Cheeseburger Casserole is a one pot, 30 minute recipe that’s outrageously good. Beefy, cheesy and saucy, it tastes like cheeseburgers in pasta form. It’s a homemade Hamburger Helper – a tastier and much healthier version of the popular boxed pasta!
I love a good one pot recipe, and this one sits alongside reader favourites including Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice, Sausage Bake with Vegetables and Gravy, Baked Chicken with Garlic Butter Rice and the one skillet Asian Beef Noodles!
“It’s beefy, cheesy and saucy – Hamburger Helper tastes like cheeseburgers in pasta form!”
Cheeseburger Casserole
The first time I published this recipe, I said that I burnt my mouth taste testing this straight out of the pot.
And almost 3 years later, I’m saying the same thing – yet again, I burnt my mouth.
I took a small taste to check for seasoning. Had a swoon moment, then scooped up a huge spoonful and shovelled it in my mouth.
And totally scorched the entire roof of my mouth. OUCH.
Here’s an up close and personal look at the offender. Look at it. Can you blame me for my lack of self control??
Another ground beef recipe!
I’m a big fan of ground beef (mince) recipes because it’s economical, requires no chopping and it’s a terrific sponge for flavour.
So for those of you who put a packet of beef mince in your shopping basket this week, this Cheeseburger Casserole is for you! The key ingredients are fairly standard pantry items. And the items that are not can be substituted:
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carrot, celery and corn are optional. Feel free to add other chopped veg
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some subs available for the spices
The cheese is not optional. If you skip it, then this pretty much becomes a bolognese, hmm??
One pot! 20 minutes!
The beauty of this recipe is the speed at which it has to be cooked. You cannot cook the pasta for longer than 12 minutes, otherwise your sauce will disappear and you’ll end up with overly soft pasta.
It’s a 19 minute job on the stove:
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Onion, garlic, celery, carrot – 4 minutes
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Brown beef – 3 minutes
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Add the other stuff and stir – 2 minutes
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Cook – 8 minutes (no peeking!)
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Stir & Cheese – 1 minute
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Melt -2 minutes
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TOTAL 20 minutes
(PS I used to work in finance. This is the extent of the maths I do nowadays 🤓)
This Cheeseburger Casserole is a recipe from my good friend Jo from Jo Cooks. It’s one of many fabulous one pot recipes in her cookbook, 30 Minute One Pot Meals.
I originally shared this recipe back in 2016 to celebrate the release of her cookbook. It was fabulous then, and it’s just as fabulous now. ❤️
Sometimes, I reduce the amount of pasta (because I always have half packets 250g/8oz lying around!) and up the veg quota. Zucchini and red peppers /capsicum are ideal. Jo also suggests topping it with diced tomato which is a great topping.
If you do this, then you might not need a side salad. But if you do, try your garden salad or steamed vegetables with French Dressing, Balsamic Dressing or my favourite Italian Dressing. Or make a big batch of Broccoli Salad that will last you days and days! – Nagi x
PS And if you feel like a total carb blow out, add a side of Better-Than-Dominos Garlic Bread. *She swoons at the thought and her skinny jeans are cursing*
More One Pot Ground Beef / Mince recipes
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Chili Mac – mash up of Mac and Cheese with Chilli Con Carne, so good!
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Asian Beef and Ramen Noodles – one skillet, 15 minutes
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Taco Soup – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, it’s amazing!
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Browse all One Pot recipes and Ground Beef / Mince recipes
Cheeseburger Casserole
Watch how to make it
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Cheeseburger Casserole (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 small carrot * , chopped (optional)
- 1 celery stalk * , chopped (optional)
- 500 g/ 1 lb ground beef (mince) , preferably lean
- 12 oz / 340g dried macaroni , uncooked
- 1/2 cup frozen corn * , optional
- 2 cups chicken broth/stock, low sodium
- 1 tbsp hot sauce or Sriracha sauce , adjust to taste
- 1 tsp American chili powder (Note 1)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder , or sub onion powder
- 800 g / 28 oz crushed tomato
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 - 2 cups (150 - 200g) cheddar or tasty cheese, shredded (Note 3)
- 1 cup (100g) mozzarella cheese , for topping
Garnish (optional)
- 1 green onion , sliced
Instructions
- Heat oil in a dutch oven or large deep skillet over medium high heat.
- Add onion and garlic, cook 1 minute.
- Add celery and carrot, cook 3 minutes until soft.
- Increase heat to high and add beef. Cook, breaking it up as you go, until no longer pink - 3 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT cheese. Stir to combine, add macaroni, then turn down to medium or medium low so it's simmering gently.
- Cover, cook 8 minutes. Pasta should be just about cooked, and still nice and saucy.
- Add cheddar cheese, stir. Top with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with lid, cook for a further 2 minutes.
- Remove from stove. The pasta should now be cooked - tender but firm, not mushy, slick with sauce, not dried out.
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onions, if using.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
This is the same Dozer photo I shared when I first published this recipe back in 2016 – Dozer looking at Jo’s cookbook instead of the food.
We all know I was holding a treat just out of frame to make him do that.
But she loves the photo so much anyway, I can’t change it!!
Kat says
I made this earlier this week and it was delightful. Needless to say, I’m excited for the leftovers we will be having tonight !!! Thank you for another great recipe!
Nagi says
Ohh this is perfect for left overs! Enjoy!
Rebecca says
This is literally the best recipe in existence! If you’ve never made it. It’s delicious and easy. I made with pork because I struggle to get beef mince where I love and it was delicious with that as well! If you haven’t made it, make it tomorrow!
molly says
This looks so tasty! I will definitely need to try it soon….
Nagi says
Hope you get a chance to! N x
Eleanor says
Here again to say (as others do) that you cannot do wrong by cooking with Nagi. Husband had to have seconds. Only time I’ve ever used packaged help was an onion soup mix with sour cream. I’ve never purchased Hamburger Helper but this is so great! Thanks, Nagi!
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Eleanore ❤️
Janey Perry says
I followed this recipe but I used mixed veggies and it turned out great. My husband loved it and so did I. Thanks very much.
KrisB says
OK Nagi, this is getting rediculous. I want to make everything you post. Stop. (NOT!) I think every meal for the past two weeks has been something from you.
On another note, have you ever watched the “Tuckerbudzin” videos? Hilarious. https://www.facebook.com/MetDaanAnimals/videos/329892370988962/UzpfSTEwMDAwNjI2ODQ1OTMwMDoyMzI4NzY4Mzg3MzQyMDg3/. Enjoy
Simone says
I totally agree with Kris – your website has been the go to for every meal lately :O) Not too complicated, very tasty and never have to alter a thing! Very very grateful for all your posts Nagi and your videos!
Nagi says
I haven’t! Will check it out! PS I have no plans to stop! ever!!
Essie says
Great recipe! I just chopped chicken breast as I didn’t have beef. Didn’t read all instructions and I should have watched the video… so I put in all cheese at once so I wondered why it looked different. Either way the taste was awesome… from my 9 month to the dad..we all enjoyed!
Nagi says
That’s terrific Essie! I mean, that it was still tasty!! 🙂 N x
Nicole says
Hi Nagi, I have made a very similar recipe but using brown lentils instead of the beef because my daughter can’t eat meat. Its delicious and freezes well as I take the leftovers to work for lunchs.
Nagi says
Ooh that’s clever! It’s terrific to hear it works so well with lentils! N x
Kate Chiconi says
Dear Nagi, I just wanted to let you know that in the photo of all the ingredients, you have the bowl of dried pasta labelled as ‘sugar’. Surely not…!
Looks yummy, by the way; the Husband is demanding we try this as soon as we’ve finished the big dish of shepherd’s pie I made with the last pack of beef mince.
Nagi says
Oh bugger! Thank you Kate, I will fix it now 🙂 N xx PS Mustn’t disappoint hubby!! 🙂 N x
Branka Uzelac says
I love all your recipes. You are very inspirational. I always use up 500g packet of packet. What stick ratio do you suggest.
Nagi says
Hi Branka! There’s a recipe scaler so just slide it until you hit 500g pasta and it will change all the ingredients for you! 🙂 N x
Bonnie Smith says
In Ghana there is a word, pelinti, which means moving hot food around in your mouth. 🙂
Nagi says
Which I excel at – wait, I mean I cannot RESIST doing!! 😂
Brian says
I freeze American Chop Suey, which is very similar, all the time and it freezes, thaws and reheats very well.
Nagi says
What a terrific tip, I’ve never tried 🙂 N x
April Lopez says
I wanted to tell you that this was the best email from you EVER!!! First, growing up in a single parent home we lived on hamburger helper. After I got married Cheeseburger Macaroni was a staple for us. We love it. I quit making it because of the sodium content in boxed foods. This recipe came at the perfect time. My husband has been craving it. Yay!!! Secondly, I pinned every single recipe attached to this email. Yay number 2!!! I’ll make this casserole this week for sure. Thank you. I love your emails the best!
Nagi says
Message of the day!!! 🙂 N x
Dorothy says
This is good 🙂
Can I freeze the leftovers?
CindyH says
What leftovers? Haha! Oh, maybe that’s just at my house.
Nagi says
HA!! And that’s a GOOD thing!!
Brian says
I freeze American Chop Suey, which is very similar, all the time and it freezes, thaws and reheats very well.
John says
I needed not more salt, but sugar to this one and I also used up the whole tub of tomato paste. Just needed more oomf. I realised this was not a Nagi recipe and it didn’t hit the flavour bomb for me like Nagi’s do.
Nagi says
John – when I made it again for video, I took your comment on board and tweaked it a bit 🙂 N x
Nagi says
Hi John, I’m so sorry you weren’t impressed with this one! I’ll revisit this one soon and look into it ❤️
Pippa van Wijk says
I too would love a video – it is one of those easy dinners that I can get my 12 year old to learn to make and having your video helps her to learn how to read a recipe and follow it. (not like in my day when you get to the end of the recipe only to find that you were supposed to do something crucial at the start!!)
Nagi says
Hi Pippa, I’ll have to get a video on the way for this one soon!
Leah says
Hi Nagi! This really does need a magic video…I call them magic cuz your video’s make the food taste better.
Pretty please with cream and sugar on it. 😀
(Dozer agrees!)
Nagi says
Oh I’ll have to revisit this one and make a video!
Elizabeth says
Please make a video. Thanks
Nagi says
Will try to get to it soon Elizabeth!
John says
Hmmm, I think this needs a video…. Pretty pls? Videos help to ‘smell’ the ingredients!
Nagi says
The votes are IN and it’s happening!!! N x
Rosemary Leon says
A video of this recipe will the “icing on the cake” in a Texas kitchen.
Nagi says
Hi Rosemary, I’ve had a couple of requests so will try get to this soon!