A tried and true recipe for the best ever ground beef casserole that’s loaded with easy ingredients and plenty of cheese! Hamburger casserole has never tasted so good.
Why this recipe works
As far as simple ground beef casserole recipes go, this one is by far our favorite. With over 800+ positive reviews, I can almost guarantee it will be a winner with your family as it has been in my home for the past 13 years!
You can consider this ground beef casserole a “southwest casserole”, or you might even call it hamburger casserole. Either way, it’s a staple meal that comes together easily with simple ingredients. If you’re looking for a set-it-and-forget-it version, hop over to our crockpot ground beef casserole recipe.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
BEEF – You can use ground beef, ground turkey, or even ground chicken in this casserole. Other ground meats can be substituted as well such as venison or bison, making this a very versatile recipe. Ground Italian sausage mixed with ground beef or turkey would be a great flavor combination as too!
TOMATOES – While I have listed Red Gold diced tomatoes, you don’t have to use that brand. The key was that they have green chiles already added. If you can’t find them, you can use a regular can of tomatoes and add a 4-ounce can of green chiles.
CHEESE – You can find a Mexican cheese blend already shredded at the grocery store. However, if you have a preference on cheese feel free to use whatever you like. I do recommend that you have a cheddar cheese and jack cheese in the mix.
PASTA – I do not recommend using a quick cooking pasta in this recipe. Regular pasta is the way to go here. The quick cooking type cooks too long in this dish and tends to get a bit mushy. You could certainly use a no-boil pasta in this casserole, I would suggest soaking them in hot water while you are prepping the recipe on the stove.
SEASONING – I mention something called Magic Dust in the recipe below. This is a mixture I keep in my kitchen that I found in the book Peace, Love & Barbecue. I prefer it and I’ve provided it in the recipe below, but you can use a steak seasoning instead.
How to Make Ground Beef Casserole
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a two-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with onions, bell pepper, and red pepper flakes. Season with Magic Dust or steak seasoning.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, and chili powder and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the frozen corn and simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 ounces of cheese until melted.
- Gently stir in the cooked pasta.
- Pour everything into the prepared casserole dish and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
- Garnish with green onions if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Store cooled leftover hamburger casserole in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water to remoisten if needed.
As with any casserole containing pasta, it will do fine in the freezer for up to three months. To freeze, allow the cooked casserole to cool completely before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Or, transfer the casserole to an air-tight container. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 F and remove foil so you can take off the plastic wrap from the frozen dish. Put the foil back on and bake (casserole will still be frozen) for about an hour. Check for doneness and continue for another 15 minutes if needed. If you defrosted the casserole, reheat for 35-45 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your hamburger casserole with sliced green onions and a dollop of sour cream as garnish. This dish is pretty filling on its own but you can pair it with a dinner salad or roasted vegetables on the side. Enjoy!
More Ground Beef Recipes
Ground Beef Casserole
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced orange bell pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak seasoning or Magic Dust seasoning (see recipe below)
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 10 ounces can of Red Gold Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 ounces shredded Mexican 4 Cheese blend
- 1 ½ cups dried macaroni style pasta cooked al dente
- 1 cup shredded Mexican 4 Cheese blend
- sliced green onions for garnish
OPTIONAL – Magic Dust ingredients (you can use steak seasoning instead):
- ½ cup paprika
- ¼ cup Kosher salt finely ground
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons mustard powder
- ¼ cup chili powder
- ¼ cup ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons ground black pepper
- ¼ cup granulated dried garlic
- 2 Tablespoons cayenne pepper
Before You Begin
- Use regular pasta as indicated in the recipe. The quick cooking type cooks too long in this dish and tends to get a bit mushy.
- You could certainly use a no-boil pasta in this casserole, I would suggest soaking them in hot water while you are prepping the recipe on the stove.
- While I have listed Red Gold diced tomatoes, you don’t have to use that brand. The key was that they have green chiles already added. If you can’t find them, you can use a regular can of tomatoes and add a 4-ounce can of green chiles.
- You can use ground beef, ground turkey, ground bison, or even ground chicken. A mixture of Italian sausage and ground beef always goes over well at my house too.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a two-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In large skillet brown ground beef with onions, bell pepper and red pepper flakes. Season with Magic Dust or steak seasoning.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano and chili powder and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the frozen corn and simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 ounces of cheese until melted.
- Gently stir in the cooked pasta.
- Pour everything into prepared casserole dish and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
- Garnish with green onions if desired.
To make Magic Dust:
- Mix everything together and store in an airtight container. Keep some on a shaker bottle for the grill!
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Storing – Store cooled leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water to remoisten if needed.
- Freezing – You can freeze this casserole for up to three months. Allow the cooked casserole to cool completely before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Or, transfer the casserole to an air-tight container. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 F and remove foil so you can take off the plastic wrap from the frozen dish. Put the foil back on and bake (casserole will still be frozen) for about an hour. Check for doneness and continue for another 15 minutes if needed. If you defrosted the casserole, reheat for 35-45 minutes.
- Tip – If you don’t want your baking pan in the freezer for three months, after the dish has cooled completely line another baking dish with 2-3 layers of plastic wrap leaving extra hanging over the sides. Place the cooled casserole into the lined pan and freeze. Once frozen lift the dish out with the plastic wrap. Remove the plastic wrap and transfer the frozen item to a freezer safe bag. When you’re ready to bake it, simply remove from the bag and place it into a baking dish.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on this blog on April 25, 2011.
Amanda Davis
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Angelia Smith-Johnson says
This was absolutely amazing. My husband just loved it. I will definitely be making this again and again. LOVE
Debbie J Larson says
Made it tonight. We Really liked it. Put 3 containers in the freezer because there is only 2 of us. My husband said twice, “I really like this”. Very seldom does he compliment my cooking. I’m not a good cook & I know it. He is….:) Thanks for the recipe.
Shirley says
Have you or anyone tried this recipe in an instant pot?
Paula says
I’ve never left about a recipe online before, but this was so amazing that I have to!!! I used ground moose (from Alaska here) and it was so good we ate the entire dish in one night. Take the time to make the Magic Dust – it has the most amazing flavor. And I used a lot more than the 1 teaspoon recommended – I used at least 1 Tablespoon. Everything else I followed exactly as stated by the recipe. It was a huge crowd pleaser – so much so I’m making it again only a week later. :) Thank you Amanda for making me look like a rockstar chef!
Amanda Formaro says
Love it! And totally agree that the Magic Dust seasoning is worth making!!
Lisa Bruce says
Just a question…how much is 1 portion? 1 cup? A certain amount by weight?
Amanda Formaro says
I’m sorry I don’t have that info for you! Simply divide the finished dish by the number of servings.
Kim says
Great dinner and so well received by 3 different palates. Lots of flavour and next time I’ll try the dust! Thank you!
Tim says
That magic dust recipe calls for 1/2 cup of paprika. Is that for real? And 2 tbsp cayenne?
Amanda Formaro says
yes, it’s a bulk mix! :)
Rita rougeau says
This recipe was easy and awesome and will be a family favorite for sure! We loved it!!
Tracy says
Made it tonight – all four of us went back for seconds. My daughter went back for thirds. Delicious! They asked for this to be added to the to rotation. Thank you!!
Amanda Formaro says
That’s awesome, thank you so much!
Janice Dickinson says
This recipe has a great blend of vegetables and spices with the hamburger! Even corn & pasta. Really enjoyed this meal for supper. ❤️
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Janice, I appreciate that so much!
Erin Femea says
Can you sub rice for pasta?
Amanda Formaro says
I don’t see why not :)
Lindsey says
This just became one of my favourite dishes to make! It is simple but the flavours are amazing!!! Thank you so much! It was a hit with my family too!!
Amanda Formaro says
Awesome, so glad to hear that, thank you!
Wendy Rogers says
Can you use gluten free pasta?
Amanda Formaro says
I have not tested that, but if you are accustomed to using GF pasta and know how to adjust for it, then you should be able to! :)
Julie says
Hey! This is awesome! We’re all at home with the Covid19 lockdown. This is simply divine! Stay Safe
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Julie, glad you enjoyed it!
Cel says
Very tasty and easy to make with stuff you usually have around the house.
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you Cel!
Tamara says
What type of Paprika, the Magic Dust recipe calls for, are you supposed to use? Is it referring to sweet Paprika or smoked Paprika?
Amanda Formaro says
You could use either actually, depending on your taste preference. When paprika is mentioned in a recipe, it’s the regular version. If it calls for smoked paprike it will be named that way. :)
Christina DeSomma says
Phenomenal!!!!!! The only thing I did different was I didn’t make the magic dust I just sprinkled a little out of all the ingredients that are in magic dust on top of the beef as it was cooking and came out great!!! My husband new favorite dish he calls it taco pasta !!
Amanda Formaro says
Hooray, so glad you loved it!!
Kelly Kirby says
This is fantastic…I use the base for chili sometimes too.
Amanda Formaro says
Oh good idea!
Robert says
You should work on your writing formation. Felt like this whole web page was a teaser. Ingrediants never mentioned until end. 10 mins wasted thinking this recipe is simple to find a huge list of ingrediants i dont have at very end. Stay blessed
Robert says
Lol nevermind. It says jump to recipe at top…Oops. Im gonna find something else to make from your website then haha.
Amanda Formaro says
Oh good, glad you found it! I didn’t see your second comment until I replied to the first. Have a great day and hope you find something you like!
Amanda Formaro says
Hey Robert :) The list of ingredients isn’t as long if you use steak seasoning instead of the homemade magic dust. Also, for future reference, there is a “jump to recipe” button at the top. :)
Jess says
This was not good. No flavor.
Amanda Formaro says
Sorry it didn’t meet your tastes!
Sara says
Do you drain the meat first?
Amanda Formaro says
The recipe specifies lean ground beef so there’s no need to drain it. However, if you use a ground beef with higher fat content you may want to.