Cheeseburger Casserole is the perfect weeknight meal that allows you to feed your family in less than an hour. With simple ingredients like ground beef, pasta, tomato paste, onion, garlic, sour cream, heavy cream, cheese, bacon, and spices you’ll be hearing your family rave about your homemade hamburger helper every single time.

Cheeseburger Casserole

If you love hearty pasta dishes, then you are in for a real treat with this delicious Cheeseburger casserole. It is loaded with so much goodness that your family will love. You will love this cheesy one pot wonder. It is quick and easy and will soon become a family favorite.

If you love hearty casseroles, be sure to check out our taco casserole and our turkey casserole.

What is Cheeseburger Casserole?

Cheeseburger casserole is very similar to hamburger helper but so much better. It is made with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato paste, elbow macaroni, beef stock, sour cream, heavy cream, cheese, bacon, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Ingredients:

1 Pound Ground Beef
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
½ Large Onion, Diced
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 ½ Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
12 Ounces Elbow Macaroni
3 Cups Beef Stock
½ Cup Sour Cream
¼ Cup Heavy Cream
2 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar
4 Ounces Cooked Bacon, Chopped

How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large oven-safe skillet or dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and worcestershire sauce until well combined with the beef and onions.

Add the beef stock and elbow macaroni to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.

To the skillet, add the sour cream and heavy cream, stir to combine and allow to come to a simmer.

Stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and fully combined.

Top the skillet with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the chopped bacon. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips Tricks and FAQs

Feel free to use any variety of short pasta that you have on hand. Penne and Rotini are great options.
The recipe calls for ground beef but you can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or a plant alternative.
Sneak some veggies into this dish for more flavor. We like to add diced bell peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
You can swap out the heavy cream for milk if you prefer.
If you really want the cheeseburger flavor that you love, add a teaspoon of ketchup and yellow mustard.
Feel free to use different varieties of cheese if you would like. We love to use colby jack cheese as well.

Storage

Store your leftover cheeseburger casserole in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Reheating

You can reheat this dish in the oven or the microwave. Reheat to your desired temperature.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Name: Cheeseburger Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 Pound Ground Beef; ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt; ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper; ½ Large Onion, Diced; 2 Cloves Garlic, Minced; 1 ½ Tablespoons Tomato Paste; 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce; 12 Ounces Elbow Macaroni; 3 Cups Beef Stock; ½ Cup Sour Cream; ¼ Cup Heavy Cream; 2 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar; 4 Ounces Cooked Bacon, Chopped

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Cheeseburger Casserole is the perfect weeknight meal that allows you to feed your family in less than an hour. With simple ingredients like ground beef, pasta, tomato paste, onion, garlic, sour cream, heavy cream, cheese, bacon, and spices you'll be hearing your family rave about your homemade hamburger helper every single time.

Ingredients

1 Pound Ground Beef
½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt
½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
½ Large Onion, Diced
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 ½ Tablespoons Tomato Paste
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
12 Ounces Elbow Macaroni
3 Cups Beef Stock
½ Cup Sour Cream
¼ Cup Heavy Cream
2 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar
4 Ounces Cooked Bacon, Chopped

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large oven-safe skillet or dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the garlic, tomato paste and worcestershire sauce until well combined with the beef and onions.
Add the beef stock and elbow macaroni to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
To the skillet, add the sour cream and heavy cream, stir to combine and allow to come to a simmer.
Stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and fully combined.
Top the skillet with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the chopped bacon. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 672Total Fat: 43gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 1058mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 44g

Cheeseburger Casserole