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Need a quick, simple meal to feed your hungry family? This Hamburger Casserole has four ingredients. Perfect for getting food on the table fast!
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.)
How To Make Hamburger Casserole
The other day, I was feeling creative and wanting something cheesy. Who doesn’t enjoy a casserole with a layer of cheese on top? I wanted to use a few ingredients as possible and use ingredients that would please the family. This hamburger casserole was born.
It has a simple, easy ingredients that come together in a snap. The meal only cost us around $8. Now, that may seem like a lot. However, our son and my hubby took it in their lunch for the next couple of days.
Simply fry up the hamburger. This meal really comes together quickly when you have hamburger already cooked and in the freezer.
Is it really is only four ingredients?
Yes, it is.
The next step is to boil the noodles in a pot of boiling water. After the noodles are cooked, put them in a greased 9×13 pan. Add the cooked hamburger and tomato soup. Sprinkle cheese on top.
So a few meals were made from an $8 9×13 pan. Not too bad for a meal with meat in it. You can pair this hamburger casserole with some 30 minute dinner rolls. Poppy Seed Fruit Salad would be easy to make as well. It was a complete meal.
What did the meatatarian husband say? Not only did he like it, he stated that fact a few times during the meal. And told me to make it again. :-)
Did I mention the kiddos loved it too? Such a total win.
Hamburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb box medium shells
- 1 lb ground hamburger , cooked with garlic powder, dried onion, salt and pepper to taste
- 2 10.75 cans tomato soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain.
- After browning hamburger, add 2 cans tomato soup to the frying pan (with the hamburger).
- Add 1/2 can water.
- Stir and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes.
- Pour noodles in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Pour hamburger mixture over noodles and stir.
- Sprinkle cheese over casserole and cover with foil.
- Bake in a 375* oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes longer.
- Can bake under broiler for 3-5 minutes to brown cheese, if desired.
- Note: If you want to use 2 cups of one kind of cheese (example: mozzarella) instead of the combination, you canDried onion and garlic powder is completely optional and can be adjusted to your family's tastes
Nutrition
Need Another Family Friendly and EASY Meal?
Melissa
Anyone add onions or does that change it up too much?
Jemmack
It really was easy, and yummy. Wish I had read it through first so I’d have turned on the oven without having to wait f o r e v e r for it to get up to temperature. So happy I found this. Will definitely make it again. And again.
Kim
I’m glad you liked it! It is a favorite around here!
Charlotte Buker
How much garlic do we use? And is it minced ? ,crushed or dry minced?
Kim
When cooking the hamburger, I sometimes add garlic powder or garlic salt to the hamburger. Just a teaspoon or so. But, it is not necessary and the hamburger casserole tastes great either way!
Julie
Has anyone added bacon to this?
Kim
Well, I haven’t but that sounds delicious. The thought in my house is bacon goes with anything. :-) Let me know if you try it and if it works!
Suzanne L McIntee
Could I prepare the casserole beforehand and keep in fridge until ready to place in oven?
Kim
Yes! In fact, just yesterday, I made 8 pans of this for my son’s cross country team. I made it ahead of time and baked it later on. Just cover it with foil until ready to pop into the oven.
Amy
I know this is probably common sense but i am going to ask. Do you ore cook the pasta?
Kim
Yes, you do.
Dawn
Can you freeze this before cooking.
Kim
I would say you could. Make sure you cover it with saran wrap and foil and remove the saran wrap before cooking.
marika diamond
My children and everyone for that matter loves this. Have been making it since the early 70’s.
I add a t. of cumin and a t. of chili powder to the meat as bit is browning.
DELICIOUS!!!
Wanda P.
Made this tonight for a quick dinner. I added garlic and red and yellow peppers as I had them on hand. Delicious!! I will definitely use this for quick meals in the future.
Judy
Been doing this for years I use elbow macaroni and tomato sauce. Pepper jack and cheddar on top. It’s my go to recipe.
Kim
It is so quick and easy, isn’t it?? Pepper Jack cheese sounds delicious!!
Mary
Any suggestions on subbing tomato sauce for the condensed tomato soup. I do not usually have tomato soup in the cupboard. Thank you for any suggestions
Juanita
Sounds delicious can’t wait to try it but really it is 5 ingredients. I know you are probably counting both cheese as one but they are 2 different cheeses.
But honestly 4 or 5 it sounds delicious and simple and I need that
Marsha McCleary
Do you add water or milk to soup or just use it condensed?
Kim
Mix just the condensed soup at first, then stir in the 1/2 water. Hope that helps!
Maggie
Made this tonight. It was delicious. Family loved it. I just had leg surgery and needed something I could make fast and could not eat another hamburger, which is all my husband can make. This work perfect.
Kim
I am so glad to hear you all enjoyed it! I hope you recover quickly from your surgery. :-)
Wanda
I made this twice so far. 1st time I followed the recipe.. was so good!! The 2nd time I replaced the tomato soup with a jar of spaghetti sauce.. it was good that way too.. almost a shortcut to spaghetti pie .😊 Awesome recipe!
Kim
I’m glad you liked it! :-)
Gemma
the tomato soup – do you mean the condensed kind?
Thanks
Kim
Yes, I do! Just regular tomato soup. We had this meal tonight…it’s so good!
Adrienne
Love to try that
Kim
It is a favorite here! And it is so easy!
Gennifer
Making this as I write this… my family which includes 2 teen boys love recipes like this! Thank you very much
Kim
Hope your family liked it! It is a favorite around here!!
Casey
It sounds like a great recipe but I am not sure what you mean in 1 box shells. What type shells and what size?
Kim
It is pasta shells, a one pound box. Actually, you can use any shape of pasta you would like. Rigatoni, elbow macaroni, etc… hope this helps!
Cindy
So basic , so tasty ! Definitely a keeper !
Kim
I am so glad you like it! It is a favorite here!!