This ground beef casserole recipe is super easy to throw together and feeds a crowd! Its comforting and uses simple ingredients.
This cheesy beef and pasta casserole is sure to be a hit with the kiddos. Its also really easily adaptable based on what youve got in the fridge/pantry/etc. You could even throw in some extra veggies if you want. Its a favorite around here, and thats because its very tasty for how few ingredients are involved in this budget-friendly meal.
I wasnt sure whether to call this a casserole or ground beef pasta bake or what. Basically, you just boil up some penne, and while thats cooking, you make a quick tomato and meat sauce. You then toss it together in a casserole dish, top it with cheese, and bake. It couldnt be easier, and I think thats what were all looking for on busy weeknights!
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Preheat your oven to 400F, and grease a baking dish. Boil the pasta for a minute less than package directions. Meanwhile, add the oil, onion, and beef to a skillet. Sauté until cooked, adding the garlic once it gets going. Spoon out any excess fat, then pour in the marinara and warm through. Taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
Drain the pasta, and add it to the baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over top, and toss to combine. Spread everything in an even layer. Top with the cheddar cheese, and bake uncovered until melty. Broil if desired to brown the cheese, and enjoy right away.
Let me know if youll give this easy ground beef pasta casserole recipe a try! Questions? Leave me a comment below. You can also find me on Instagram.
This recipe was originally published on April 17, 2020. Its been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Simple Ground Beef Casserole
This ground beef casserole recipe is super easy to throw together and feeds a crowd! It’s comforting and uses simple ingredients.
Prep: 10min
Total: 35min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 538 kcal, Carbohydrate 61 g, Protein 34 g, Fat 17 g, Saturated Fat 8 g, Cholesterol 77 mg, Sodium 551 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 5 g, servingSize 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1 pound uncooked penne
- 1/2 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1.5 cups marinara sauce
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instruction:
- Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position. Grease a 9×13 baking dish (I use Pam spray).
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the penne. Cook it for 10 minutes (it should be slightly underdone so it doesn’t get mushy).
- Add the oil, beef, and onion to a skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as you go along, for 10 minutes. Once it gets going, stir in the garlic. Spoon out excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and warm through. Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
- Drain the pasta and pour it into the baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over top and then toss until it’s combined with the pasta. Top with an even layer of the cheese. If you want it extra cheesy, you can stir in an additional half cup of cheese prior to topping it with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 10 minutes, uncovered, until the cheese is nicely melted. I then broil it for a few minutes (optional) to brown the cheese up a bit. Serve immediately.
30+ Delicious and Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Wondering what to make with a pound of ground beef? Here are 30 simple ground beef recipes that make great dinner ideas for busy weeknights! These 1 lb ground beef recipes are both easy AND delicious!
Ingredients:
- Tacos
- Tostadas
- Nachos
- Burritos
- Enchiladas
- Quesadillas
- Taco salad
- Taco rice
- Spaghetti
- Lasagna
- Baked ziti
- Meatballs
- Meatloaf
- Goulash
- Chili Mac
- Sloppy joes
- Shepherds pie
- Stuffed peppers
- Hamburger Helper
- Salisbury Steak
- Stroganoff
- Hamburgers
- Pizza topping
- Chili
- Taco soup
- Hamburger soup
- Stuffed pepper soup
- Taco lasagna
- Tater tot casserole
- Stuffed pepper casserole
Instruction:
- Choose which simple ground beef recipe you’d like to make
- Gather the ingredients and prepare the meal
- Serve your delicious dinner with ground beef
5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole is a budget-friendly and simple dinner for the entire family. With five ingredients, your dinner will be ready in a little more than an hour and you can get to more important things.
Prep: 15min
Total: 1h15min
Serving Size: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts: calories 513 calories, Carbohydrate 15 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 142 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 38 grams fat, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Saturated Fat 20 grams saturated fat, servingSize 1 serving, Sodium 445 milligrams sodium, Sugar 4 grams sugar, Trans Fat 1 grams trans fat, unSaturated Fat 14 grams unsaturated fat
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef
- 10.5 ounce can cream of condensed mushroom soup
- 10.5 ounce can cream of cheddar cheese soup
- 3 cups cubed frozen potatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instruction:
- Cook the ground beef, drain the grease, and add to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the can of cream of mushroom and cream of cheddar cheese soup to the bowl.
- Add the frozen cubed potatoes to the bowl.
- Add 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl.
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper and mix everything together.
- Pour into a greased 9″ x 13″ casserole dish and sprinkle the remainder of the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Cover with tin foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes and carefully remove tin foil. Bake for 30 more minutes.
Ground Beef and Potatoes
This easy ground beef and potatoes will be an instant family favorite! Cooks in just ONE pan. Top with cheese or eggs for quick, healthy dinners.
Prep: 15min
Total: 35min
Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1 (of 4)
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 (of 4), calories 387 kcal, Carbohydrate 28 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 19 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 74 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 5 g
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 pound potatoes (peeled and diced into ¼-inch cubes (I used Yukon golds))
- 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus additional to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce (plus additional for serving (I used sriracha))
- 2 green onions (sliced)
- FOR SERVING: non-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
Instruction:
- Heat the oil in a skillet large enough to hold all of the ingredients over high heat. Once the oil is hot and shiny, reduce the heat to medium, then add the potatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the potatoes are turning golden and becoming tender (they should still be too firm to eat), about 6 minutes.
- Add the beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, breaking apart the meat.
- Add the Worcestershire, mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and hot sauce (add 1 teaspoon if you prefer only subtle heat, more if you would like it spicier).
- Continue cooking and breaking up the beef, until the potatoes and onions are tender and the meat is fully cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes more.
- Stir in the green onions. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as desired. Serve hot, topped with Greek yogurt, cheese, over rice, or enjoy it all on its own with a dash of extra hot sauce if you like.
1 Pound Ground Beef, 4 Easy Dinners
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