger casserole will keep in the fridge for up to three to four days.

IN THE FREEZER: For those who love to batch-cook or just want to save a portion for a rainy day, this ground beef casserole freezes beautifully.

Once cooled, portion the casserole into freezer-safe containers or bags, ensuring you’ve squeezed out any excess air. Label with the date, and you’re good to go!

This casserole can be stored in the freezer for up to two months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

REHEATING: Whether you’re reheating from the fridge or after thawing from the freezer, you’ve got options.

For oven reheating, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the casserole covered for about 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

If you’re in a hurry, the microwave is your friend.

Transfer a portion to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid, and heat on medium power in 2-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.

NOTE: Always ensure your casserole reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before enjoying it.