10 Best Hamburger Casserole Recipes for Effortless Comfort Food Wins
Few dishes deliver the same nostalgic crowd-pleasing satisfaction as a beef hamburger casserole. Whether you’re feeding a busy family meal prepping or craving a cozy dinner these recipes combine ground beef pasta (or potatoes) rich sauces and melty cheese for unbeatable comfort. Below we’ve curated 10 standout recipes from classic grandma-style bakes to innovative no-boil wonders complete with pro tips and step-by-step instructions.
1. Classic Grandma’s Hamburger Casserole
A 1940s-inspired dish with layers of egg noodles creamy cheese sauce and savory tomato-beef mixture .
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 tsp sugar garlic salt and salt
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup shredded cheddar
- 1 diced onion
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a skillet; drain fat. Stir in tomato sauce sugar and seasonings. Simmer 20 mins.
- Boil noodles until al dente; drain.
- Mix sour cream cream cheese and onion. Layer noodles cream mixture and beef in a 9×13″ dish. Repeat layers.
- Top with cheddar; bake at 350°F for 25–30 mins.
Pro Tip: Sauté the onion with the beef for deeper flavor or add red pepper flakes for heat .
2. Ridiculously Easy No-Boil Hamburger Casserole
Dump-and-bake magic with raw pasta and beef caramelizing together .
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 lb uncooked penne
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 3 cups boiling water
- 1½ cups mozzarella
- Spices: garlic powder onion powder Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Layer dry pasta marinara and water in a greased dish.
- Scatter raw beef on top; season with spices. Do not stir.
- Bake at 450°F: 25 mins uncovered 25 mins covered then top with cheese and bake 5 more mins.
Pro Tip: Use convection bake for even browning and add spinach for veggies .
3. Cheeseburger Casserole with Secret Sauce
A burger-inspired bake with pickles mayo and sesame seeds .
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 1 onion 3 garlic cloves
- ½ cup mayo ¼ cup pickles ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ cups cheddar
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente; brown beef in chunks for better sear.
- Sauté onion/garlic; mix with mayo pickles ketchup and Worcestershire.
- Combine all in a dish; top with cheese and sesame seeds. Bake at 400°F for 10–12 mins.
Pro Tip: Undercook the pasta—it’ll finish in the oven without turning mushy .
4. Hamburger Potato Casserole
A hearty twist with sliced potatoes and cream of mushroom soup .
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup + ¾ cup milk
- 3 cups thinly sliced potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar
Instructions
- Brown beef; drain fat. Mix soup milk and seasonings.
- Layer potatoes soup mix and beef in a dish.
- Bake at 350°F for 1–1.5 hours; add cheese last 15 mins.
Pro Tip: Add Worcestershire sauce or smoked paprika for extra depth .
5. Tex-Mex Hamburger Casserole
A fiery upgrade with taco seasoning corn and pepper jack .
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 12 oz rotini
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup corn
- 2 cups pepper jack cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta; brown beef with taco seasoning.
- Mix beef pasta salsa and corn; top with cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 20 mins.
Pro Tip: Swap salsa for enchilada sauce and add black beans .
6. Low-Carb Cheeseburger Casserole (Keto-Friendly)
A guilt-free indulgence with all the flavors of a cheeseburger—minus the carbs!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar
- ½ cup sugar-free pickles chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13″ baking dish.
- Brown beef in a skillet; drain excess fat. Add onion and garlic cooking until softened.
- Whisk together heavy cream eggs and mustard powder.
- Layer beef mixture in the baking dish then pour the cream mixture over it.
- Top with cheddar pickles and sesame seeds. Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Pro Tip: Add crumbled bacon for extra smokiness or swap cheddar for pepper jack for a spicy kick.
7. Philly Cheesesteak Hamburger Casserole
A deconstructed cheesesteak with tender beef peppers onions and melty provolone.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 red bell pepper sliced
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 8 oz mushrooms (optional)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups cooked egg noodles or rice
- 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Brown beef in a skillet; drain fat. Add peppers onions and mushrooms cooking until soft.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper.
- Layer cooked noodles in a baking dish then top with beef and veggie mixture.
- Cover with provolone and bake for 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Pro Tip: For extra authenticity add Cheez Whiz instead of provolone for that classic Philly taste.
8. Tater Tot Hamburger Casserole
A kid-friendly favorite with crispy tots beef and a creamy cheese sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Brown beef in a skillet; drain fat.
- Mix soup milk and garlic powder in a bowl then stir in beef.
- Spread mixture in a 9×13″ dish top with cheese then arrange tater tots in a single layer.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until tots are golden and crispy.
Pro Tip: Add a layer of corn or green beans for extra veggies or swap cream of mushroom for cream of chicken for a different flavor.
9. Italian-Style Hamburger Casserole
A lasagna-inspired bake with layers of pasta beef ricotta and marinara.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook pasta al dente; drain.
- Brown beef then stir in marinara sauce.
- Mix ricotta egg and Italian seasoning in a bowl.
- Layer pasta beef sauce and ricotta mixture in a baking dish. Top with mozzarella.
- Bake for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Pro Tip: Add spinach or zucchini for extra nutrition or use Italian sausage instead of beef for more flavor.
10. BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
A smoky tangy twist on the classic loaded with bacon and barbecue sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 2 cups cooked macaroni or rotini
- ½ cup diced red onion
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Brown beef in a skillet; drain fat.
- Stir in BBQ sauce then mix with cooked pasta.
- Transfer to a baking dish top with cheese bacon and red onion.
- Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.
Pro Tip: Drizzle extra BBQ sauce before serving or add jalapeños for a spicy kick.
Key Takeaways
- No-boil casseroles save time and dishes .
- Cheese layers > topping-only for gooey bites .
- Freeze ahead: Assemble unbaked and thaw overnight .
These recipes prove hamburger casserole is the ultimate flexible flavorful and family-friendly meal. Pick one tweak it and enjoy the comfort!
