This easy Hamburger Casserole is loaded with flavor from sweet onions, red bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni. It’s all in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce base and topped with Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese.
Quick and Easy Hamburger Casserole
Discover a simple and delicious hamburger casserole recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, this dish will become a family favorite in no time. Enjoy this hearty casserole with a simple garden salad, crusty cheese garlic bread, minestrone soup, tomato salad, and vegetable soup.
Hamburger Casserole Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Onion – preferably yellow
- Bell pepper – red or green
- Garlic – fresh, of course
- Seasonings – Italian, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Tomato sauce
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- Elbow macaroni
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Monterey Jack cheese
How to make Hamburger Casserole
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni al dente according to package instructions. Drain well in a colander in the sink.
Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion and red bell pepper. Continue cooking until the veggies are soft and the ground beef is browned. Drain any excess grease. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
Stir in the tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and cooked macaroni. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Spoon the ground beef mixture into a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Top with a mixture of shredded cheddar cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Cook the noodles al dente, which means slightly firm. They will be simmered for a few minutes and baked as well.
- Use any short pasta shape with this recipe, including rotini, elbow macaroni, farfalle, penne, egg noodles, or cellentani pasta.
- Any color bell pepper works in this recipe, including green bell peppers. Other vegetables to add include peas, green beans, carrots, and corn.
- You can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Cook in the oven just long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, or mozzarella cheese and, if you like spicy things, Pepper Jack.
Hot to Freeze Hamburger Casserole
Already baked: First, let the casserole fully cool. Then, wrap the dish in several layers of plastic wrap. Place on a level shelf in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to bring it to room temperature. Reheat at reduced power in the microwave.
Before baking: Prep the dish and wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap. Place on a level shelf in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to bring it to room temperature. Bake according to the recipe directions.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the dish with foil and place it in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through. Or reheat in the microwave at reduced power for short increments until warm. It is always best to remove the casserole from the refrigerator 40 minutes before reheating to bring it to room temperature.
More Hamburger Recipes
Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 red or green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 ounces can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- Kosher salt to taste
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion and the red bell pepper. Continue cooking until the onion and bell pepper are soft and the ground beef is browned. Drain any excess grease. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and cooked macaroni. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
- Spoon the beef mixture into a 9×13-inch casserole. Top with a mixture of shredded cheddar cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- Cook the noodles al dente, which means slightly firm, as they will be simmered for a few minutes and baked.
- Use any short pasta shape with this recipe, including rotini, elbow macaroni, farfalle, penne, and cellentani pasta.
- Any color bell pepper works in this recipe, including green bell peppers.
- Cook in the oven just long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, and, if you like things a little spicy, Pepper Jack.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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Melissa R
This casserole is a delightful surprise! So grateful for this tasty dish – a perfect blend of flavors and comfort. The recipe was a lifesaver for a busy day. Thanks a bunch for sharing this gem; it’s now a family favorite. Your clear instructions made it a breeze to whip up. Cheers to you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melissa! I am so glad that you like it! We love it too!
Zoey
The kids love this casserole. It is easy to make and always a hit in our home. It is now on regular rotation here.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Zoey! So glad that everyone likes it!
Barb A
Seeing the photo of the hamburger casserole brought back so many childhood memories from the 80s so I had to make it. It was so yummy! I loved it and so did the kids.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Barb! So glad that you and the kids liked it!
LisaLisa
I make this often for the family and they love it. So easy and very fulfilling, I might make this over the weekend just soooo good
Beth Pierce
Thanks, LisaLisa! I am glad that everyone likes the hamburger casserole!
Layna
I love making this dish for dinner, it is so easy to make and delicious! My family loves it.
Steph Woods
This hamburger casserole made for a tasty dinner. It reminds me of a dish we used to have at my mom and dad’s house – but better!
Ebony
I made this for dinner this evening and it was a hit! it’s so easy to make! The perfect comfort food! I used ground turkey in mine and it was still wonderful. Can’t wait to make this again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Ebony! I am so glad that you love the hamburger casserole. It is quite tasty!
Kelly Bolen
OMG! This looks so good! And I think I have all the ingredients to make it tomorrow! Yummy!
Marie V Miller
So delicious and surprisingly light. Since I already had blanched chopped green, yellow and red bell peppers. I mixed the medley and also added chopped celery and parsely to the recipe. I used shredded colby and mozzarella on the top. I didn’t quite have enough hamburger meat so I opened 4 bratwurst sausages and mixed it into hamburger.
Beth Pierce
Sounds like all great ideas to me!
Frances
We love this tasty hamburger casserole. It is on regular rotation at our house. Thank you for sharing!
Mila R
This is great! I used to cook something similar, but I didn’t know that I can call it Hamburger Casserole. Now I have to try your twist.
Gervin
Love this recipe! It is easy to make, delicious, and the kids love it. We make it often!
Karletta
Genius recipe. Hamburger, and delicious and served with garlic bread. This one is a winner for all ages.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Karletta! I am so glad that you liked the hamburger casserole.
Olga
Hamburger casserole is a really brilliant idea! My oldest son usually eats only grilled cheese but he loves this casserole. Thanks for the inspiration. I finally found something that he will eat.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Olga! I am so glad that he loves the hamburger casserole.
Nancy
I wish I could eat something like this right now! I’m struggling with stomach issues and I’d give anything to eat something other than toast and soup!
Beth Pierce
Feel better soon, Nancy and then you can make this hamburger casserole recipe.
Rich
My mother used to make something similar when I was growing up. Loved it so I had to try this. It was very good and it reminded me of my mom’s recipe.
angie
We loved this. It was tasty and easy. I will make it again.
Stephanie
Yum! Everything I like baked into one fabulous dish. Makes for such an inviting family meal.
Heather
Sorry, update on my comment….I meant that I added cumin, not fennel. Lol
Heather
Making this for the 2nd time and it’s delicious! I add fennel seed to the hamburger and Rotel tomatoes or diced tomatoes and a can of green chilies. Makes it a little of a Mexican casserole. Easy to make and will be on my rotation now
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Heather. I am so glad that like the hamburger casserole. Thanks for the tips. My readers love tips.
khoingn
I love any kind of hamburger recipe! This one is so yummy and cheesey. It has become of of our new favorites. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome. I am so glad that you like the hamburger casserole.
Sonia
This Hamburger Casserole sounds mouth-watering! I love how it’s packed with so many flavorful ingredients like sweet onions, red bell pepper, and garlic. And the addition of elbow macaroni and a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce base makes it even more delicious. I can’t wait to try it with fresh garden salad and crusty garlic bread. Yum!
May
Sounds yummy, and so hearty too. We are vegetarian, but there are plenty of vegetarian crumble options we can use to substitute. I like easy dishes like this!
Barbie Ritzman
The hamburger casserole dish you mentioned sounds delicious! It definitely has a nostalgic feel to it, and I’m sure it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Rosey
Hamburger casserole would make my son happy. He’s a big fan of dishes like these.
Jennifer L Prince
What a great recipe to make for dinner! I love all in one dishes, and this hamburger casserole is easy and delicious. A true winner!
LisaLisa
Oh, I’m making this recipe. I bet my kids would really enjoy this dish plus, I like how easy it is to create. I’m loving your page and I just bookmarked it!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lisa! Enjoy!
Rich
Great hamruger casserole. I served it with a simple garden salad and everyone loved it.
Cinny
Mmm…that looks delicious and easy to prep. I’m certain my family would love to taste test this.
Doreen
Do we drain the diced tomatoes?
Beth Pierce
No you do not. Sorry about the delay. I had a very sick pet and trying to catch up.
May
Looks easy enough! And the ingredients are easily available. We’re just about to do our supermarket run later today, I’m going to try this with my kid. Could be something he can teach at the volunteer event he has on 1st of July.
Beth Pierce
That sound like a great idea, May!
Clarice
Wow! This post definitely made me hungry. It’s been a while since we had some hamburger casserole and would love to prepare it this weekend. Thank you for sharing the recipe. We’d love to try rotini and pepper jack for a change.
Nikki Wayne
Oh my! The whole family would really love this for sure! Thanks for sharing this with us, can’t wait to try this recipe
Barbie Ritzman
It’s been years since I’ve had hamburger casserole. It’s a great comfort food that brings back memories of my childhood.
Luna S
Love this! It is such a fun and easy way to spice up your weekly meal schedule with something even the kids will love.
Marysa
Sounds like an easy and fun dish! I haven’t made a casserole in ages and it is good to have some easy dishes for our busy nights.
Nicole
I grew up eating something similar so I had to try this recipe. We loved it and it think that it was better than my Mom’s recipe.
Alita Pacio
I love how easy this hamburger casserole is to make! It is a one-dish comfort food at its finest.
Heather klein
The whole family loved this recipe, it’s definitely a keeper. It smells amazing while it cooks.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Heather! I am so glad that your family loved it.
dana
The ultimate comfort food, right here. We love this recipe. It’s a favorite here during the cooler months or when we’ve just had a super busy week and are feeling run down. This is a hug in a bowl!
Beth Pierce
I agree, Dana!
Dannii
My kids LOVED this. I froze a few portions for easy after school dinners too.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Danni! It sure does freeze well!
Hayley Dhanecha
Such a delicious and perfect dish for whole family, ideal for mid-weel meal!
Andrea
I love this so much. It’s quick, easy, fantastic and feeds a hungry crowd. Perfect for my family.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Andrea! So glad that you liked it!
Whitney
My whole family loved this and it was easy to prepare. Thanks for sharing!
Jupiter Hadley
This sounds like such a good midweek meal! It reminds me of hamburger helper – which I cannot find in the United Kingdom now that I have moved here.
Tisha
I love how simple this is and so perfect an busy weeknight
Sandra
Such a perfect meal for my picky eaters!! A huge hit at my house!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandra! So glad that they enjoyed it. You should try other cheeses like mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, and, if you like things a little spicy, Pepper Jack.
Everything Enchanting
What a hearty, delicious meal! We will make this again and again! 😍.
Beti
My kids loved this!! They could not get enough of it. Thanks for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe.
Kat
My family really enjoyed this! It was easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Catalina
All the flavors I love in one casserole! This was a big hit in our house. Thanks for sharing!
Erik
Great recipe! Even my picky son loved it!
Amanda
Perfect meal for weeknights, a flavorful dish the whole family loved!
Julie
This was so good and full of flavor! We love burgers and having it in a casserole with the macaroni was really delicious.
Tammy
Such a comforting weeknight meal for the whole family…plus leftovers are always enjoyed too! So delicious and easy to make!
Marie
This hamburger casserole is delicious and easy to make. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Lavanda
I love finding new and delicious ways to enjoy ground beef, and this dish looks absolutely scrumptious. I can already imagine the savory flavors and comforting aromas filling my kitchen. Can’t wait to try it out and impress my family with this yummy meal!
karen
This Hamburger Casserole is the best. I shared the recipe with my Mom and she enjoyed it too!
Samantha Donnelly
This sounds like my perfect comfort food, I have the ingredients in so will be trying this recipe and really want something like this now
Moni
Your Hamburger Casserole recipe is amazing! It’s super easy to make and tastes delicious. I appreciate how you included step-by-step instructions and photos, making it easy to follow along. The combination of ground beef, noodles, and cheese was a hit with my family. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcom. I am so glad that you liked it!
Edgar
It’s my first time seeing such a casserole. I am such a sucker for hamburgers. I look forward to giving it a try.
Amber
My mom used to make something like this. I am so excited to find this recipe and cant wait to give it a try.
Nyxie
This looks amazing! We’re just heading out to do a shop, and with this in mind I think we might just have tonight’s dinner sorted!