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.
Jan says
I made this with 2 pints of my homemade frozen pizza sauce instead of canned tomato soup. Quick and easy!
Betty Whipple says
Excellent!
Sarah Condon says
Is this a recipe you could meal prep and freeze?
Kim says
Yes you can! I would wrap it with saran wrap and then wrap with foil. Then remove the saran wrap for cooking.
Star Rose says
It was delucious!!
Kim says
Thank you!
Jackie Greig says
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 says
Corn would be delicious!
Ashton Cook says
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 says
I hope you enjoy it!!
Michael says
Why does the recipe say 1 box of medium shells and you show pictures of macaroni instead?
Kim says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Grew up with this meal. Some times she would add corn. My kids & grandkids love it. We call it goulash.
Melissa says
Do you think this would be good with cream of mushroom soup, instead of tomato?
Kim says
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 says
It was easy to follow the directions and it tastes really good! My family loved it.
Penny Gadberry says
Tried several times to print your hamburger casserole off and it would not print..
Would you know why?
Kim says
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 says
Could I use. Pizza sause or any different kind sause bc my family dont like the soup
Kim says
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! :-)