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    Home » Casseroles

    Hamburger Casserole

    Published: Mar 2, 2015 · Modified: Jan 13, 2025 by Kim Strawn This post may contain affiliate links. 253 Comments

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    4.27 from 532 votes
    shells, hamburger in a clear baking dish

    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 delicious mozzarella 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

    Every meal needs to have some meat in it in this house. (Like this enchilada casserole with hamburger.) Good thing this easy Hamburger Casserole recipe fits the bill. Melted cheese on top of noodles, hamburger and tomato soup come together for a delicious casserole recipe.

    This casserole supper is so kid friendly, I have had readers tell me their pickiest eaters loved it! Talk about a winner of a dinner!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • What is hamburger casserole?
    • Are the noodles pre-cooked?
    • Bake
    • Make ahead preparation
    • FAQ
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Ingredients

    • Noodles - I have used shells or macaroni noodles for this recipe. Egg noodles would work well too.
    • Cheddar cheese/Mozzarella cheese - one or the other can be used. I used both.
    • Hamburger - cooked ground beef seasoned with salt and pepper.
    • Tomato soup - good old fashioned tomato soup without the milk or water added. Just use the soup.
    tomato soup, noodles, hamburger and cheese.

    What is hamburger casserole?

    It is a casserole with only a few ingredients. It also has a unique ingredient, tomato soup. I know some may be scared away by the thought of tomato soup in this recipe. The subtle but unique taste of the soup compliments the seasoned hamburger and noodles very well.

    Another name for this old fashioned hamburger casserole recipe is Hamburger Hotdish. It is a simple recipe with only a few ingredients and it feeds a large family. It makes quite a bit in a 9x13 pan so it feeds my family of six with enough for lunches the next day.

    Are the noodles pre-cooked?

    Yes, they are. While you are cooking the ground beef, you can cook the 1 pound of noodles as well (in another pot) so the process only takes 10 minutes or so. Don't worry about the type of noodles to use. We use rotini or elbow macaroni the most, but shells work well too.

    Cooked elbow macaroni in a clear casserole dish.

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

    cooked noodles, hamburger and soup in a casserole dish.

    To make this, cook up the hamburger, boil the noodles until Al Dente (a bit of a bite to them about 7 minutes), stir in the tomato soup and sprinkle with cheese.

    shredded cheese on top of unbaked hamburger casserole.

    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 lightly 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.

    I also will broil the cheese in the broiler for 3-5 minutes to get that extra layer of crispness to the cheese. Don't worry, still gooey cheese underneath!

    Make ahead preparation

    To make this casserole supper recipe even more easy, you can have hamburger already cooked and frozen in the refrigerator. Sometimes, when I know I am going to have a busy week, when I get home from the store I cook the hamburger I bought immediately. As I am putting away the other groceries, the ground beef cooks on the stove and I am tackling two activities at once.

    Then, after the ground beef is done cooking, I drain the grease and put it in a freezer container without putting the lid on and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Then, I cover it and put it in the freezer.

    When I am ready to make this hamburger casserole, I pull the hamburger out of the freezer and add it to the recipe. So quick and easy!

    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 refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Reheat as desired.

    Serve this up with great sides like Bread Machine Dinner Rolls, Poppy Seed Fruit Salad or 3 Ingredient Grape Jello Salad. This hamburger casserole is simple to make and such a family favorite.

    📖 Recipe

    hamburger casserole with melted cheese in a clear baking dish

    Hamburger Casserole

    Print Pin
    4.27 from 532 votes
    This hamburger casserole is a favorite at my house. This casserole uses only four ingredients so it is a simple recipe to put together. The cheese lays on top of a layer of noodles and hamburger mixed with a secret ingredient you will likely have on hand, tomato soup!
    Course Casserole
    Cuisine American
    Keyword casserole, easy recipe, family friendly
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 336kcal
    Author Kim Strawn
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 medium saucepan
    • 1 9x13 baking dish
    • 1 frying pan

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb box medium shells
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 21.5 oz tomato soup 2 cans
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese
    • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375℉.
    • Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain.
    • While cooking the noodles, in a frying pan, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. (If you are using salt and pepper, add it while cooking the hamburger).
    • Pour cooked noodles in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
    • Stir the cooked hamburger and tomato soup with the noodles. I just stir everything in the pan. I also sometimes add ½ cup of water to the mixture for a little more moisture. Completely optional.
    • 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.
    • Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve.

    Notes

    1. If you want to use 2 cups of one kind of cheese (example: mozzarella) instead of the combination, you can.
    2. Dried onion and garlic powder is completely optional and can be adjusted to your family's tastes.
    3. If you need to make this Hamburger Casserole ahead of time, you can! This casserole is perfect for taking to a mom who just had a baby or for a family in need. Just make it the day before and place it in the refrigerator, covered with foil. You can write the instructions on how to bake it on the foil. I would only make it one day before you plan to take it. 
    4. Cooking up several packages of ground beef when you have some free time and dividing them into separate labeled containers or freezer bags is great for those busy nights. Then when it is time to make this recipe, you can just add the already cooked hamburger to the dish. Supper got that much easier. This tip is also great for Enchilada Casserole and Taco Soup. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 336mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 357IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

      4.27 from 532 votes (488 ratings without comment)

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    1. Felicia says

      December 08, 2024 at 11:00 pm

      This was so good! We used ground deer meat. A keeper for sure! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        December 10, 2024 at 9:37 am

        I'm so glad you liked it! We have some deer meat to use as well! :-)

        Reply
    2. Donna says

      September 20, 2024 at 9:34 pm

      Made this as a last minute meal. My husband and I absolutely loved it. This delicious dish will be a regular staple for us.

      Reply
      • Kim says

        September 23, 2024 at 1:29 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It is a favorite at our house!!

        Reply
    3. Lindy says

      June 29, 2024 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you very much for this recipe it tastes amazing!!!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        July 01, 2024 at 10:10 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    4. Kristi L Hatfield says

      March 19, 2024 at 10:04 am

      Is there a different sauce you can do in this? My kids don't like tomato sauce? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        March 19, 2024 at 10:20 am

        Well, I have heard of others using spaghetti sauce. I will say, my children do not like tomato soup either (Neither do I!), but in this recipe it just works. :-)

        Reply
    5. Pam says

      February 05, 2024 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      I was surprised I didn't see anyone review this using rice. I followed instructions using 2 cups of frozen onion/green & red pepper mix along with 2 cups of (cooked) Ben's rice. It was excellent and reminded me of my Mom's stuffed green peppers. My husband thought it was a little blah but that's because I use a lot of seasoning for his meals. Simple fix, used some taco seasoning and salsa and he loved it. Very good and easy too!

      Reply
      • Glynis says

        August 04, 2024 at 6:11 pm

        2 stars
        I would suggest using 1/2 the amount of noodles and adding a can of diced tomatoes. It was very dry even with adding 1/2 cup suggested water.

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Kim Strawn owner of Baking With Mom.

    Hey There, I'm Kim! I am the owner and recipe creator here at Baking With Mom. I'm also a mom to 4 growing kids so I understand busy! Here you will find recipes that are quick, delicious and can get on the table fast. Read more about me.

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