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Square overhead shot of a pan of hamburger casserole with noodles.
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5 from 5 votes

Hamburger Casserole with Noodles

Easy, cheesy, and flavorful, this ground beef noodle casserole is a family-friendly dinner for busy nights!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword beef noodle casserole, easy ground beef recipe, ground beef casserole, Hamburger Casserole, hamburger casserole with noodles
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 651kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dry elbow macaroni, medium shells pasta, or egg noodles
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 cup diced celery (about 3 stalks)
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite-diced tomatoes, not drained
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Pinch cayenne
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for about 1 minute less than al dente, according to package instructions. Drain.
    Cooked elbow noodles in a colander.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; reserve 1 tablespoon of the drippings in the pan. Add the ground beef and cook for 3 minutes (the meat doesn’t need to be completely cooked through at this point). Add the onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic; cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5-7 more minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, chili powder, oregano, cumin, cayenne, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
    Ground beef with vegetables and tomato sauce in a Dutch oven.
  • Add the cooked, drained noodles and the cooked bacon to the beef mixture; toss to combine.
    Process shot showing how to make a hamburger casserole with noodles.
  • Transfer to the prepared baking dish; top with shredded cheese.
    Shredded cheese on top of hamburger casserole before baking.
  • Bake, uncovered, until the casserole is hot and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onion.
    Horizontal overhead shot of a serving spoon in a dish of hamburger and noodle casserole.

Video

Notes

  • Boil the pasta in well-salted water. This is your opportunity to really season the noodles.
  • Cook the pasta for 1 minute less than al dente. The noodles will continue to cook in the oven, so you want to slightly under-boil them so that they don't become mushy after baking.
  • Adjust the seasoning to suit your taste preferences. For instance, you might like to add an extra teaspoon of brown sugar for a slightly sweeter tomato sauce, increase the cayenne to make it spicy, or use a bit more chili powder for a zestier flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the casserole | Calories: 651kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 865mg | Potassium: 966mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1128IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 344mg | Iron: 4mg