Hamburger Mac And Cheese Casserole

Hamburger mac and cheese casserole is a hearty and very tasty meal. The best part is that the entire meal is homemade and super easy to put together. And believe me, the kids will come running for this dish. It’s like a hearty Hamburger Helper but so much tastier for the whole family.

What I Love About This Cheeseburger Casserole

Cheeseburger casserole can come in so many forms, and this is a great way to get a filling meal on the table.

1. It’s a family favorite, and it’s definitely one of my favorite things to make and eat. It has the classic cheeseburger taste.
2. It’s super easy to make, even for beginners. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to make from start to finish.
3. You know what ingredients are in the dish. No hidden stuff here. It’s almost all basic ingredients out of the pantry.
4. It’s very versatile. You can make it however you like. If you want lean ground beef or ground turkey, you can switch it out. If cheddar is not your favorite cheese, you can use Swiss or your favorite cheese. Add some veggies to the dish, as well.
5. Kids love hamburger mac and cheese because it’s pure comfort food. It’s hard enough to get them to the table without a bunch of complaints. But this recipe is like mac and cheese on steroids. You know you’re feeding them good food for dinner, and they will go to bed full and satisfied.
6. You can freeze the meal and pull it out when you’re ready to reheat and eat.

Ingredients For Hamburger Mac And Cheese Casserole

• Elbow macaroni
• Ground beef
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Onion seasoning
• Minced garlic

Cheese Sauce

• Butter
• All-purpose flour
• Evaporated milk
• Heavy cream
• Beef broth
• Shredded cheddar cheese (I buy pre-shredded cheese to make life easier).
• Grated parmesan

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

Before you get started on the ground beef, cook the macaroni noodles according to directions. However, stop cooking the noodles a few minutes early so they are al dente.

The hamburger mac and cheese recipe takes about 20-25 minutes to get ready and get into the oven.

1. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, onion seasoning, and garlic to a skillet and cook on medium heat. Drain the grease and set the meat aside.
2. Add the ground beef and noodles to the baking dish.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. The flour will be lumpy. Pour in the evaporated milk and beef broth and whisk until the lumps are gone. Once the sauce is hot, add the cheese and cook until melted.
4. Pour the creamy cheese sauce over the meat and pasta and stir to combine. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes.

Tips for Adding Variety to Your Hamburger Mac and Cheese Casserole

• Add some diced green bell peppers or jalapeños for some color and spiciness.
• If you like things hot, add some hot sauce or crushed red peppers to the casserole.
• Try different types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Gouda, to create your own unique twist on this classic dish.
• Add some frozen mixed vegetables to the dish to get even more nutrition into the pan.

Substitutions for Hamburger Mac and Cheese

If you’re looking for a healthier version of this classic comfort food, there are a few substitutions you can make:

• As mentioned above, use some lean ground beef, turkey, or shredded chicken to reduce the fat content.
• Use whole wheat flour or gluten-free noodles to increase some of the fiber.
• Use some lower-fat milk for the recipe.
• Use lower-fat cheese to cut down on some fats, as well.
• Use a different type of pasta if you don’t have elbow macaroni noodles on hand.

Optional Ingredients

You can add a few things here and there if you want some different flavors with this dish. Here are a few ideas:

• Diced onions
• Green peppers
• Italian seasoning
• Chili powder
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder

Hamburger Mac And Cheese Casserole

4.55 from 11 votes

Julie Pollitt

Hamburger mac and cheese is perfect for those busy nights. It's an easy dinner recipe and great for the pickiest eaters.

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Casserole

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 1141 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

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• 16 ounces of elbow macaroni cooked al dente
• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of onion seasoning
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic

Cheese Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
• 5 ounce can of evaporated milk
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 2 cups of beef broth
• 2 cups + handful of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook the noodles according to the package, but remove a couple of minutes early while they are al dente. Drain the water and pour the noodles into the baking dish.
• Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, onion seasoning, and minced garlic to a large skillet and cook on medium until brown.
• Drain the grease and add to the baking dish with the noodles. Stir to combine.

Cheese Sauce

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat.
• Add the flour and whisk. It will be lumpy.
• Next, pour in the evaporated milk, heavy cream, and broth while whisking. Whisk until the lumps are gone.
• Once the sauce is hot, add the parmesan cheese and whisk until combined. Then, add the two cups of cheese and cook until it's melted.
• Pour the cheese over the ground beef and noodle mixture and mix to combine.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes.
• Remove the foil, sprinkle the handful of cheese on top, and bake for another 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Video

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container or cover them with plastic wrap and keep them refrigerated.

You can sprinkle some fresh parsley on top after it comes out of the oven for a pop of color.

You can freeze the recipe for up to three months. Be sure to wrap it up well in an airtight container. Let it thaw for 24 hours before cooking.

If you freeze it before cooking, cook it following the instructions above.

If you cook it first and then freeze it, let it thaw and cook for at least 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until it is hot. Cover with aluminum foil while reheating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 1141kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 73gFat: 78gSaturated Fat: 40gPolyunsaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 286mgSodium: 1532mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4g

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