Hamburger Casserole
by Sommer Collier — on Aug 13, 2025 This kid-friendly hamburger casserole recipe includes savory ground beef, tender noodles, a tangy tomato and mustard sauce, and loads of melty cheese. It has all of the flavors you love in a classic cheeseburger, but is easy to make as a one-pan dish in just 30 minutes!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
You know those meals that are so delicious and comfy, they make you want to snuggle into a sofa with a big dish and never get up? It’s a fact that I am a master at crafting these kinds of irresistible recipes. (Take my homemade hamburger helper, American chop suey, and homemade beefaroni recipes as just a few examples.) So you know that when I say this hamburger casserole is hands-down one of the most ridiculously addictive cozy meals I’ve made in a long, long time, you know it’s true!
We set out to make a ground beef and noodle casserole with some of the flavors associated with a good hamburger. We also wanted to make it an easy one pot dish for reduced cleanup. What we ended up with was a bold, zesty, saucy cheeseburger casserole I want to eat every. single. day. for the rest of my life.
Why You’ll Love This Cheeseburger Casserole
- Irresistible cheeseburger flavor – You’ve got savory burger meat perfectly seasoned, cooked in a saucy base with tomato paste and Dijon mustard. Including tender noodles and lots of melty cheese takes the hamburger flavors up to eleven and adds even more heartiness!
- One pan wonder – You only need a single large oven-safe skillet if you plan on baking the casserole. Otherwise, you can just use any large skillet. Either way, yay for easy cleanup!
- Quick and easy and QUICK recipe – Prep work really is just mincing some garlic and chopping green onions. That takes just a few minutes, and the dish is ready to serve in only 30 minutes.
Don’t be surprised when you hear the whole family requesting this kid-friendly recipe at least once a week!
Ingredients and Tips
- Ground beef – I suggest using ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio. A nice bit of fat keeps the meat juicy and plump.
- Green onions and garlic – These aromatic powerhouses bring together all of the best savory flavors.
- Saucy base – We’re using a combination of ranch dip mix, tomato sauce, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth.
- Pasta – I like ziti noodles because they are just the right forkable size, and the cheesy sauce can get into every tube.
- Cheeses – This casserole includes both cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. Together they are incredibly rich, creamy, and ooey-gooey wonderful.
Recipe Variations
- Ground turkey – Swap the beef for leaner ground turkey.
- Vegetarian – You can use your favorite plant-based ground meat alternative, or swap the beef with a can of drained and rinsed beans! Kidney beans or white beans (cannellini beans) would work well.
- Pasta – Choose whatever small type of pasta you prefer! Other pastas similar to ziti with a hole in the middle include elbow, macaroni noodles, or penne.
Protein Pointer – We’ve included ground beef and two cheeses in this recipe for a decent amount of protein. But feel free to double the ground beef if you so desire. You can also swap the traditional pasta for high-protein chickpea pasta.
How to Make Hamburger Noodle Casserole
Tip for Success – This one-pot recipe requires a large 12 to 14-inch oven-safe cast-iron pan or sauté pan. If you do not have an oven-safe pan, you can start it on the stovetop, then pour it into a large baking dish to finish baking.
You also have the option to make it completely on the stovetop and not bake it at all… Sort of a hamburger casserole skillet. It will be a little more saucy this way.
Find the full Hamburger Casserole recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Leftover cheeseburger casserole is delicious! Let everything cool before transferring to an airtight container, and keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container, like a ziploc plastic freezer bag with all of the air squeezed out.
- Reheating – The easiest way to reheat the dish is in the microwave in short 10-20 second bursts at 50% power. You might need to add a splash of water or broth as you stir between bursts to loosen the sauce up a bit.
Serving Suggestions
Add some veggie side dishes to this cheesy, meaty, carb-y party to make it a full, balanced meal. Try reader favorites like roasted cauliflower and broccoli (even kids love it!), honey glazed carrots, air fryer Brussels sprouts, or green beans.
We also like to balance out the coziness of the casserole and enjoy it with a crisp green salad loaded with lettuce and fresh goodies. Our romaine hearts salad and homemade caesar salad dressing recipes are delightfully simple and refreshing!
Cheeseburger Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 bunch chopped green onions separate greens and whites
- 2-3 cloves garlic minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 1 packet ranch dip mix
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 pound small dried pasta we used ziti
- 8 ounce cream cheese cut into cubes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Chop the green onions and separate the green ends from the white ends. Mince the garlic.
- Set a large 12-14 inch cast-iron skillet (or an oven-safe sauté pan) over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Brown the meat, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Once the meat is mostly cooked through, add in the onion whites and minced garlic. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes to soften the onions.
- Then add the ranch dip mix, tomato sauce, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well to incorporate all the flavors. Turn the heat to high, and add the beef broth and dried pasta.
- Bring the broth to a simmer. Continue to cook and stir the pasta to make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook for 5-8 minutes, according to the pasta package instructions. Once the pasta reaches al dente, mix in the cream cheese and onion greens. Stir the pasta until the cream cheese completely melts into a thick creamy sauce.
- Sprinkle the top of the pasta with shredded cheddar cheese. Place the cast-iron skillet in the oven and continue to bake for 10 minutes, until the edges are bubbly and the cheese is melted on top.* Serve warm.
Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Leftover cheeseburger casserole is delicious! Let everything cool before transferring to an airtight container, and keep in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing – You can freeze leftovers for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container, like a ziploc plastic freezer bag with all of the air squeezed out.
- Reheating – The easiest way to reheat the dish is in the microwave in short 10-20 second bursts at 50% power. You might need to add a splash of water or broth as you stir between bursts to loosen the sauce up a bit.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not quite. What’s known as John Wayne casserole is a dish that typically includes canned tomatoes and rotel chiles with a biscuit topping. That has a more Tex-Mex southwestern taste, while this ground beef and noodle casserole has the distinct flavor of a cheeseburger.
Bake the dish uncovered so it cooks evenly and quickly, and the cheese on top slightly caramelizes and turns golden brown.
