This beef and cheese casserole combines ground beef, penne pasta, marinara sauce, and lots of cheese for a wonderfully easy weeknight dinner! It's a filling meal with tasty Italian flavors that is sure to be a family favorite! Hamburger noodle casserole is perfect for when you want a tasty meal but are limited on time.
Super Easy Beef and Cheese Pasta Casserole
If comfort food is your ultimate indulgence, you MUST try my Beef and Cheese Casserole! It is so simple to make, and with the spices and marinara, it’s like an Italian feast!!
Because it is so easy to make, it’s also great for feeding bigger groups - go ahead and make 3 pans of this hearty casserole! It's perfect for family meals and weeknight dinners!
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Everyone will love digging into this beefy pasta bake! Big on taste and cheesy goodness but small on time, this hearty casserole is deliciously simple.
🥘 Beef and Cheese Casserole Ingredients
The ingredients are fairly standard – you may even have everything you need in your cupboards to make it tonight!
- Penne Pasta – 16 ounces of penne pasta. This cylinder-shaped pasta is perfect because the sauce and the cheese gather inside the individual tubes, and they explode with flavor when you take a bite! Of course, any short pasta will work but penne is a fave!
- Ground Beef – 2 pounds of ground beef is the 'meat' of this hearty casserole! Lean or extra lean works best.
- Garlic – 1 tablespoon of freshly minced garlic. You can also use the minced garlic from a jar, and it’s not nearly as flavorful but a great time-saver!
- Italian Seasoning – 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Dried Italian seasoning works just fine. However, you can also use the freeze-dried blend or the tube of Italian herbs in the produce aisle, or, of course, fresh Italian herbs if you're so lucky! Check out my homemade blend here!
- Marinara Sauce – 15 ounces of marinara sauce. You can use your favorite store-bought marinara brand or try my yummy homemade marinara sauce!
- Baby Spinach – 2 cups of baby spinach. Fresh or frozen works to add color and vitamins to this dish. I love fresh baby leaf spinach for this casserole! If you opt to use frozen spinach, be sure to squeeze as much excess water out as possible.
- Salt & Pepper - Your basic spices that are simple and amazing flavor enhancers!
- Mozzarella - 1 cup of freshly grated mozzarella. You can buy a bag of pre-shredded cheese to save time, but remember, pre-packaged cheese has an anti-clumping agent. This means it simply won't be as ooey-gooey melty friendly!
- Parmesan Cheese – ½ cup of grated Parmesan. Freshly grated adds a delightful flavor. In a pinch, you can use canned parmesan.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How to Make Beef and Cheese Casserole
This simple casserole will be ready to enjoy in no time! All you need is a 9x13 baking dish, a pot to cook the pasta, a skillet, and a cheese grater.
This casserole will be enough food for about 8 servings.
Cook the Pasta
- Preheat. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C/Gas Mark 6) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan or 2.5-3 quart baking dish.
- Boil. Cook 16 ounces (454 grams) of pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions, minus about 2 minutes for an al dente firmness.
- Drain. Drain and rinse the cooked pasta, then set aside.
Brown the Ground Beef
- Brown. Brown 2 pounds (907 grams) of ground beef in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook for about 8 minutes, breaking up the hamburger as it cooks.
- Stir. Once it is almost done, strain off the grease and stir in 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of minced garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add. Add 15 ounces (425 grams) of marinara sauce, 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of Italian seasoning, and 2 cups (60 grams) of chopped spinach. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Heat. Continue to cook until the marinara sauce is completely warm, about 4-5 min.
Assemble the Casserole
- Layer. Pour the pasta into your greased baking dish and add the beef sauce. Toss well until all the pasta is well-coated.
- Add cheese. Top with 1 cup (224 grams) of grated mozzarella cheese and ½ cup (100 grams) of Parmesan cheese. *You can also save the Parmesan cheese for garnish when serving.
Bake and Serve
- Cook. Bake the casserole at 400°F (205°C/Gas Mark 6) for 10 - 15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted. If you like a browned top, broil for a few minutes to further cook the cheese topping to golden perfection.
- Serve. Remove from the oven when done and serve your casserole immediately. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil if desired.
🥗 Sides
Serve with a Caesar salad and garlic bread for a complete meal. Nothing lavish here – just easy, good ol’ yummy comfort food – perfect for family dinner any night of the week! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Don't skip cooking the pasta! You'll need it to be cooked until it is al dente so that it can finish cooking in the oven. If you skip this step, you could have crunchy, undercooked pasta.
- Feel free to add some extra veggies such as bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
- You can use homemade or store-bought marinara sauce. However, keep in mind that the kind you use will affect the flavor of the dish. So use your favorite type!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
This casserole is so hearty and filling. Leftovers can be reheated for several days, and the Italian flavors will enhance with time. Properly stored casserole leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Reheating Beef and Cheese Casserole
If you are reheating in the next day or two, add a splash of water to the casserole before microwaving or heating it on the stove.
Freezing Beef and Cheese Casserole
If you make some extra casserole and want to freeze it for later, be sure it is completely cooled before putting it in a freezer-safe container. You can leave this in the freezer for up to 3 months – when ready to eat, just thaw in the fridge, then reheat in the oven.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
I used penne pasta, but any short variety will work! You can use farfalle, rigatoni, rotini, ziti, shells, or macaroni. Just grab whatever you already have on hand.
Sure! You can prepare and assemble your casserole ahead of time. Then, wrap it tightly and place it in the fridge for overnight (or up to a day). When ready, simply remove the cover and bake as directed.
Absolutely! This makes a fantastic freezer meal. Simply let the casserole cool completely and then tightly wrap it in plastic wrap. Pop it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
😋 More Easy Casseroles
- Chili Dog Casserole - A 4 ingredient casserole that combines crescent rolls, chili, hot dogs, and cheese.
- Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole - A simple, hands-off casserole that gives you everything you love about traditional enchiladas.
- Million Dollar Chicken Casserole - This creamy chicken dish is sure to please everyone at dinnertime.
- Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole - A tasty combination of ground beef, hashbrowns, cheese, and veggies.
- Cinnamon Roll Casserole - A sweet dish that is fantastic for breakfast or brunch.
- Campbell's Green Bean Casserole - This holiday classic is a side dish that's perfect for serving a crowd.
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📖 Recipe Card
Beef and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta (uncooked)
- 2 lbs ground beef (lean or extra lean)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 15 oz marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups baby leaf spinach (chopped)
- each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan or 2.5-3 quart baking dish.
- Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions, minus about 2 minutes for an al dente firmness. Drain and rinse the cooked pasta, then set aside.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook for about 8 minutes, breaking up the beef as it browns. Strain off grease and stir in the garlic. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and chopped spinach. Stir to mix, taste, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until the marinara sauce is completely warm.
- Transfer the pasta into your prepared baking dish and add the beef sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat all of the pasta. Top with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese (or reserve the Parmesan cheese for garnish when serving).
- Bake the casserole in your preheated oven at 400°F (205°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted. Broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese topping if desired.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil.
Notes
- Don't skip cooking the pasta! You'll need it to be cooked until it is al dente so that it can finish cooking in the oven. If you skip this step, you could have crunchy, undercooked pasta.
- Feel free to add some extra veggies such as bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
- You can use homemade or store-bought marinara sauce. However, keep in mind that the kind you use will affect the flavor of the dish. So use your favorite type!
Anonymous says
Can broccoli be substituted for spinach
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Yes, most definitely! You should steam, microwave, or cook the steamable frozen broccoli so that it is tender-crisp before adding it to your casserole. Thanks for asking!