Easy Cheeseburger Casserole For Two

If you love the taste of a classic juicy cheeseburger, you are going to love this easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe. All the flavors of a perfectly seasoned and loaded hamburger tossed with tender elbow macaroni and coated in a zesty tomato sauce.

The casserole is then topped with a generous layer of both mozzarella and cheddar cheese and then put in the oven until is hot and bubbly. Once it bakes, you are ready to enjoy a delicious comfort food meal that will leave you feeling full and satisfied.

It is the perfect meal to make in the middle of winter when you are craving a fresh burger off the grill. In fact, this dish is so good that it will become one of your favorite comfort food meals that you will crave over and over again.

Why You Will Love This Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

• Easy to make: The entire casserole is prepared in a single skillet. That means there is no need to boil the pasta in a separate pot. Then it gets layered in a casserole dish and is finished off in the oven.
• Common ingredients: Although the list of ingredients looks somewhat lengthy, you most likely have most of the ingredients on hand. Ground beef, onions, spices, tomatoes, pasta and cheese make up the base of the recipe. And even if you have to run to the grocery to pick up an item or two, they are easily found.
• Delicious Flavor: This is no ordinary casserole. There are so many complex flavors that you may actually prefer this dish over a cheeseburger any day of the year!
• Make ahead meal: This is a great meal to make ahead of time and then bake in the oven later. Simply prepare the casserole as instructed and then cover and refrigerate it. Once you are ready for dinner all you have to do is put it in the oven until the casserole warms through and the cheese melts.

What Type of Ground Beef To Use

When it comes to what type of ground beef to use to make this cheeseburger casserole, you have several options.

Standard ground beef that has an 80/20 lean to fat ratio will give you the most beefy flavor. However it also contains the most fat and the amount of actual beef will reduce significantly when browned.

You can also use ground beef with 85/15 or 90/10 lean to fat ratios. They have less fat and both will still provide great flavor in the casserole.

However I would not recommend using anything leaner. The meat will be drier and you will lose that beef flavor that is desired to achieve that iconic cheeseburger taste.

Although if you are looking to cut calories, you can definitely use lean ground beef or ground sirloin. In fact, you can even skip the beef all together and use ground turkey or chicken instead.

How To Easily Dice An Onion

The most difficult part of this recipe is dicing the onion. Although nearly everyone can dice an onion, there is one technique that makes easy work of the process.

1. Cut the onion in half from top to bottom keeping the root intact. Then peel back the skin layer.

2. Place one half of the onion on your cutting board, cut side down. Then, make horizontal cuts (from the tip to the root) into the onion without slicing through the root end.

3. Now cut the onion in the opposite direction, being sure to keep your fingers tucked in, using a claw-like grip on the onion.

What you are left with is perfectly diced onion without the need for excessive cutting or crying. However, if you ever have to cut a lot of onions at once, for instance when you make Homemade Salsa, I highly recommend this Vegetable Cutter. It has saved me so much time and effort on many occasions.

Best Pasta To Use for Cheeseburger Casserole

I prefer to use elbow macaroni when making this cheeseburger casserole. Elbow macaroni holds up well during the cooking process and can withstand being tossed with the other ingredients without falling apart.

Also, its small and curved shape grasps onto the other ingredients perfectly. And the open ends allow the sauce to get absorbed inside the pasta giving you maximum flavor in every bite.

However you can use penne, rotini, fusilli, or even medium-sized shells if you prefer. Just like when making Barbecue Cheeseburger Pie the larger size pasta varieties provides great texture and helps to trap the flavorful sauce.

How To Prevent Milk From Curdling

The creaminess of this casserole comes from the addition of both sour cream and milk. However it is vital that you reduce the heat before stirring in the dairy products.

If the mixture is too hot the milk may curdle as the high heat will coagulates the proteins. Therefore be sure to reduce the heat and then stirring continuously until the sour cream and milk gets incorporated into the casserole mixture.

Storing & Reheating Leftovers

Cool the leftovers to room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. Then store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To Reheat: Place the leftovers in a covered baking dish in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Or microwave individual portions for 60-90 seconds. *You may need to add a little water or broth to the leftovers as the pasta will have absorbed the liquid when stored.

DO NOT FREEZE the leftovers. Pasta dishes with dairy-based sauces don’t freeze well as they can separate when stored and reheated.

Easy Cheeseburger Casserole For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1⁄2 lb. lean ground beef
• 1⁄2 medium onion (diced finely)
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1⁄4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1⁄2 tsp minced garlic
• 1⁄2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
• 1⁄4 tsp chili powder
• 1⁄2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 7.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes (1⁄2 standard can)
• 1 1⁄2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup dried elbow macaroni
• 1⁄2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 3⁄4 cup shedded mozzarella cheese
• 3⁄4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnish)

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium high heat until no longer pink. Drain the grease and return the beef to the pan.

Turn the heat down to medium and add onion, salt, pepper, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir well and cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes (undrained) and stir together.

Next, add the dried dried elbow macaroni and beef broth to the beef mixture and stir together.

Cover and let simmer over medium-low for 5 minutes. Uncover and stir. Cover again and let simmer for another 5 minutes, or until pasta is tender and cooked to al’ dente consistency.

Uncover the mixture, then reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in sour cream and milk.

Pour ½ of the beef and pasta mixture into a 8 x 8 inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle ½ of the mozzarella and ½ cheddar cheese over the casserole.

Pour the remaining beef and pasta mixture over the top of the cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake Time Required

Bake the cheeseburger casserole uncovered at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until the sides of the casserole are bubbling.

Remove the dish from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy! Mary

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