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Ground Beef Casserole

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Ground Beef Casserole is the perfect comfort dish. It is loaded with simple ingredients and can be prepared in minutes. It is the perfect one pot meal to serve when you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed. 

Ground Beef Casserole

If you love pasta beef and cheese then you are in for a real treat with this ground beef casserole. It is one of those dishes that both kids and adults love. 

This one pot wonder is the meal you turn to when you want an easy, filling meal that doesn’t take a lot of prep or clean up time. 

Ground Beef Casserole

I love this dish for so many reasons! One of my favorite things is that this recipe doesn’t have to be an exact science. If you want to use less meat you can. If you want more sauce you can! This dish can be altered based on your preferences. 

Ground Beef Casserole

For more delicious casseroles try our million dollar chicken casserole and chicken pot pie casserole

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • If your pasta is not cooked, cook according to the directions on the box/bag.
  • In a large saucepan, I used a 12-inch Staub, over medium heat, put onions and ground beef. Mix to break the meat into pieces. 
  • Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, dry mustard, and ground pepper. Mix so the spices are evenly throughout the meat.
  • Cook thoroughly until there is no more pink on the meat.
  • Take off the heat.
  • Add the drained corn, diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, and sour cream. 

  • Mix until all ingredients are blended. 

  • Add the meat mixture to a 9 x 13 bake dish. 

  • Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the meat. 
  • Add the pasta and spread it on top of the meat mixture. 
  • Gently mix the pasta so it is covered with the meat mixture.

NOTE: If you prefer, you can use a large bowl and mix the meat and pasta together. Then spread evenly in a 9 x 13 bake dish. 

  • Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

  • Bake, uncovered, in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is nice and melted and it is bubbly.

Ground Beef Casserole
  • Serve and Enjoy!

Ground Beef Casserole

Tips Tricks and FAQs

  • While this recipe calls for ground beef you can also use ground chuck, ground sausage, turkey or chicken. 
  • You can use one pound of ground meat if you want a more saucy meat mixture. 
  • Feel free to add in other favorite vegetables like carrots, peas, or peppers. 
  • Top ground beef casserole with shredded cheese or parsley if you prefer. 
  • You can double the recipe, you will just want to bake it in two separate 9 x 13 pans. 
  • You don’t have to use marinara. Any pasta sauce will work great. 
Ground Beef Casserole

Storage

You will want to let this completely cool prior to storing it. Once cooled, add it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge. This will last up to 5 days. 

Can you freeze this dish?

Yes, you can freeze this dish. Follow the dish according to the recipe up to step 13. Let it cool completely and then wrap in plastic wrap and then wrap it in foil and place it in the freezer. This will keep for up to 3 months. 

Ground Beef Casserole

When you are ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge and then bake. 

Can I make ground beef casserole ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great dish to make ahead of time. Just prepare it as the recipe states and then place in the fridge covered for up to 24 hours prior to baking. 

You will want to set this out on the counter to come back to room temperature while the oven preheats. 

Ground Beef Casserole pin

Do you cook meat before adding it to a casserole?

In this recipe, you will want to brown the meat prior to adding it to the casserole.  

What can I serve with ground beef casserole?

You can serve this with a loaf of rustic bread, a side of vegetables, or a delicious salad. 

Ground Beef Casserole

Ground Beef Casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ground Beef Casserole is the perfect comfort dish. It is loaded with simple ingredients and can be prepared in minutes. It is the one pot meal to serve when you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed.

Ingredients

  • 1 box (16 oz.) cooked pasta. I used elbows but any short pasta will work (shells, penne, bows,...)
  • 1 ½ lbs ground chuck
  • ⅓ cup chopped onion (I used sweet onion, but you could use white or red onion)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (you can use sweet paprika, but the final flavor may be different)
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 can (15 oz.) whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained (If you want more of a spice, you can use Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, or also can use diced tomatoes oven roasted with garlic)
  • 2 cups marinara sauce (you can use a basic pasta sauce as well: tomato basil, tomato garlic,...)
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheese, divided (I used shredded Colby Jack, but you could use a mixture of mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or even Gouda)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. If your pasta is not cooked, cook according to directions on the box/bag.
  3. In a large saucepan, I used a 12-inch Staub, over medium heat, put onions and ground beef. Mix to break the meat into pieces. 
  4. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, smoked paprika, dry mustard and ground pepper. Mix so the spices are evenly throughout the meat.
  5. Cook thoroughly until there is no more pink on the meat.
  6. Take off the heat.
  7. Add the drained corn, diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, and sour cream. 
  8. Mix until all ingredients are blended. 
  9. Add the meat mixture to a 9 x 13 bake dish. 
  10. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the meat. 
  11. Add the pasta and spread on top of the meat mixture. 
  12. Gently mix the pasta so it is covered with the meat mixture.

NOTE: If you prefer, you can use a large bowl and mix the meat and pasta together. Then spread evenly in a 9 x 13 bake dish. 

13. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.

14. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is nice and melted and it is bubbly.

15. Serve and Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 500Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 821mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 34g

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