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!!
Chris says
THIS IS SO GOOD!
I have to admit, I was extremely skeptical at first, (thinking “Really? Cheeseburger casserole?! Could be amazingly awesome or traumatisingly terrible…Not sure which”) but I had all the ingredients handy and thought why not?
I am pleased to say that my household is firmly in the amazingly awesome camp!
I am slightly embarrassed to admit I squirted mustard over my helping and stirred it in and I think it made it even better, if such a thing is possible 🙂 Can’t have a cheeseburger without mustard!
Nagi says
AWESOME!!! I’m so glad to hear that Chris, thanks for letting me know! N xx PS No shame re: mustard!!!!
Beth says
Ohmygosh absolutely amazing! I’ve never heard of a cheeseburger casserole/hamburger helper before but I made this yesterday and it was INCREDIBLE! I didn’t realise that it was a one pot meal (more fool me for not reading the instructions thoroughly!) and it was so flavourful and so yummy!
Nagi says
I’m so pleased to hear you enjoyed this Beth, thank you for letting me know! N x
Martina says
I have made this recipe numerous times, following it exactly- we absolutely love it. I’m making it tonight for dinner with ground chicken instead of beef (this is what I have on hand and need to use it before it expires). I cannot wait, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
I must admit, the one thing I don’t technically following to the T= amount of cheese. I never measure cheese, I just add it until I’m happy 🙂 Cheese is happiness.
Thanks Nagi! Love love love your recipes.
Nagi says
OMG I burst out into laughter!!! Do you know how annoying I find it to have to measure the cheese?? I’m exactly like you! Just add until I’m happy!!!! So glad you love this too Martina, this is one of my go-tos!
Amber says
I have just finished cooking your version of homemade hamburger helper and just by taste testing it’s amazing! I have substituted the ground beef for ground chicken and celery for reb belle peppers. Thank you so much for this easy yummy dinner recipe/idea! Phenomenal ?
Nagi says
I’m so happy to hear you loved it Amber! Thank you so much for letting me know – N xx
Emme S says
I made this last night and both my husband and I adored it! I added some red peppers to it as well, and I love how much leftovers we have! This was easy to make and I love that it’s all in one pot! 🙂
Nagi says
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it Emme, thanks for letting me know! I love this recipe too 🙂 N x
normajean says
I made it tonight with egg noodles since it was all I had. It turned out well, but I think it would have been better without the added tomato paste.
Nagi says
Hi Norma! glad to hear it came out well! Out of curiosity, what didn’t you like about the tomato paste? I feel without it that it lacks a bit of flavour 🙂
Cheryl says
I made this last weekend. I didn’t have the macaroni (I was sure that I did), so I used shell shaped pasta. It turned out much saucier than your appears to, but OH MY! it was so good! I am going to make it again with macaroni-and see if that changes the sauce to pasta ratio.
Nagi says
Fantastic to hear Cheryl! Thanks so much for letting me know you enjoyed it! N x PS And yes, the shell shaped pasta has less surface area so would have absorbed less liquid = saucier 🙂 N xx
Nikki says
Nagi, I’m new to your blog, but after making this, I will be back for more! Thank you! This was very tasty! I did make several changes because that’s a compulsion for me, but I can tell this recipe would be delicious either as a base or in its entirety. I added food processed carrots, mushrooms, green bell pepper, fresh garlic cloves, jalapeño, and spinach; because I love to add veggies in a way my family can’t remove them! I also added a few dashes Worcestershire, 1 tsp season salt (because I use a low sodium Chicken broth), just a bit of cumin, and 2 Tbsp BBQ sauce. This was incredible! Because of my changes, it was more like a goulash than cheeseburger casserole, but honestly very very good! Long story short fellow comments readers -don’t be afraid to load up on veggies – the flavors of this dish handle them perfectly!
Nagi says
I love that you customised it! So glad you enjoyed it, thanks so much for letting me know Nikki! N xx
Marama Smith says
Hi Nagi! Thank you so much for the made from scratch hamburger helper recipe! I made it for dinner and my family love it! I used to buy the box, but since my children are older, I stop buying it. I found your blog yesterday and I came across this recipe. Needless to say, you’ve gained a new subscriber! I love how your recipes. They are easy to follow and you use simple ingredients.
Nagi says
It’s so wonderful to hear you enjoyed it Marama, thank you for letting me know!! N x
John Williamson says
Hi Nagi, thanks for the recipe. I’m going to make it this evening, I will let you know how it turns out.
Nagi says
Oooh! Hope you love it!
John Williamson says
Hello again Nagi, I made the cheeseburger casserole last night and it was awesome. Thank you for the recipe, I didn’t change a thing. I look forward to your free cook books.
Nagi says
It’s so wonderful to hear you enjoyed it John, thank you for letting me know!! N x
Lidia Didriksen says
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…
Nagi says
Thanks for the suggestions Lidia! I actually love this recipe as it is 🙂 Jo’s recipes are phenomenal!
Patricia Rathwell says
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!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you and the family enjoyed it Patricia, thank you for letting me know! N x
Jules says
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 ??????
Ellen says
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…
Nagi says
I’m confident it will work out just fine Ellen! Did you still like it? 🙂 N x
Nancy says
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.
Tina says
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”.
Nagi says
Ba ha ha!!! Too funny!!! I wish food language was universal….would make life easier! N x
Wendy says
Can it be frozen Nagi? Looks a lot for 2, I would like to freeze the left overs for another night
Nagi says
Hi Wendy! Yes this freezes great 🙂
Beatrice Lawson says
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.
Dorothy says
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.
Michele Russell says
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!
Nagi says
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
mel says
My husband claims that to me, recipes are just a suggestion.
Nagi says
OMG I love that. I might have to quote you on that!!
Paul Toone says
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..!!
Nagi says
Thanks so much for the tip Paul! I will look into it!!