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Easy Cheesy Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

If you’re looking for a great meal that works for busy weeknights and that picky eaters will gobble up, this cheesy old fashioned hamburger casserole is for you!

It’s one complete meal with simple ingredients mixed together in your casserole dish, a meaty and cheesy delight that makes for the perfect family dinner.

A Very Easy Dinner

Cheesy hamburger casserole on a plate with two slices of thick garlic bread.

Your whole family is going to love this very easy dinner. It’s similar to what you can find at different restaurants around town, but the homemade version is so much better and much more budget-friendly.

So head into the kitchen and get cookin’ this great recipe that I know will become a new family favorite.

What I Love About This Meal

It’s a comforting meal, as well as filling. I have a picky eater, and he loves this meal. You can add some vegetables to the beef casserole, and the kids will get a full meal.

Plus, this is such an easy recipe and you most likely have the ingredients in your pantry.

Cheesy hamburger casserole on a plate with two slices of thick garlic bread. The rest of the casserole is in the large dish behind the plate.

Comfort Food in One Easy Meal

Instead of that boxed stuff, make this homemade Hamburger Helper, and you’re in for a treat. This easy hamburger casserole recipe is a cinch to make, even on the most hectic days of the week.

Just combining these simple ingredients from your pantry and fridge results in a cheesy casserole that no one can ever resist.

This is my old reliable standby when I need to feed the family.

As soon as my husband and kids see that this cheeseburger casserole is what’s for dinner, they practically topple over their chairs, gathering around the table.

It’s seriously soothing on chilly nights, but any time of year when you need that comfort food in your belly, this is the recipe to make!

Cheesy hamburger casserole on a plate with two slices of thick garlic bread.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef
  • Elbow macaroni
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Minced onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Sour cream
  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and black pepper

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions for the casserole listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How to Make My Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

My entire family goes nuts for this hamburger casserole, and I’m pretty sure yours will too. It’s super easy to make and requires some very basic ingredients and a casserole dish. 

  1. Cook the ground beef with the minced onion and garlic in a large skillet on medium heat.
  2. Drain the grease and add the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and spaghetti sauce and mix well.
  3. Next, add the macaroni noodles to the beef mixture and combine.
  4. Add 3/4 of the cheese to the saucepan and mix.
  5. Pour the mixture into the greased casserole dish and cover with aluminum foil.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes and remove the aluminum foil.
  7. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Raw ground beef in a large skillet.

Start by adding the ground beef to the skillet and cook on medium heat.

You can use ground turkey, lean ground beef, or chicken if you’d like to have a lower-fat meal.

Ground beef with minced garlic and onion in a skillet.

Next, add the minced garlic and onion to the skillet and cook until the meat is brown.

The great thing about this meal is that you can add your favorite seasonings.

Cooked ground beef with a cup of sour cream on top.

Once the meat is done cooking, drain the grease and add the sour cream to the skillet.

Ground beef topped with sour cream and Worcestershire sauce.

Pour the Worcestershire sauce into the pan and mix the ingredients.

Ground beef with sour cream and spaghetti sauce in a skillet.

Add the spaghetti sauce to the pan.

I used a traditional sauce for this recipe. You can use your favorite sauce.

Elbow macaroni in a skillet with ground beef and seasonings.

Add the cooked elbow macaroni noodles to the skillet and combine.

I have discovered pre-cooked noodles, and I used those. But you can also buy uncooked pasta noodles for this recipe and cook them before adding them to the ground beef mixture.

Shredded cheddar cheese in a skillet with a ground beef mixture.

Sprinkle 3/4 of the shredded cheese into the skillet and mix well.

For this recipe, I used sharp cheddar cheese, but you can use your favorite.

Ground beef casserole in a casserole dish.

Spread the ground beef mixture into a greased 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish.

A casserole dish covered with aluminum foil.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sprinkled cheese on top of a ground beef mixture in a casserole dish.

After the casserole bakes for 30 minutes, sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top of the meat mixture and bake another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Cheesy hamburger casserole on a plate with two slices of thick garlic bread. The rest of the casserole is in the large dish behind the plate.

Optional Ingredients

The great thing about this casserole dish is that you can add different ingredients to change things a little bit. If this is your first time making it, feel free to add something different. Here are a few ideas:

  • Italian seasoning
  • Bell pepper
  • Chili powder
  • Different pasta shells
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Garlic salt
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Green beans
  • English peas
  • Mixed vegetables
Old fashioned hamburger casserole with cheese on a plate with two pieces of garlic bread.

It sounds like a crazy combination, but I promise you, it creates spectacular flavors that will have everyone going for another helping and scraping every last bit of their plates clean. 

How To Store The Cheesy Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

If you have any leftovers, you can enjoy them for lunch the next day. This ground beef casserole recipe keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container, so be sure to use it up before then.

We’ve never had that problem since it’s always long gone by that time!

What To Serve With Cheesy Casserole

Get The Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes for hamburger meat. It’s an easy casserole that you can make on a busy night.

Put it on your dinner table tonight – the recipe card is below to give you all the details you need to make it!

Cheesy hamburger casserole on a plate with two slices of thick garlic bread.

Easy Cheesy Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Easy Cheesy Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole is a delicious and comforting dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, noodles, and gooey melted cheese, perfect for a quick and satisfying family meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds of ground beef
  • 1 Tablespoon of minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • 1 cup of sour cream
  • Pinch of salt and ground pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
  • 24 ounces of traditional spaghetti sauce
  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked
  • 16 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  3. In a large skillet, add the ground beef, minced onion, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
  4. Cook until browned and drain the grease.
  5. Next, add the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, and spaghetti sauce to the meat and mix well.
  6. Add the cooked elbow macaroni noodles and mix.
  7. Next, add 3/4 of the shredded cheese and mix well.
  8. Pour the meat mixture into the greased casserole dish and cover with aluminum foil.
  9. Bake for 30 minutes.
  10. Remove the foil and sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top and bake another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Notes

You can use lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken if you want a more low-fat meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 739Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 974mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 49g

Nutrition is approximate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Katie

Thursday 7th of September 2023

Do you think I could put uncooked noodles in and add maybe 3 cups of water and bake for an hour?? Just curious if anyone has ever tried. Thank you!! It looks delicious!!

Julie Pollitt

Friday 8th of September 2023

Hi Katie,

You can always try that. I would keep it covered with aluminum foil while it bakes so it will keep the moisture in.

Brenda

Sunday 9th of July 2023

I haven’t made the casserole yet but I’m so excited to try it thanks for sharing.

Julie Pollitt

Sunday 9th of July 2023

I hope you love it!

Dana

Wednesday 5th of July 2023

We made this yesterday and it was delicious, I will share this recipe with family members and friends, and I will make it often!! Thanks

Julie Pollitt

Wednesday 5th of July 2023

That's so wonderful to hear! Thank you for sharing that!

Heather

Tuesday 4th of July 2023

Made this casserole so easy and so good. My picky husband ate two helpings and fixed a plate for a late night snack. A winner

Julie Pollitt

Tuesday 4th of July 2023

That so great to hear! Love it!

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