Description
Hamburger Casserole is a cheesy, family-friendly bake with ground beef, pasta, and sauce. Easy comfort food for busy nights. Try it today!
Ingredients
Beef & Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
Pasta & Creamy Layer
- 10 oz small pasta (elbows, shells, or rotini)
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown beef: In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add onion and garlic; cook until softened. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Make sauce: Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
- Creamy pasta layer: In a large bowl, whisk sour cream, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss with the drained pasta until coated.
- Layer casserole: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan. Spread creamy pasta in the bottom, spoon beef mixture over top, and sprinkle with cheddar and mozzarella.
- Bake: Bake 20–25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly and edges are golden. Rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or green onions.
Notes
- Taste the sauce before layering so you can adjust the salt, pepper, or herbs to your liking.
- For a slightly crispy top, broil the casserole for 1–2 minutes at the end — watch it closely.
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded for the best melt and flavor.