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!
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!
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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.
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.
Then the meal comes together in a casserole pan and bakes for 20 minutes.
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.
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
Sure! But then it would be more of a pasta casserole. Still works, just a different recipe.
Yes, you can. A little onion would be delicious. As would a touch of garlic.
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
Print PinEquipment
- 1 medium saucepan
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
- If you want to use 2 cups of one kind of cheese (example: mozzarella) instead of the combination, you can.
- Dried onion and garlic powder is completely optional and can be adjusted to your family's tastes.
- 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.
- 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.
Joyce Richardson
I made this tonight for dinner it was delicious will be making it again. Thanks for sharing.
Kim
Thank you for the comment! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Candi
It’s not only 4 ingredients but I appreciate you sharing this recipe. It was yummy. Thanks 😊
Thelmira Collins
This recipe was delicious my daughter's loved it and they are hard to please because they are Autistic so they have are picking eaters.
Angie
Yes I made the hamburger casserole but I added onions and garlic minced garlic and I use both cheese it was really good.
Linda Andrasak
Made this today and it was very good it is in my recipes box has we speak
Kim
I'm so glad to hear that!
Michele
Can you use spaghetti sauce instead?
Kim
You can. It is a slightly different recipe. It would be more of pasta dish. But it would be good!
Michelle Manion
Is this 21.5 oz total for the tomato soup or 2 cans that size? I made it with just 21 oz total and my son ate half of the 9x13” pan. I tried it the next day and thought it was a little dry. Maybe I need more soup???? Either way it was a hit with the 6’ 3” 22 year old. 😂
Kim
21.5 oz total. Add a little (about 1/2 can) of water. That should help!
Donna A.
I am boarder line diabetic, so I replaced the noodles with chick pea noodles, added diced black olives, used tomato sauce with a little water and a dash of worshestershire sauce and more mozzarella than cheddar. So yummy!
Kim
I'm so glad you were able to adjust the ingredients to fit your family!
Tiana Kemp
I am wondering if I could add the uncooked pasta and either more water or tomato soup would work? I do not cook my lasagna noodles (regular old noodles) before baking and they always come out perfect! Saving a step and extra dishes to wash. 🤔
Kim
Yes, I'm sure it would work. It would take longer to bake and be sure to add more water or soup.
Kelly
It's 5 ingredients...but yummy!
Kim
Well, in the post I explain my reasoning behind the 4 ingredients. There is a reason. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Gayle Springer
Kim I’m curious… can this be put together then frozen for later?
Thanks in advance,
Kim
I would try it. Sometimes noodles can get a little odd after being frozen, but if you do, wrap it well. Also, it will need more time to cook. Let me know if you try it!
Helen
GREAT!! Just wandering a good way to reheat leftovers??
Kim
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! We just put the serving we want on a plate, cover it with a paper towel and microwave it. Putting it in the oven again would probably dry it out.
Shawn dyson
I'm making this tonight so I will leave comments later