Hamburger Casserole

Name: Hamburger Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 lb box medium shells; 1 lb ground hamburger (, cooked with garlic powder, dried onion, salt and pepper to taste. We use 2 tsp each. ); 21.5 oz tomato soup (2 cans); 1 cup cheddar cheese; 1 cup mozzarella cheese

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Need a quick, simple meal to feed your hungry family? This Hamburger Casserole has four simple ingredients you are likely to have at home. Starts with noodles and after adding tomato soup and hamburger, and of course cheese, the perfect easy casserole is born! Great for getting supper on the table fast!

A spoon scooping up casserole with layers of cheese and noodles — Such a simple supper recipe, the hamburger casserole is a family favorite with cheese, tomato soup and hamburger.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, my hubby is rather picky about the food that is on his plate. Vegetables are forbidden, save potatoes and green beans (canned from a garden is preferred).

Let's not even talk about carrots. Good thing he likes this Hamburger Casserole.

Finding a favorite meal is easy if I make a meat and potatoes dish (like this Easy Beef Stew). Unfortunately, hamburger is costing the same as a small diamond around our area.

Therefore, we aren't wanting to use a lot of red meat in our cooking to save a few dollars.

I think you are starting to see my dilemma. Meatless meals are not encouraged and we need to take out a loan to eat a roast.

(Disclaimer: that was an exaggeration. But you get the point.)

Ingredients

This casserole recipe has only a handful of simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen. Noodles, cheese, hamburger and the secret ingredient, tomato soup.

Yes, tomato soup. Let's be real here, either you like tomato soup or you don't. I, for one, do not. However, I do like it in this recipe.

I think the way it is baked in, and has layers of cheese makes the flavors blend well together.

Are the noodles pre-cooked?

Yes, they are. While you are cooking the hamburger, you can cook the 1 pound of noodles as well (in another pot) so the process only takes 10 minutes or so.

Cooked elbow macaroni in a clear casserole dish. — The cooked noodles are ready for the hamburger and sauce.

Then the meal comes together in a casserole pan and bakes for 20 minutes.

cooked noodles, hamburger and soup in a casserole dish. — Everything is cooked, just needs to be mixed together.

To make this easy and kid friendly recipe, cook up the hamburger, boil the noodles until Al Dente (a bit of a bite to them), stir in the tomato soup and sprinkle with cheese. You can read how to make cook perfect Al Dente Pasta.

shredded cheese on top of unbaked hamburger casserole. — Cover and bake and you have a delicious and easy hamburger casserole recipe!

This has four ingredients in it. I personally count the mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese as one ingredient because you could simply use your favorite kind of cheese.

If you would rather, it has 5 ingredients. You can decide.

Bake

You will add all ingredients to a 9x13 casserole dish which has been sprayed with cooking spray. It will be baked, covered with foil, at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

Then you will want to uncover the casserole and bake for 5-10 minutes longer so the cheese has time to slightly and lightly brown. Oh yum.

FAQ

Can I substitute the tomato soup for spaghetti sauce?

Sure! But then it would be more of a pasta casserole. Still works, just a different recipe.

Can I add spices to this?

Yes, you can. A little onion would be delicious. As would a touch of garlic.

How should I store leftovers?

Place any leftovers in an airtight container and place in fridge for up to 48 hours. Reheat as desired.

Serve this up with great sides like Poppy Seed Fruit Salad or 3 Ingredient Grape Jello Salad. So simple to make and such a family favorite. My hubby told me I could make it once a week. Maybe your family will too!

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