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Home » Dinner » Cheeseburger Casserole

Published: January 27, 2021 Last Modified: January 27, 2021 By Sara 18 Comments

Cheeseburger Casserole

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This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection.

This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. A quick and easy dinner option that’s always a hit with both kids and adults!

You can’t go wrong with a hearty, cheesy casserole. Some of my favorites include taco casserole, chicken casserole and this super delicious cheeseburger casserole.

This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection.

Cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and pasta, topped with melted cheese, bacon and tomatoes.

If you love hamburgers, you’ll be sure to love this cheeseburger casserole. It has all the great flavors of a loaded bacon cheeseburger, but with the addition of pasta!

How do you make cheeseburger casserole?

Begin by boiling your macaroni noodles according to package directions. While you wait for the pasta to be done, cook up the bacon until it’s brown and crispy. Set the bacon aside for later use. Cook ground beef in the pan with the bacon grease, then add onions and cook until they’re softened. Flavor the meat mixture with a variety of seasonings and tomato sauce. Add the pasta to the beef mixture, then stir in half the cheese. Pour the pasta mixture into a baking dish, and top with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted, then add the reserved bacon and a variety of other toppings. Serve and watch the rave reviews come in!

Ground beef and onions mixed with tomato sauce and seasonings.

Tips for the perfect casserole

  • I typically use 90% lean ground beef on this dish. It has plenty of flavor but is not overly greasy. If you use ground beef with a higher fat content, be sure to drain off any excess grease before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Skip the store bought shredded cheese and grate your own instead. The bags of pre-grated cheese typically contain preservatives and anti caking agents, and do not melt as well as freshly grated cheese.
  • This casserole can be prepared up to 4 hours before you plan to bake it. Store it covered in the refrigerator until it is ready to go into the oven. You may need to add another 10-15 minutes to the cooking time to compensate for starting with a cold dish.
  • Leftover casserole will stay fresh for up to 3 days. You can freeze this recipe, just be aware that the pasta will soften in the freezer.

Beef and sauce tossed with macaroni in a baking dish.

Cheeseburger casserole flavor variations

This dish is great as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

  • Meat: Instead of ground beef, feel free to use ground turkey, or a blend of ground beef with sausage.
  • Cheese: While cheddar is a classic cheeseburger topping, I’ve made this recipe with other types of cheese such as mozzarella, pepper jack and colby.
  • Pasta: Any type of short pasta will work, such as rotini, penne or medium shells.
  • Toppings: Add as many toppings as you like. I typically do bacon, pickles and diced tomato, but other great options are olives, avocado, french fried onions or shredded lettuce.

A casserole dish of pasta and beef topped with shredded cheese.

Once you serve up this cheeseburger casserole, your family will be asking you to make it on a regular basis. It’s just that good!

A serving of cheeseburger casserole on a plate.

More casserole recipes to try

  • Pierogi Casserole
  • Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Chile Relleno Casserole
  • Beef Noodle Casserole
  • Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Cheeseburger Casserole Video

Cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and pasta, topped with melted cheese, bacon and tomatoes.
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5 from 15 votes

Cheeseburger Casserole

This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. A quick and easy dinner option that's always a hit with both kids and adults!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 632kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces macaroni noodles
  • 6 slices bacon coarsely chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 16 ounces tomato sauce canned
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided use
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • assorted toppings such as pickles, tomatoes and shredded lettuce
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8 inch or 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Cook macaroni in salted water according to package directions.
  • Place the bacon in a large pan over medium high heat. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until bacon is browned and crisp.
  • Remove bacon from the pan and set aside. 
  • Drain off most of the bacon fat, leaving 2 teaspoons remaining in the pan.
  • Add the ground beef to the pan and season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula into small pieces, until browned. This should take 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the onion and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until onion has softened.
  • Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard and half of the bacon to the pan. Stir to coat the ground beef with the sauce.
  • Drain the macaroni and add it to the pan with the beef mixture.
  • Add half the cheddar cheese to the pan with the pasta; stir until everything is combined and cheese is melted.
  • Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.
  • Top with reserved bacon and parsley, as well as other toppings such as diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and chopped pickles.
  • Let stand 5 minutes, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 632kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 621mg | Potassium: 1073mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1135IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 454mg | Iron: 5.1mg
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    Comments

    1. Genie says

      July 4, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      5 stars
      Super tasty recipe, thanks! I made it tonight and will definitely make it again. I added all the bacon to the mix & served with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes & chopped gherkins, which worked perfectly. I might also add some crispy onions to the topping next time just because I like them & it’s a good excuse to use them.

      Reply
    2. Steph says

      March 5, 2022 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      My kids most requested meal! I love how easy it is and the large portion.

      Reply
    3. Cheryl says

      December 31, 2021 at 6:53 am

      Made this exactly as directed except added fresh garlic. It was so easy and so good! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Rob says

      July 19, 2021 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is one meal that never goes to waste. We love making this dish.

      Reply
    5. Stacy says

      March 25, 2021 at 11:39 am

      I want to use egg noodles instead. Should I make it the same way , just sub the pasta? Or would you do anything else differently? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 25, 2021 at 4:16 pm

        Just use egg noodles instead of the pasta and it should be great!

        Reply
    6. Jennifer says

      March 3, 2021 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      My husband and I LOVE this casserole!! It’s almost on a weekly rotation now!

      Reply
    7. Rebecca Hubbell says

      March 3, 2021 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      My family LOVES this casserole! It’s like a baked goulash and even my picky kids devoured it!

      Reply
    8. Kimberly says

      March 3, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      I knew this would be a family hit and I was right! Great comfort food for a busy weeknight!

      Reply
    9. Heather says

      March 3, 2021 at 4:51 am

      5 stars
      This was delish. My picky teens loved it. I skipped the toppings and served with a big salad. One note: depending on how lean the ground beef is, you may need to drain it before adding the tomato sauce. It would’ve been to fatty/soupy if I hadn’t.

      Reply
    10. Kimberly H. says

      February 7, 2021 at 8:32 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe. Quick meal. And my family enjoyed it.

      Reply
    11. Jeff says

      February 4, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      This looks amazing! The presentation is great and photo skills spot on! Is cooking you’re first love, or photography?

      Reply
    12. Kimberly H. says

      February 3, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe. It was quick and delicious. My family really enjoyed it!

      Reply
    13. Jamie says

      February 3, 2021 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      This combines two of my children’s favorite meals! Hamburgers and macaroni! Love this recipe, so delicious!

      Reply
    14. Suzy says

      February 3, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of those meals that we have on our dinner rotation! It’s so good and a hit with the family!

      Reply
    15. Jenn says

      February 3, 2021 at 1:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is the kind of casserole ALL my kids will eat and I bet there won’t be a single noodle leftover! I can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    16. Ashley F. says

      February 3, 2021 at 1:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was a big hit with the family! What’s not to love with pasta and cheese!

      Reply
    17. Carrie Robinson says

      February 3, 2021 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      My family would LOVE this! Adding this to my dinner plan asap. 🙂

      Reply

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