Ground Beef Casserole – Spend With Pennies

This ground beef casserole is both easy and delicious.

Seasoned meat, sauce, noodles, and three kinds of cheese are layered in a casserole dish and baked until bubbly!

It’s perfect to prep ahead, and it reheats and freezes well!

• It’s budget-friendly and a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef!
• My easy, cheesy recipe has lots of flavor and it’s easy to make.
• This ground beef casserole recipe is versatile; add your favorite vegetables or even beans.
• Prep ahead and bake before serving. Just like chili or meatloaf, it’s just as good (or even better) the next day!

Ingredients for Ground Beef Casserole

Almost lasagna-like in flavor, this family favorite uses ingredients you likely have on hand.

• Meat: I use lean ground beef, but you can also use Italian sausage or ground turkey.
• Pasta: Choose hearty noodles with twists or ridges to grab the sauce.
• Sauce: Use your fave pasta sauce (I love this brand) with a can of whole tomatoes. You can also use canned diced tomatoes, but I find whole tomatoes have a better consistency.
• Cheese: I combine use cottage cheese and sour cream for a double dose of creamy goodness. Replace the cottage cheese with ricotta cheese. Parmesan and mozzarella add flavor. You can add any cheese blend or even cheddar cheese in place.

Variations

• Add almost any veggie you’d like to the sauce (try zucchini or bell peppers). Add it to the skillet once the meat has browned and cook until tender before adding the sauce ingredients.
• Egg noodles work well in this recipe, too.

How to Make Ground Beef Casserole

This pasta bake is easy to make.

1. Brown Beef: In a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, & garlic.
2. Prep Sauce: Add whole tomatoes, pasta sauce, and seasonings and simmer until thickened.
3. Prep Cheese Layer: Combine sour cream, cottage cheese, egg, basil, remaining parsley, and parmesan.
4. Bake: Layer the pasta, cheese mixture, and ground beef mixture in a baking dish. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly.

Serve this pasta casserole with a big piece of cornbread or crusty bread for sopping up any sauce.

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover ground beef casserole covered in the fridge for up to 4 days (if it lasts that long)! Reheat in the microwave (or oven) for meals throughout the week.

Freeze the entire casserole before or after baking. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as directed above. If the casserole is cold fr the fridge, you may need to add extra cooking time.

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Ground Beef Casserole

This homemade casserole is loaded with ground beef, pasta, and 3 different kinds of cheese in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Cook beef, onion, and garlic in a large deeps skillet until no pink remains. Drain fat.

• Break up the canned tomatoes with your hands. Add (including the juices) to the ground beef along with pasta sauce, sugar, and Italian seasoning.

• Simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in half of the parsley, taste, and season with salt & pepper.

• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain, do not rinse.

• Mix sour cream, cottage cheese, egg, basil, remaining parsley, and grated parmesan cheese in a small bowl.

• Add a thin layer of sauce to the bottom of a 9×13 pan.

• Layer half of the pasta, top with all sour cream mixture, the remaining pasta and the meat sauce.

• Top with mozzarella cheese and cover.

• Bake 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Keep leftover ground beef casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

Calories: 419 | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 750mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 758IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Casserole, Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American

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