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!!
A good and quick recipe, but you have to add more flavor to it, be more creative – green and red chili, more garlic, more herbs and spices…
Thanks for the suggestions Lidia! I actually love this recipe as it is 🙂 Jo’s recipes are phenomenal!
Made it! Was really good. I doubled the recipe for large family. I used celery powder as my family not a big fan and added sliced mushrooms and red peppers. Great recipe!
I’m so glad you and the family enjoyed it Patricia, thank you for letting me know! N x
Hi Nagi!
I haven’t been cooking at all lately!!! You know sometimes you just go through a phase of “can’t be bothered”.
But then I thought I will pop back to your blog and I saw this recipe. It invigorated me!!!! I thought this looks so easy and delicious and like all your recipes – you don’t have to buy a trillion ingredients to make one dish. I am inspired. I got my notebook out and started planning. The cooking jules is back!!! There’s so many of your recipes I am going to try I will let you know how I go with them all
Thanks Nagi for the inspiration!!!!!!
Jules ??????
In my haste to put this all together, so that at dinner time I could just cook it, I accidentally threw in a 28 oz. can of tomato sauce, not the crushed tomatoes. I hope it’ll come out ok. I would’ve preferred the crushed tomatoes too, as I enjoy them very much. Fingers crossed…
I’m confident it will work out just fine Ellen! Did you still like it? 🙂 N x
Just made this dish and I love it. I didn’t add celery, not a favorite with the kids. But this dish is versatile with a lot of different vegetables, next time I’ll add chopped mushroom, bell pepper or green beans. I added a lot of chopped fresh tomatoes to my bowl and it made the dish taste lighter. I also didn’t add hot sauce because of the kids but I put Tabasco in my bowl.
Sounds yummy. As a funny note, my Kiwi brother in law wandered the aisles of the grocery store with our mother in law trying to find “mince”, which to us Americans means ‘mincemeat”. He had never heard the term “ground beef”.
Ba ha ha!!! Too funny!!! I wish food language was universal….would make life easier! N x
Can it be frozen Nagi? Looks a lot for 2, I would like to freeze the left overs for another night
Hi Wendy! Yes this freezes great 🙂
Nagi, I wonder if there is a point where you can stop the cooking and just finish off before dinner. (Now that school is starting I like to cook several meals on the weekend and just have a tiny bit of cooking to finish off on the weeknight, after school and sports etc.) I was thinking if I do everything but stop right at the end before adding the cheese, the dish could sit refrigerated a few nights… am I right? BTW< please keep the one pot dishes coming – and if could add your recommendation of what step could be pre-made and/or frozen, that would be great. Many thanks for your wonderful recipes. I shared your blog with a few other busy moms and everyone is a fan.
I’d combine everything but the pasta and cheese. When you’re ready to serve it, bring it back to a boil, add the pasta and proceed. If you cook the dish completely with the pasta then refrigerate it for several days, the pasta will get soggy.
Easy, tasty, tidy recipe! Of course I made changes. I can’t help myself – I think it’s a disease. Anyway, I used beef broth and red wine in place of the chicken broth, and a mixture of old cheddar and Herb & Garlic Borsin, so I guess I didn’t stray too far off the path. I just finished making it while your “Port Braised Lamb Shanks” simmers away for tomorrow’s dinner. Can’t wait for that one. It smells divine!
If it’s a disease, I have it too because I always tinker with recipes! So glad you enjoyed it Michele, thanks for letting me know! N x
My husband claims that to me, recipes are just a suggestion.
OMG I love that. I might have to quote you on that!!
Hi Nagi,
I cook heaps of your recipes and love them..this cheeseburger casserole really looking forward to trying..
I have just had a look at Jo Cooks website as you mentioned it was originally her recipe, I saved the recipe from her site and it took me to a site called BigOven and then told me I could download the BigOven app for my phone which I did, now when i save a Jocooks recipe it syncs with my phone and I get the recipe and can also get a shopping list added forthe recipe..Be great if I could save your recipes to the BigOven app too..!!
Thanks so much for the tip Paul! I will look into it!!
This was delicious and I screwed it up too, lol. I goofed in that I pre cooked the pasta. Duh. I only realized it after washing the pasta pan, duh, duh–one pot means one pot. I had been making a very similar recipe for eons. Mine used American Cheese Processed Cheese food (at least I admit it), which I layered in a baking pan on top of half the beef and noodles, topped with the rest and layered with bacon (in oven to brown up). Yes, that is a mess to make. I was so keen on making this, that I skipped right over the ONE POT concept. I used a hefty cup of good cheddar here and another cup of Gruyere. Wow was that good! Yes yes yes! I like mine with a dollop of real sour cream and I still like a bit of bacon.
I cannot stand the American chili powder as it is extremely overwhelming–I skip it and am no worse for wear. Otherwise I was very true to your recipe. Great flavors which showcase the cheese. In America we call this Goulash, or American Chop Suey. Out west it is called: Beef with Noodles (Cowboy Food lol).
Nagi, I will do it correctly next time, but as everyone loved it, I just gave you credit! Thank you for another GREAT recipe!
Elizabeth
No judgement on plastic cheese! I love the stuff 😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth, and it doesn’t matter that you didn’t follow the recipe exactly, it works because it’s very forgiving! So glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth! N x
Hello Nagi,, is there a substitute for beef? I don’t eat beef. can I use mutton?
Thanks
Hi Paramis! Definitely can be made with other meats, I actually made this last night with turkey 🙂 But I think mutton/lamb would be even better!
I have been craving carbs and beef like crazy recently so this definitely has my attention, BIG time! I loved hamburger helper as a kid, but not so much as an adult. So the fact that I can have my hamburger helper tailored to my more ‘mature’ tastes is pure gold! Can’t wait to dig in!
Huh?? You’re mom made you Hamburger Helper???
YUM! Nagi, thanks for making me super hungry 😀 … My love for pasta never ends, the ingredients just blew my mind and the clicks too!
It looks incredible, doesn’t it?? All credit to Jo – it’s her recipe!
Comfort awesomeness right there!!! Definitely will be making a big pan of this in the very near future!
Hope you do James, it really is seriously SO DELICIOUS! Jo’s recipes are the best!
Nagi,
I’ve introduced my boyfriend to your site and recipes…he’s in love (you now have a looooong distance admirer). He pretty much wants me to make EVERYTHING on your blog.
I showed him the Cheeseburger Casserole, and in his words…”THIS IS A KEEPER” so I am sure I’ll be making this soon.
Btw…I’ll be making your Honey Lemon Chicken this week. I gave him a choice from three of your recipes and the Honey Lemon Chicken one won out (not that he doesn’t want those too…he does).
It’s a GOOD THING I like to cook!
Thanks Nagi
Awwwww!!! Your boyfriend is SO LUCKY that you spoil him so much!! Thank you for trying my recipes and I really hope you do try this, it is honestly insanely delicious!! N x
Oh my gosh! That looks absolutely incredible! Just the kind of homely, comforting food I love! I bet my partner will love this too, putting it on the list to make this week!
Oooh, I hope you do try it Sarah! COMFORT FOOD is right!
Omg! I made this for dinner tonight, and you replied to this comment just as I was sitting down to eat this dish! It’s sooooooo good! I love it!
Ha ha! I love it when internet is actually LIVE TIME! 🙂
Hi. I plan to cook this – looks great – but can you please clarify about cheese in steps 4 and 5. And I ask this as a person who strongly believes that too much cheese is not enough!
It says in step 4 to, “add remaining ingredients EXCEPT cheese,” then in step 5, “Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed but it is still cheesy.” Am I missing something?
With thanks.
Gah, thank you John!!! Big typo on my part – I meant ““Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed but it is still SAUCY.” See, cheese is on my mind, always. ?
Hi Nagi. I made this for last night’s dinner and it was a HUUUGE hit.
I had a happy accident, too. I didn’t have American chilli or sweet paprika for a substitute, so I added a small amount of smoked paprika. You could have sworn there was bacon it it. Big bonus.
Only one problem with this recipe: it’s definitely a winter wonder, and we’ve just gone into spring. I can see some unseasonal suffering ahead.
Thanks again
I’m thinking because we didn’t really have a proper winter, maybe our spring will be unseasonably cool!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this John, quite a coincidence because I made this last night too 🙂 Thanks for coming back to let me know you enjoyed it!
Hi Nagi,
Love your recipes! Do you think I swap out the carrot and celery for some bell peppers?
Hi Maria, so glad you’re enjoying my recipes! And definitely yes, feel free to add / swap whatever veggies you want!
Hi Maria – definitely! Or any other diced vegetable! 🙂
One look at the calorie count was enough for me! Dozer wasn’t interested in your treat he wanted to check out the cookbook. I know he can read how else could he answer my emails?
I know, it’s a little higher than recipes I usually share, but it is SO WORTH IT!!!! He’s still trying to finish that email he started to send you, thanking you for the card. 😉