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. Good thing this easy Hamburger Casserole recipe fits the bill. 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.
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.
The tomato soup in this hamburger casserole is what makes the recipe unique. The soup adds a lot of depth and base to this casserole.
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. Don't worry about the type of noodles to use in this easy supper recipe.
We use rotini or elbow macaroni the most, but shells work well too. I wouldn't use egg noodles or frozen noodles for this.
Then the meal comes together in a casserole pan and bakes for 20 minutes.
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 about 7 minutes), stir in the tomato soup and sprinkle with cheese. You can read how to make cook perfect Al Dente Pasta.
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. Oh yum.
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 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!
Pin for later!
Hamburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb box medium shells
- 1 lb ground hamburger , cooked with garlic powder, dried onion, salt and pepper to taste. We use 2 teaspoon each.
- 21.5 oz tomato soup 2 cans
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain.
- While cooking the noodles, in a frying pan, cook the hamburger 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.
- 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
Jan
I made this with 2 pints of my homemade frozen pizza sauce instead of canned tomato soup. Quick and easy!
Betty Whipple
Excellent!
Sarah Condon
Is this a recipe you could meal prep and freeze?
Kim
Yes you can! I would wrap it with saran wrap and then wrap with foil. Then remove the saran wrap for cooking.
Star Rose
It was delucious!!
Kim
Thank you!
Jackie Greig
I have made something very similar. The difference, add 1 can drained corn, heat with meat before adding the soup. Oh it is addictive.
Kim
Corn would be delicious!
Ashton Cook
Going to try this recipe tonight we are a full flavor family so I’m going to use tomato basil soup and might cook a little diced yellow onions with the hamburger.
Kim
I hope you enjoy it!!
Michael
Why does the recipe say 1 box of medium shells and you show pictures of macaroni instead?
Kim
Hey! Good catch! :-) Because I first made the post back in 2015 and updated it recently with new process shots. Truthfully, it can be any type of pasta. I typically use shells, but will use whatever I have on hand or got on sale that week. It all works well in this dish.
Clark
We had this for dinner tonight! Only Chang’s was taco seasoned beef as that is what I had prepped in freezer! Kiddos liked it! Thank you!
Vicki Behling
Can you tell me how many servings and is the nutrition information posted for the entire casserole or per serving? I’m asking because it says 302,000 calories (302k cal). Maybe the k is an error...God I hope so! 😁
Kim
Hi There! That is a good question. I could explain it but I think this article does a better job than I could. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. :-)
Joetta Fredrickson
Grew up with this meal. Some times she would add corn. My kids & grandkids love it. We call it goulash.
Melissa
Do you think this would be good with cream of mushroom soup, instead of tomato?
Kim
Well, it would definitely change the recipe, but would it taste good? Yes, it would. Be sure to add 1/2 cup of milk or water to the cream of mushroom soup so it won't be as thick.
Alfredo
It was easy to follow the directions and it tastes really good! My family loved it.
Penny Gadberry
Tried several times to print your hamburger casserole off and it would not print..
Would you know why?
Kim
Thanks for reaching out! I just tried printing it and I had someone else try and it prints fine for us. I'm not sure--maybe try leaving the site and going back in. Hope that helps!
Ash
Could I use. Pizza sause or any different kind sause bc my family dont like the soup
Kim
Pizza sauce would certainly work, it would be more like a pizza bake. It is good that way. Spaghetti sauce would work as well. I have to say, I don't like tomato soup, at all, and this is a favorite casserole of mine. It just works. Maybe it will work for your family too! :-)