An easy family dinner recipe made with just a few common ingredients! The combination of ground beef, pasta, tomato soup, and gooey cheese is simple yet surprisingly delicious.
If you’re looking for an easy dinner that picky eaters will actually enjoy, this cheeseburger pasta casserole is a great choice. It’s quick to prepare, budget-friendly, filling, and packed with comforting flavors the whole family will love.
The combination of seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, creamy tomato soup, and plenty of melted cheese creates a dish that tastes just like a cheeseburger in cozy casserole form. The slight sweetness from the tomato soup gives the pasta a delicious flavor without requiring a long list of ingredients.
For larger families, this recipe is an affordable way to make a satisfying meal without spending a fortune. And if you’re only cooking for a few people, the leftovers make an easy lunch or dinner for the following day.
Add this kid friendly casserole to your dinner menu for easy weeknight meals!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound box pasta shells
- 2 cans tomato soup
- 3 cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar & mozzarella)
- 1/2 cup water
- salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste
To make this simple casserole, start by cooking the pasta according to the package directions. Once it’s tender, drain it well and set it aside.
While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, then drain off any excess grease. Season the beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other seasonings you enjoy.
Next, add the cooked pasta directly to the same pan with the ground beef. Stir in both cans of tomato soup, 1/2 cup of water, and half of the shredded cheese. Mix everything together until the ingredients are evenly combined.
This is a good time to taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning if needed. Since all of the ingredients are already cooked, you can easily add a little more salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other seasonings to suit your family’s taste.
Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top. Cheddar works especially well for that classic cheeseburger flavor, but a combination of cheddar and mozzarella makes the casserole extra gooey.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in a 375°F oven for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned around the edges.
That golden, toasted layer of cheese on top is one of the best parts of this casserole!
Once it’s finished baking, let it cool for a few minutes before serving. The result is a warm, cheesy, comforting dinner that even picky eaters will want seconds of.
For an easy way to round out the meal, serve this cheeseburger pasta casserole with broccoli, green beans, or another favorite seasonal vegetable. A simple side salad also works well and can be prepared ahead of time.
This is the kind of family dinner that makes busy weeknights much easier. With inexpensive ingredients, minimal prep, and plenty of leftovers, this cheesy pasta casserole is a recipe you’ll want to keep in your regular dinner rotation.
Easy Cheeseburger Pasta Dinner Casserole
This easy family dinner recipe is quick to prepare with just a few budget ingredients! If you’re looking for ground beef dinner ideas, add this recipe to your dinner menu. It tastes just like a cheeseburger in the form of a casserole. Even your picky kids are sure to go back for seconds!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 box (1 lb) small pasta shells
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) tomato soup
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or a combination)
- Seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, & garlic powder)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, brown the beef in a large pan over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove any excess grease and season the meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, etc.
- Add the cooked pasta, both cans of soup, 1/2 cup water, and HALF of the shredded cheese to the pan and combine well with the ground beef. At this point, you can do a taste test and see if you’d like to add more seasoning.
- Spread the mixture out into your prepared baking dish and then top with the rest of the shredded cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake in the center rack of your oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.
Recipe Notes
- Freezer Meal Instructions: You can freeze this casserole for up to 6 months in a tin casserole dish covered tightly with foil. No need to bake before freezing! When ready to eat, allow it to thaw in the fridge for at least 24 hours, then bake as instructed. Because it’s going into the oven cold instead of warm, add an extra 5-10 minutes of cook time with the foil on.
- Side Dish Ideas: We love this casserole served with broccoli or green beans. A crisp, green salad is also a quick choice that can be made ahead of time.
- Similar Recipe Ideas: If you’re looking for similar ground beef dinner ideas, check out Cheesy Beef & Potato Casserole or Chili Mac & Cheese.