This cheeseburger casserole recipe is kid-friendly and so delicious! If you’re a cheeseburger lover, the combination of ground beef, tomatoes, pickles, and cheese will satisfy all your comfort food cravings.
Lightened Up Cheeseburger Casserole
Many years ago, I received the Bobby Deen: From Mama’s Table to Mine cookbook as a gift. While there are many reinvented southern recipes in the book worth checking out, the one that immediately stood out to me was cheeseburger casserole. Bobby may have grown up eating it, but it wasn’t a casserole that ever showed up on my dinner table when I was a kid! That’s why it was the first recipe I decided to try from the book.
Why This Cheeseburger Casserole Belongs on Your Meal Plan
Are you as intrigued as I was? Or maybe you did grow up eating cheeseburger casserole and you’re hungry for a lighter version! Either way, here’s why you’ll love this recipe.
- Everything you love about a cheeseburger, in pasta casserole form. Think essential burger ingredients like lean ground beef sautéed with diced tomatoes, onions, and a touch of mustard tossed with pasta, all topped with melted cheddar and finished off with diced pickles.
- Kid-friendly. When I first made this many years ago, my toddler gobbled it up, as you can imagine! But it’s also adult-friendly—I think cheeseburger casserole is pretty darn good too.
- Great for customizing. I’m sure you can have fun with this and add your favorite cheeseburger toppings. I’m thinking sautéed mushrooms would be really good here too and maybe a few bacon crumbles for a bacon cheeseburger casserole (why not!).
What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this cheeseburger casserole recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Uncooked rotini pasta – You can use brown rice pasta for a gluten-free cheeseburger casserole.
- Olive oil – For sautéing the aromatics.
- Onions and garlic – These add flavor to the beef.
- Lean ground beef – I use 95% lean.
- Salt and black pepper – I like to use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Tomato paste – For concentrated tomato flavor.
- Diced tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes are super convenient.
- Dijon mustard – Mustard packs in lots of flavor without a lot of calories.
- Cheese – I use reduced-fat grated cheddar cheese
- Dill pickles – For that perfect finishing touch!
How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole
This cheeseburger casserole recipe is quick and easy to prepare. See the recipe card below for printable instructions.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta. Follow the package directions and cook the pasta in salted water. Drain.
- Sauté the aromatics. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and add the onions. Cook until softened, then stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Brown the beef. Stir in the beef and cook until it’s no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the next 3 ingredients. Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture simmer for about 2 minutes, or until thickened slightly.
- Assemble. Toss the meat mixture with the pasta. Add it to the baking dish and top with cheddar.
- Bake. Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Add the pickles to the top and serve.
Tips and Variations
Follow these additional pointers for perfect cheeseburger casserole.
- Make it with ground turkey. If you prefer, you can swap the ground beef for ground turkey. (You’ll also love these ground turkey recipes!)
- Don’t overcook the pasta. It will continue to cook in the oven, so you don’t want it to be soft when you add it to the ground beef mixture.
- Prep ahead of time. You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a day or two, or get a partial head start by making the pasta or ground beef mixture in advance.
Proper Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftover cheeseburger casserole covered in the fridge or in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions of this casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat: Reheat this cheeseburger casserole in the oven at 350ºF until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave.
How To Make Cheeseburger Casserole
Yield: 9 servings
Serving Size: 1 cup
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
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In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente and drain well.
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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
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Stir in the beef and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper.
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Stir in the tomato paste, then add the tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture bubble gently until it is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
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Toss the meat mixture with the pasta and spread it into the prepared dish.
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Top with the cheddar and bake until the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped pickles over the top and serve.
Last Step:
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Serving: 1 cup, Calories: 260 kcal, Carbohydrates: 22 g, Protein: 21.5 g, Fat: 9.5 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 49 mg, Sodium: 630 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 3.5 g
