This Easy Hamburger Casserole Recipe is a perfect weeknight dinner option. It's hearty, delicious, and requires minimal prep time. Made with saucy beef mixture, egg noodles, and a cream cheese sour cream mixture. Get the whole family's stomach growling with this tasty dish tonight!
If you're craving more easy casserole recipes, then be sure to try making a Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, Meatball Casserole, or Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole.
Do you need a quick and easy dinner idea to share with your family on busy weeknights?
Well, I've got just the recipe for you. A comforting and hearty ground beef casserole.
It's meaty, flavorful, and has noodles! It also comes together in minutes and is delicious enough that even picky eaters will love it.
Let's get started!
Ingredients You'll Need
You only need a few simple ingredients to make the best hamburger noodle casserole. You should be able to easily find all of these items at your local grocery store.
- Ground Beef - Any pound of ground beef mix that you prefer will work for this recipe. I love using lean ground beef or ground chuck with an 80/20 fat ratio. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground Italian sausage could be used as a substitute.
- Tomato Sauce - Helps to create the sauce and adds a layer of sweet and slightly tangy flavor that pairs well with the other casserole ingredients.
- Garlic Powder - Adds an intense and dry garlic flavor to the sauce.
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper - This helps to bring out the other ingredient flavors and prevents the casserole from tasting bland. Adjust as needed.
- Egg Noodles - Provides noodles to the casserole and helps to bulk it up and add in a carbohydrate. These noodles are also mild in flavor and hold up well in the oven during baking. I prefer using medium egg noodles but wide egg noodles could be used instead. These should be easy to locate at any grocery store in the aisle with the pasta.
- Sour Cream - Paired with the cream cheese to create a slightly sour and creamy layer.
- Cream Cheese - Adds a slightly tart and creamy flavor to the casserole. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a bit to soften for easier combining.
- Onion - Adds an earthy and slightly sweet flavor to the ground beef mixture. Use white onion or any yellow onion that you prefer.
- Cheese - Top the casserole with shredded sharp cheddar cheese before baking. Monterey jack, smoked gouda, mozzarella cheese, or any shredded cheese that you prefer will work.
Optional Ingredients
These ingredients are not necessary and I prefer to keep this delicious hamburger casserole recipe simple. But these are a few tasty options if you'd like to add a little more flavor:
- Spices - Feel free to add in more seasonings to make your casserole recipe for more flavor. Try adding onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, or cayenne pepper. Simply add ½ to 1 teaspoon of additional seasoning along with the tomato sauce.
- Melty Cheese - Although the recipe only instructs you to add shredded cheese to the top before baking, feel free to add more or some on top of the cream cheese layer for an extra cheesy casserole. Don't be afraid to use a combination of cheese such as cheddar cheese and colby jack.
- Sauce - Make it savory and saucy by adding a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, or ketchup.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.
How to Make Hamburger Casserole
Begin the recipe by grabbing a large skillet and placing it on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart into smaller pieces as it cooks. Once it browns, drain off any excess grease/excess fat. Add the onion, stir to combine, and cook until the onion begins to soften about 2 to 3 minutes.
Using a medium-sized bowl, stir together the sour cream and softened cream cheese until combined. If you're having problems, try using a hand mixer.
To the beef mixture, add the tomato sauce, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper. Adjust the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes.
While the sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of salty water to a boil. Add the egg noodles to the boiling water and allow them to cook until al dente (firm but able to pierce with a fork), stirring occasionally. Drain the water from the noodles and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Begin assembling the casserole by lightly spraying a 9x13-inch casserole dish or an 11x11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add half of the cooked pasta to the bottom and spread it out into an even layer. Top with half of the cream cheese mixture and spread in an even layer.
Top with half of the meat mixture and spread it out in an even layer.
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Repeat the process with the layers. Top with the other half of the egg noodles and cream cheese mixture.
Top with the meat and sauce mixture.
Add the shredded cheese to the top in an even layer.
Place into the oven to bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese melts and the casserole is bubbly and golden brown.
If you prefer the top of the casserole to be more browned and crispy, place it underneath the broiler for a few minutes. Carefully remove the hamburger casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before cutting to serve.
Serve warm with a side salad, green beans, and garlic bread. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Try substituting with elbow macaroni, medium pasta shells, or any short pasta such as farfalle, penne, or rigatoni.
- Periodically check the casserole as it bakes to make sure it doesn't overbake. This may result in a dry casserole. Adjust the cooking time as needed. Once the cheese has melted and the pasta sauce is bubbly it should be ready to pull it from the oven.
- Make sure that you do not boil the egg noodles too long as they will finish cooking in the oven. They should be firm and able to be pierced with a fork. Think a minute before al dente.
Storage Tips
Storage. It's even better the next day in my opinion! Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil or transfer the leftovers into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating. Reheat the easy hamburger casserole recipe in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees F. until warm or in the microwave for a quicker option.
Freezing. This cooked casserole can also be stored in the freezer for up to a month. Remove it from the freezer the night before you're ready to serve to allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Heat it up in the oven until warmed.
Make Ahead. This recipe can be made in advance. Assemble it and cover it tightly with aluminum foil before storing it in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, allow it time to come to room temperature a bit before placing it into the oven to bake per recipe instructions.
Want More Ground Beef Recipes? Try These:
- Easy Baked Spaghetti
- Southern Meatloaf Recipe
- Beef Baked Tacos
- Barbecue Cornbread Muffins
- Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
- Old Fashioned Hamburger Gravy
- Easy Lasagna Recipe
Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways and ideas to enjoy this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!
📖 Recipe
Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or braiser
- 1 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 2 cans tomato sauce (15 ounces each)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces uncooked egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Begin the recipe by grabbing a large skillet and placing it on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the 1 pound ground beef and break it meat apart into smaller pieces as it cooks. Once it browns, drain off any excess grease/excess fat.
- Add the 1 cup onion, stir to combine, and cook until the onion begins to soften about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the two 15 ounces cans of tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper. Adjust the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Using a medium-sized bowl, stir together the 1 cup sour cream and 3 ounces softened cream cheese until combined. If you're having problems, try using a hand mixer.
- While the sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of salty water to a boil. Add the 8 ounces of uncooked egg noodles to the boiling water and allow them to cook until al dente (firm but able to pierce with a fork), stirring occasionally.
- Drain the water from the noodles and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Begin assembling the casserole by lightly spraying a 9x13-inch casserole dish or an 11x11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add half of the cooked pasta to the bottom and spread it out into an even layer. Top with half of the cream cheese mixture and spread in an even layer.
- Top with half of the meat mixture and spread it out in an even layer. Repeat the process with the layers. Top with the other half of the egg noodles and cream cheese mixture.
- Top with the meat and sauce mixture. Add the ½ cup shredded cheese to the top in an even layer.
- Place into the oven to bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese melts and the casserole is bubbly and golden brown.
- If you prefer the top of the casserole to be more browned and crispy, place it underneath the broiler for a few minutes. Carefully remove the hamburger casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before cutting to serve. Serve warm with a side salad, green beans, and garlic bread. Enjoy!
- Carefully remove the hamburger casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before cutting to serve. Serve warm and emjoy!
Video
Notes
- Try substituting with elbow macaroni, medium pasta shells, or any short pasta such as farfalle, penne, or rigatoni.
- Periodically check the casserole as it bakes to make sure it doesn't overbake. This may result in a dry casserole. Adjust the cooking time as needed. Once the cheese has melted and the pasta sauce is bubbly it should be ready to pull it from the oven.
- Make sure that you do not boil the egg noodles too long as they will finish cooking in the oven. They should be firm and able to be pierced with a fork. Think a minute before al dente.
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