Cheeseburger Casserole

By Laurel Perry

Updated Aug 11, 2025

ShareJump to Recipe

This easy and cheesy Cheeseburger Casserole recipe is the weeknight dinner of my dreams! Ground beef, macaroni, tomato paste, tons of cheese, and a few simple pantry ingredients come together with simple steps. It’s a hearty and satiating ground beef casserole that my kids never complain about!

Easy Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

Me and the kids love cheeseburgers and macaroni, so why not combine the two comfort foods for one deliciously cheesy casserole? I always have some ground beef in the freezer and a few half-empty boxes of pasta in the pantry, so I usually have everything I need on hand to make this recipe.

Recipe Card

Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 8

Author: Laurel Perry

Print Rate Pin

Simple ingredients like ground beef, macaroni, and cheese come together with ease to make this cheeseburger casserole!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

Save this recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you, plus new recipes weekly!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name *

Email *

Go

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 12 oz. dry elbow macaroni or any short shaped pasta will work
• ▢ 1½ lbs. ground beef 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
• ▢ 1 small yellow onion diced
• ▢ 2 tbsp tomato paste ketchup also works though it's sweeter
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 tsp chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ▢ 1½ cups heavy cream
• ▢ ¼ cup beef broth
• ▢ 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided, other cheeses work too*
• ▢ 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
• ▢ 1 tsp sliced green onion optional for garnish

Video

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a baking dish.**
• In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
  12 oz. dry elbow macaroni
• While the pasta cooks, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat in a large skillet, breaking up the beef with a spoon until the beef is no longer pink, and the onion is translucent.
  1½ lbs. ground beef, 1 small yellow onion
• Add in the tomato paste, garlic, Italian seasoning, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until the spices are fragrant and the tomato paste darkens in color.
  2 tbsp tomato paste, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
• Add in the pasta, heavy cream, beef broth, 1 cup cheddar cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
  1½ cups heavy cream, ¼ cup beef broth, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Transfer to a baking dish (or leave in your oven safe skillet) and top with the remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake, or broil for a darker crust, for 5 more minutes.
  2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Let cool for 10 minutes, garnish with green onions, and serve.
  1 tsp sliced green onion

Becky’s Tips

*Shred your own cheese for the best quality and taste. 

**If you are using an oven safe skillet or a Dutch oven, you will not need to prepare or use a baking dish. If your skillet is not oven safe, you will transfer it to a baking dish in step 6.

Calories: 703kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 36gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 25gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 159mgSodium: 786mgPotassium: 507mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1275IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 408mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole Step by Step

Cook pasta: Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a baking dish (if using a separate dish). In a large pot of salted water, cook 12 oz. of dry elbow macaroni pasta according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.

Brown the ground beef: While the pasta cooks, cook 1½ lbs. of ground beef and 1 small yellow onion (diced) over medium heat in a large skillet. Break up the beef with a spoon, cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent.

Stir in ingredients: Add in 2 tbsp of tomato paste, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp of Italian seasoning, 1 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of salt, and ½ tsp of ground black pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until the spices are fragrant and the tomato paste darkens in color.

Add pasta: Add in the cooked pasta, 1½ cups of heavy cream, ¼ cup of beef broth, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake casserole: Transfer casserole to a baking dish (or leave in your oven safe skillet), then top with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish and bake for 15 minutes. Then uncover and continue baking (or broil for a darker crust) for 5 more minutes.

Cool and serve: Let the cheeseburger casserole cool for 10 minutes, then garnish with 1 tsp of sliced green onions and serve.

How to Store

If you like to meal prep, this casserole can be made a day or two ahead of time. If you find it has dried out, drizzle with a bit of beef broth or heavy cream.

Store leftover cheeseburger casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days, or freeze for 3 months.

For best results, reheat in the oven at 350°F until fully warmed through, or simply microwave for convenience. If frozen, thaw before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

This cheeseburger casserole pairs perfectly with potatoes of all kinds, from classic French fries to baked potatoes, or even fluffy tater tots. To sneak in some veggies, add green beans with bacon or cheesy zucchini.

More Ground Beef Casseroles to Try

Hamburger Casserole Recipe

Taco Casserole

Hamburger Helper

Frito Pie Casserole Recipe