Need a quick, simple dinner recipe to feed your hungry family? This Hamburger Casserole recipe 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 dinner on the table fast!
A dinner recipe that is easy and good. I know, how about easy Hamburger Casserole! Melted cheese on top of noodles, ground beef and tomato soup come together for a delicious casserole recipe.
This casserole recipe is so kid friendly, I have had readers tell me their pickiest eaters loved it! Talk about a winner of a dinner! Simple suppers are the key to a busy family life and we have several here. For starters, try: Beef Enchilada Casserole and Mexican Rice Casserole.
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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 makes quite a bit in a 9x13 pan so it feeds my family of six with enough for lunches the next day. Leftovers are always a welcome addition to the lunch menu.
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.
Substitutions
Instead of ground beef, you can use:
- ground pork
- ground turkey
- ground venison
Just substitute the ground beef for one of the other meat options listed above.
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 tips
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.
Bruce Gatjen says
On the garlic,onion,and salt,and peper how much did you put in?
Kim says
On spices like that, I always put "to taste" because I know it varies so much from family to family as to what they like. My mom would put nothing in and we put more. :-) As a guide, I put 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp pepper, 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic and 1 Tablespoon chopped onion. You can certainly leave any of those out as well.
Melanie Clower says
I made this dish with whole wheat penne pasta and grass fed 80/20 beef. I used 1 jar of Paul Newman's Sockaronni Spaghetti Sauce instead of canned soups. I poured 1/2 the hamburger mixture in a pan, topped with the cheddar, then topped with the rest of the hamburger mixture. I layered the top with mozzarella and grated parmesan. It was very good. Don't be afraid of whole wheat pasta guys. Its healthier and taste better than you think it would. The grass fed beef speaks for itself. :)
Amy says
I made this last night, in two 8 by 8 pans and it totally worked. It was SO good and I don't even love pasta. The only change I made was no onion, but followed the recipe exactly other than that.
Kim says
I'm so glad you like it! It is a family favorite and I am actually planning on making it tonight. :-)
Hannah says
Thank you for sharing this looks perfect for dinner!
Kim says
Thank you! My family loves it!
Amy says
Ever tried Cheeseburger soup? Only uses1/2lb. Of Hamburger and veggies cook down to add big flavor and hardly noticeable. It is amazing! I only use the Taste of Home recipe. It's by far the best!
Kim says
I do have a Cheeseburger Soup recipe but it uses more than 1/2 lb of hamburger! That recipe sounds wonderful! Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check that out.
Henley says
How many cups is a box of noodles? I pour all my noodles in a Tupperware container
Sarah says
I use a pound of noodles for this recipe. :-)
Michelle G. says
My family loved it! So easy and tasty... Definitely going in my rotation!!! Thank you!
Sarah says
Glad you liked it. It is a fabulous go to meal and so easy!!
Marie Penela says
Tried this Hamburger Casserole the other day and it was pretty good. Tomato sauce gave it a good flavor. Reminded me of Chef Boyardee only thing was sauce was different and cheesy. Would make again for the family.
Sarah says
Glad you liked it! It is a favorite here!!
Jan says
I think you may be married to my husband's twin! After 31 years of marriage, I am so sick of green beans, I could scream! Especially since he really only likes the canned ones! I am definitely following you now since you have recipes my family might actually eat!
Sarah says
Ha! So funny--I know just how you feel. :-) I am glad you are following me and together we can get our families to branch out a little. Hopefully!! I did make a soup yesterday with CORN floating in it and he not only ate it last night, he had it for lunch today. Try the taco soup. It's delicious!
Jenn says
Have you ever tried spaghetti pie for your family? I make this every so often for my family and they love it. I also call it lazy momma lasagna.
Brown up Hamburger or Italian sausage or both
Cook a lb of spaghetti noodles
Grease a pie pan I use butter or Pam spray
Put your noodles in the pie pan leaving room to put toppings on
Then I take ricotta cheese mix some garlic, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning
Put that on top of the noodles
Add the hamburger
A jar of spaghetti sauce
Top with mozzarella cheese
Bake at 350 for about 25 to 30 minutes
I know it may sound like a lot but once you make it one time you will see it really is not. I usually serve a salad and garlic bread especially if we have guest for dinner. And everyone is full and happy with a slice of spaghetti pie and barely has room for desert.
Sarah says
I have never tried that! Thanks for the tip and I will give it a try. I appreciate it! :-)
Christine says
This recipe sounds so good and so much easier than lasagna!!
Kim says
It is so easy! I just made it again the other day and not much is left. Just enough for my oldest to take it in his lunch. Hope you enjoy it!