Hamburger Casserole Recipe
This Hamburger Casserole is a comforting, flavorful dish featuring al dente elbow macaroni mixed with browned ground beef, onions, garlic, and a tangy tomato-mayo sauce combined with pickles, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Topped with melted cheddar cheese and toasted sesame seeds, and finished with fresh chopped romaine lettuce, it’s a perfect weeknight meal that’s easy to prepare and bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni and Beef
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Sauce and Toppings
- 1 (14-oz.) can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp. yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 6 oz. shredded cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups), divided
- 2 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Pasta: Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a medium pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni, stirring occasionally, until very al dente—about 2 minutes less than the package instructions recommend. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a 13″ x 9″ baking dish.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef in large chunks and allow it to cook undisturbed until a deep brown crust develops on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Break up the meat with a spatula and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains, about 4 more minutes. Transfer the cooked beef to the baking dish with the pasta.
- Prepare Sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium. Add the finely chopped onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes, mayonnaise, chopped pickles, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, 1 cup water, freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook the mixture briefly, then transfer it to the baking dish with the pasta and beef.
- Combine Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle 3 oz. of the shredded cheddar cheese into the baking dish and stir to distribute evenly throughout the mixture. Top with the remaining 3 oz. cheddar cheese, spreading it evenly. If using, sprinkle 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds over the top.
- Bake Casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the chopped romaine lettuce before serving.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to 1 day in advance, without baking. Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake in the preheated 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
Notes
- For added crunch and flavor, toasted sesame seeds are an optional but delightful topping.
- Be careful not to overcook the macaroni; it should be very al dente before baking to avoid mushiness.
- The fresh romaine lettuce adds crispness and contrast to the hot, cheesy casserole.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead, making it convenient for busy schedules or meal prepping.
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste before baking.
Keywords: hamburger casserole, ground beef casserole, easy casserole, baked macaroni and beef, cheesy hamburger bake
Find it online: https://zestywithzane.com/hamburger-casserole-recipe/
