This hamburger casserole is cozy, cheesy, and full of hearty flavor. Tender pasta, beef, and veggies bake together in a rich tomato sauce for an easy family favorite.

a casserole dish of baked hamburger casserole with a spoon

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Holly’s Recipe Highlights

  • Flavor: Cheesy and savory with tender noodles, seasoned beef, and a rich tomato sauce for the perfect cozy bite. 
  • Prep Note: This casserole can easily be assembled ahead of time and baked later (more information below).
  • Swaps: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
  • Serving Suggestion: Add garlic bread and a Caesar salad for a simple, complete meal.
tomato sauce with ground beef in a skillet for hamburger casserole

Ingredient Tips

  • Pasta: Rotini twists are perfect for catching all that savory sauce. No rotini? Fusilli, penne, or egg noodles work well, too. Cook just to al dente for the best texture after baking.
  • Lean Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef and be sure to drain well after browning. You can swap in ground turkey, Italian sausage, or chicken for a tasty twist.
  • Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Use any blend you like; I use a blend with carrots, peas, corn, and green beans. Cooking them in the pasta water makes for a fast meal!
  • Sauce: This simple sauce gets its flavor from pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, and classic herbs like oregano, basil, and garlic. Use store-bought or homemade sauce and season to taste.
  • Shredded Cheese: Any cheese will work in this recipe! A pre-shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese blend is a great (and easy) option.

How to Make Hamburger Casserole

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet, add the sauce ingredients, and simmer.
  2. Meanwhile, cook pasta. Add the frozen vegetables in the last few minutes (full recipe below).
  3. Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly.

To Make Ahead

Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days. When ready to serve, let it sit for 20 minutes at room temperature, then bake as directed in the recipe.

a plate of baked hamburger casserole

Storing Leftovers

  • Leftovers can be covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Freeze portions before or after baking, wrapped tightly in foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed in the recipe.

Easy Weeknight Casseroles

Did you make this Hamburger Casserole? Leave us a rating and comment below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
Hamburger casserole being scooped out of the casserole dish with a spoon
4.94 from 258 votes

Hamburger Casserole

Servings 6 servings
Hamburger casserole is an easy-to-make dish loaded with beef, veggies, and tons of hamburger flavor!
Servings 6 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
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Ingredients  

  • 8 ounces rotini or medium pasta
  • cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion diced
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14 ounce) can pasta sauce
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes or petite diced tomatoes, lightly drained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • cups shredded cheddar cheese blend

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini al dente according to package directions. Add the frozen mixed vegetables to the boiling water for the last minute of cooking time.
  • Meanwhile, heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet, cooking until no pink remains. Drain any grease. Stir in the oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Add the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes or until thickened.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sauce, pasta, and vegetables. Spread into a 2.5 QT casserole dish and top with cheese.
  • Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or just until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Notes

Keep leftover hamburger casserole covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freeze portions before or after baking, wrapped tightly in foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed in the recipe.
4.94 from 258 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 490 | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 437mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2682IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American
close up of Hamburger Casserole in the casserole dish with a spoon and title
flavorful Hamburger Casserole on a plate with writing
cheesy Hamburger Casserole with a title
Hamburger Casserole in the dish and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
See more posts by Holly

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4.94 from 258 votes (214 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. WOW!!! This was great!
    I did add 5 cloves of garlic in addition to the garlic powder, but that’s just me.
    I used the soup mix veggies from Trader Joe’s.
    It turned out wonderful.
    It fed 4 people with leftovers for a couple of lunches.
    Thanks for the lower sodium recipe.5 stars

  2. I like your recipes. They are easy to follow and simple. Your best Chocolate Cake and Best Banana Cakes are one of our favorites.
    thanks, toni5 stars