Description
Hearty hamburger casserole delivers comfort and nostalgia in one delicious dish. Layers of seasoned ground beef, cheesy pasta, and crispy edges create a satisfying meal families will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rotini or medium pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups (240 grams) frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
Tomato and Sauce Components:
- 14 ounces (396 grams) pasta sauce (canned/jarred)
- 14 ounces (396 grams) diced tomatoes, lightly drained (1 can)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
Seasonings and Cheese:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) shredded cheddar-mozzarella blend
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare rotini pasta according to package directions until perfectly tender, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking into crumbly pieces while cooking.
- Add diced onions to the meat and sauté until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Pour in pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings including Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Allow the sauce to simmer and develop robust flavors for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
- Gently fold frozen vegetables into the meat sauce, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the entire mixture into a prepared baking dish, creating an even layer of the hearty sauce and pasta.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar-mozzarella cheese blend generously across the top, covering the surface completely.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 22-27 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 3-5 minutes to allow flavors to settle and sauce to slightly thicken.
Notes
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente to prevent mushiness during baking, maintaining a perfect texture in the final dish.
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to reduce excess grease and prevent a soggy casserole bottom.
- Customize vegetable mix by swapping frozen vegetables with fresh seasonal produce for added nutrition and flavor variety.
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and checking that tomato sauce ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg