Description
Make your next meal special with a ground beef casserole recipe! Hearty, flavorful, and perfect for weeknights. Get step-by-step instructions here!
Ingredients
- Ground beef – 1 lb (use 80/20 for best flavor)
- Pasta or potatoes – 2 cups (cooked al dente)
- Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or mix) – 1 cup
- Tomato sauce – 1 can (15 oz)
- Onion – 1 medium, diced
- Garlic – 3 cloves, minced
- Salt & pepper – To taste
- Paprika – 1 teaspoon
- Oregano – 1 teaspoon
- Butter or olive oil – 1 tablespoon
Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Ingredients
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter or olive oil, then sauté onions and garlic until fragrant (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up as it browns. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in tomato sauce, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta or potatoes until just tender.
2️⃣ Assemble the Casserole
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread half of the cooked pasta or potatoes at the bottom.
- Spoon half of the ground beef mixture over it.
- Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top.
- Repeat the layers, finishing with extra cheese on top.
- Cover with foil.
3️⃣ Bake to Perfection
- Bake for 20 minutes covered.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a crispy top: Remove foil in the last 10 minutes of baking.
- For a lower-carb version: Swap pasta for zucchini slices or cauliflower rice.
- For extra creaminess: Mix ½ cup sour cream or cream cheese into the beef mixture.
- Storage Tips: Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 380
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 22g
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