Here’s a comforting, family-friendly cheeseburger casserole—all the flavors of a burger in an easy baked dish.
🧀 Ingredients
- 250–300 g pasta (elbow macaroni or shells)
- 500 g ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup milk or cream
- Optional: chopped pickles, diced tomatoes, or jalapeños
🔥 Instructions
- Cook the pasta
Boil in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside. - Cook the beef
In a large pan, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned.
Add onion and cook until soft, then stir in garlic. - Build the flavor
Add tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Simmer for 5–7 minutes. - Combine
Stir in cooked pasta and milk/cream. Mix well. - Assemble
Transfer to a greased baking dish.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese. - Bake
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15–20 minutes, until bubbly and melted.
🔑 Tips
- For a smokier flavor, add a bit of BBQ sauce
- Want it creamy? Mix in a spoon of cream cheese
- For crunch: top with toasted breadcrumbs before baking
🍔 Variations
- Low-carb: skip pasta, use cauliflower
- Spicy: add chili flakes or hot sauce
- Loaded burger style: add sautéed mushrooms + pickles on top after baking
If you want, I can turn this into a one-pot version (no baking) or adapt it to what you already have in your kitchen.
