This easy Hamburger Casserole is loaded with flavor from sweet onions, red bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni. It’s all in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce base and topped with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese.
Discover a simple and delicious hamburger casserole recipe perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish will quickly become a family favorite.
Enjoy this hearty casserole with a simple garden salad, crusty cheese garlic bread, minestrone soup, or tomato salad.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Ground beef: use ground beef with a little fat in it for flavor
- Onion: preferably yellow for sweetness
- Bell pepper: any color bell pepper works
- Garlic: fresh, of course
- Seasonings: Italian, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Tomato sauce: or crushed tomatoes
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes: I love the extra flavor and color
- Elbow macaroni: use any short pasta shape with this recipe, including rotini, elbow macaroni, farfalle, penne, egg noodles, or cellentani pasta.
- Cheese: cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend cheese works well
How to make Hamburger Casserole
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni al dente according to package instructions. Drain well in a colander in the sink.
Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and red bell pepper about halfway through the browning process. Continue cooking until the veggies are soft and the ground beef is browned. Drain any excess grease. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
Stir in the tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and cooked macaroni. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Spoon the ground beef mixture into a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Top with a mixture of shredded cheddar cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.
Preparation Tips
- Cook the noodles al dente, which means slightly firm. They will be simmered for a few minutes and then baked.
- You can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Cook in the oven long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, mozzarella, and, if you like spicy things, Pepperjack.
Hot to Freeze This Casserole
Already baked: First, let the casserole fully cool. Then, wrap the dish in several layers of plastic wrap. Place on a level shelf in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to bring it to room temperature. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Before baking: Prep the dish and wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap. Place on a level shelf in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to bring it to room temperature. Bake according to the recipe directions.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the dish with foil and place it in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through.
Alternatively, reheat in the microwave at reduced power for short increments until warm. It is always best to remove the casserole from the refrigerator 40 minutes before reheating to bring it to room temperature.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 red or green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounces) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion and the red bell pepper. Continue cooking until the onion and bell pepper are soft and the ground beef is browned. Drain any excess grease. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and cooked macaroni. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Spoon the beef mixture into a 9×13-inch casserole. Top with a mixture of shredded cheddar cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- Cook the noodles al dente, which means slightly firm. They will be simmered for a few minutes and then baked.
- You can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Cook in the oven long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, mozzarella, and, if you like spicy things, Pepperjack.
Nutrition
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Ann Davenport
This casserole was delicious. Will make it again!,
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ann! So glad that you liked it!
Melissa R
This casserole is a delightful surprise! So grateful for this tasty dish – a perfect blend of flavors and comfort. The recipe was a lifesaver for a busy day. Thanks a bunch for sharing this gem; it’s now a family favorite. Your clear instructions made it a breeze to whip up. Cheers to you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melissa! I am so glad that you like it! We love it too!
Zoey
The kids love this casserole. It is easy to make and always a hit in our home. It is now on regular rotation here.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Zoey! So glad that everyone likes it!
Barb A
Seeing the photo of the hamburger casserole brought back so many childhood memories from the 80s so I had to make it. It was so yummy! I loved it and so did the kids.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Barb! So glad that you and the kids liked it!
LisaLisa
I make this often for the family and they love it. So easy and very fulfilling, I might make this over the weekend just soooo good
Beth Pierce
Thanks, LisaLisa! I am glad that everyone likes the hamburger casserole!
Sandi
Always struggle for something to keep full from lunch to supper. I prefer hot meals most the time. Noticed how quick and easy this recipe was and there was no ingredient I didn’t like…and had most handy. Used shell noodles and put a little less in for lower carb count and used a smaller casserole dish as it was easier to get to! Worked Great, tasted good! Thanks!
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked it, Sandi!
Layna
I love making this dish for dinner, it is so easy to make and delicious! My family loves it.
Steph Woods
This hamburger casserole made for a tasty dinner. It reminds me of a dish we used to have at my mom and dad’s house – but better!
Ebony
I made this for dinner this evening and it was a hit! it’s so easy to make! The perfect comfort food! I used ground turkey in mine and it was still wonderful. Can’t wait to make this again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Ebony! I am so glad that you love the hamburger casserole. It is quite tasty!
Kelly Bolen
OMG! This looks so good! And I think I have all the ingredients to make it tomorrow! Yummy!
Marie V Miller
So delicious and surprisingly light. Since I already had blanched chopped green, yellow and red bell peppers. I mixed the medley and also added chopped celery and parsely to the recipe. I used shredded colby and mozzarella on the top. I didn’t quite have enough hamburger meat so I opened 4 bratwurst sausages and mixed it into hamburger.
Beth Pierce
Sounds like all great ideas to me!
Frances
We love this tasty hamburger casserole. It is on regular rotation at our house. Thank you for sharing!
Mila R
This is great! I used to cook something similar, but I didn’t know that I can call it Hamburger Casserole. Now I have to try your twist.
Gervin
Love this recipe! It is easy to make, delicious, and the kids love it. We make it often!
Karletta
Genius recipe. Hamburger, and delicious and served with garlic bread. This one is a winner for all ages.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karletta! I am so glad that you liked the hamburger casserole.
Olga
Hamburger casserole is a really brilliant idea! My oldest son usually eats only grilled cheese but he loves this casserole. Thanks for the inspiration. I finally found something that he will eat.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Olga! I am so glad that he loves the hamburger casserole.
Nancy
I wish I could eat something like this right now! I’m struggling with stomach issues and I’d give anything to eat something other than toast and soup!
Beth Pierce
Feel better soon, Nancy and then you can make this hamburger casserole recipe.