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. Add the onion and red bell pepper about halfway through the browning process. 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.
Preparation Tips
- Cook the noodles al dente, which means slightly firm. They will be simmered for a few minutes and then baked.
- You can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Cook in the oven long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, mozzarella, and, if you like spicy things, Pepperjack.
Hot to Freeze This 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
Leftovers can be stored 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.
Alternatively, 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.
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
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray for easier cleanup.
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Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni al dente according to package directions. Drain well.
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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.
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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.
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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. They will be simmered for a few minutes and then baked.
- You can substitute Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Cook in the oven long enough to heat the casserole and melt the cheese.
- Other cheeses to try include provolone, Parmesan, Fontina, mozzarella, and, if you like spicy things, Pepperjack.
