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!!
elizabeth olcott says
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
Nagi says
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
Paramis K says
Hello Nagi,, is there a substitute for beef? I don’t eat beef. can I use mutton?
Thanks
Nagi says
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!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
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!
Nagi says
Huh?? You’re mom made you Hamburger Helper???
Muna Kenny says
YUM! Nagi, thanks for making me super hungry 😀 … My love for pasta never ends, the ingredients just blew my mind and the clicks too!
Nagi says
It looks incredible, doesn’t it?? All credit to Jo – it’s her recipe!
James | The Nude-Food Hero says
Comfort awesomeness right there!!! Definitely will be making a big pan of this in the very near future!
Nagi says
Hope you do James, it really is seriously SO DELICIOUS! Jo’s recipes are the best!
Deborah says
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
Nagi says
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
Sarah says
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!
Nagi says
Oooh, I hope you do try it Sarah! COMFORT FOOD is right!
Sarah says
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!
Nagi says
Ha ha! I love it when internet is actually LIVE TIME! 🙂
John M says
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.
Nagi says
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. ?
John M says
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
Nagi says
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!
Maria says
Hi Nagi,
Love your recipes! Do you think I swap out the carrot and celery for some bell peppers?
Nagi says
Hi Maria, so glad you’re enjoying my recipes! And definitely yes, feel free to add / swap whatever veggies you want!
Nagi says
Hi Maria – definitely! Or any other diced vegetable! 🙂
ann says
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?
Nagi says
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. 😉
jo@jocooks.com says
Thank you so much for doing this, Nagi! I’m so glad you’re liking the recipes from the book! Love the pictures but I think you know which one is my favorite! Love love love his face, too adorable!
Nagi says
Dozer is enjoying the recipes as much as me!! I made this again last night using turkey and Dozer just had some leftovers for dinner 🙂 Congrats again Jo, your cookbook really is INCREDIBLE!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I just knew you had to be bribing Dozer with something. He’s no fool — not when it comes to delicious food 🙂 I think I may have burned my mouth too if I had been in your shoes. The casserole looks so very yummy. Perfect for fall weather. But, hey, your spring will be coming up soon and then summer. Have a great day and thank you for the yummy recipe. BTW, I wish I could send you something I found on Facebook and shared. It was so funny and I thought of you when I shared. You would have gotten a big kick out of it 🙂
Nagi says
Send it to me!!! If you click on the date, you can then copy that URL and drop it in here!!
Susan says
Comparing this to Hamburger Helper doesn’t help me – I think I’ve had HH once and didn’t care much for it, because of no flavor. This does sound good, though, so if my husband is interested, I’ll try it. It might become one of the recipes for my beach kitchen (electric skillet, blender, microwave).
Nagi says
Really? The boxed stuff had no flavour? I presumed it would come with a big bag of seasoning!
Susan says
Wish I could remember. That was with the boyfriend I dumped about 8 years ago. Not much with him was positively memorable. The package probably does have seasoning, but he fixed it, so I don’t know what was in the package… And I will NOT go out and buy some to see what it’s like – I refuse! ?
Nagi says
“Not much with him was positively memorable” – I’m in a cafe and I burst out into laughter!!
RossC says
” I’m very aware that I lean towards “ugly but yummy” brown / yellowy foods – ”
The comments you make, such as above, make following you as enjoyable as the great recipes and tips you present to us… I seldom finish an introduction to a recipe without a big smile or a downright laugh.. Adding Dozer to a post makes me check in most every day…
I swore many years ago that I would not purchase the packaged HB Helper I had to eat so often when younger.. Funny thing is that I kinda miss some of the dishes we made too frequently with the box..
This recipe inspires me to go for home made HB… Yayyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
Nagi says
Glad to provide you with some light reading Ross!!! I figure rather than trying to disguise my “flaws” e.g. tendency towards ugly foods, I should celebrate it, right??!!! 🙂 N x
Hannah says
Totally agree with you, RossC! Love Nagi’s warm, funny post commentary almost as much as the recipes 🙂 Oh, and as for this dish. I want it. Now.
Nagi says
Awww, thanks Hannah! Thank you for reading and I’m glad you enjoy me mocking myself!!! 🙂 N x
Taz says
You’ve totally sucked me in again . I am honestly sitting here drooling at the photos! Not only am I going to try this ASAP , but I’ve also just subscribed to Jo’s blog because I barely had to look at her recipes and and I knew… Oh yes this is where I belong ! And she’s a fellow Canadian to boot!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you like the look of this and I really hope you try it! So happy to hear you subscribed to Jo’s blog, she ROCKS! Her food is awesome 🙂 Plus she does more baking than me, things like cinnamon rolls and breads that I don’t do much of 🙂
Rhonda Worley says
Thanks Nagi, I love 1 pot meals.
I just wanted to add a suggestion for busy mom and cooks… When I find hamburger on sale, I buy…as much as I can afford. I then take it home, and cook it all up….salt, pepper, garlic and onions in the who thing. Once finished cooking, I drain any fat. I take a good portion, and put it back in the pot, and make taco meat. The rest, I let cool, and then the hubby measures portions and puts them in freezer bags (Foodsaver for us) and we freeze the cooked hamburger.
It sure makes it wonderfully easy with recipes like this, spaghetti, etc to grab a pre measured bag of cooked hamburger, quickly thaw, and make spaghetti, cheeseburger casserole (tomorrow night) and tacos, etc (from the taco meat).
Pre-cooking over the years has saved me hours and hours, AND it impressed my MIL when she was visiting, and I had a huge taco salad dinner for the family in less than 20 minutes after getting home from a long day at the beach!
Thank you again for all of your wonderful recipes! I share with many friends!
Nagi says
That’s so fabulous Rhonda, what a great idea!! I do similar with pork carnitas 🙂 I have bags and bags of it in the freezer! Love that you cook it up with seasoning, that’s really smart. N x
RossC says
That is an outstanding tip… Thank you… :O)
Christina Peters says
Oooh this looks so great AND I’ll just put my gluten free pasta in there for family night (and have to eat it all at one time as the GF stuff does NOT do well as left overs). I’m sure there won’t be any left overs with the teenagers. Beautiful pics as always! Hope you are well!
Nagi says
Hiiiiii Christina! How are you? How’s your photography course going? Did you get my feedback? 🙂 N x
Christina Peters says
Hii!! I did not see your feedback – I just looked again. That sucks. I hate when software doesn’t work. I would love to know your feedback so I’m going to email you about. xo
peter @Feed Your Soul Too says
This is a true American classic. We call this comfort food. Many of us grew up with the original and rarely eat it now. Every time I see it I think that would be so much fun to make and devour.
Nagi says
I am so tempted to being a pack back with me the next time I visit!! Just so I can say I’ve tried it!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Nagi! I totally agree with Nancy, boxed hamburger is nasty and tuna helper is even worse in my opinion! I have never bought either and my kids never ask for it. However, making it from scratch is just fine! In fact you must have read my mind because I bought extra ground beef the other day for a meatloaf and to make a pot of chili mac (what I call this)! Now you’ve given me a recipe for it! 🙂
Nagi says
I still cannot believe there is such thing as Tuna Helper!!!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Nagi! I would send you a box of tuna helper, but postage to AU is kinda high. Instead I will take you to the store when you are here and you can decide if you want it…NOT! 🙂
Nagi says
Ummm…..I can think of about 2 million other things I’d prefer to stash in my suitcase!!!! (Waffle maker!!)
Mary @ LOVE the secret ingredient says
I cringed at the thought of Hamburger Helper haha (it’s been a while since I subjected myself to that) and this homemade version looks infinitely better. It really truly can’t get better than this deliciousness in one pot and only 30 min. I’m saving this one!
Nagi says
I’ve never had it but I can imagine what it’s like! All I know is that THIS homemade version is incredibly delicious!!