Description
Ground beef casserole brings comfort and flavor to weeknight dinners with minimal prep. Family-friendly ingredients combine in one-pan simplicity for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Pasta and Carbohydrates:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (elbow macaroni or penne)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Tomato Components:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
Cooking Oil:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) while preparing the casserole ingredients.
- Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature, sautéing chopped onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Break meat into small crumbles and cook until completely browned.
- Pour diced tomatoes and tomato sauce into the meat mixture, allowing it to simmer and develop rich flavors for 5-7 minutes.
- Gently fold the cooked pasta into the beef and tomato mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the combined mixture to a greased baking dish, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the casserole, covering the entire dish.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to help set the ingredients.
Notes
- Prep pasta al dente to prevent mushiness when baking, ensuring a perfect texture in the final casserole.
- Drain beef thoroughly to avoid excess liquid, which can make the dish soggy and less flavorful.
- Customize cheese blend by mixing mozzarella and cheddar for a more complex, richer taste profile.
- Accommodate gluten-free diets by substituting regular pasta with chickpea or zucchini noodles for a healthier alternative.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 484 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg