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A bubbling cheesy ground beef casserole fresh from the oven, topped with golden cheese.

Hearty Weeknight Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole

This hearty and cheesy ground beef casserole is perfect for a weeknight meal. It features a rich tomato and beef sauce mixed with pasta, all topped with a generous layer of melted cheese, baked to golden perfection.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Beef Mixture
  • 1 lb (450g) 80/20 lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes undrained
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • red pepper flakes Pinch (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Optional
  • sugar pinch (optional)
Other
  • 1 lb (450g) medium-sized pasta (elbow macaroni, penne, or rotini)
  • 3 cups shredded cheese divided (e.g., 2 cups cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella)

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • Mixing bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  2. Brown ground beef in a large skillet, breaking it up until fully cooked, then drain excess grease.
  3. Add olive oil if needed, then sauté diced onion in the skillet until softened; stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
  4. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and seasonings; simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring in Worcestershire sauce or sugar if desired.
  5. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C); combine cooked pasta with half of the beef and tomato sauce mixture in a large bowl.
  6. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish; spread half of the pasta-beef mixture into the dish and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
  7. Top with the remaining beef and tomato sauce, then the rest of the pasta, and finally 2 cups of shredded cheese.
  8. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  9. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider using fire-roasted crushed tomatoes. You can also customize the cheese blend with your favorites like Monterey Jack or provolone. This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated; just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.