A quick and easy ground beef casserole with cheese and pasta is the perfect last-minute family dinner for days you are on the go! This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients like ground beef, cheddar cheese, marinara, and penne pasta. Mix the ingredients and bake for 25 minutes then you will have a deliciously cheesy ground beef casserole that both children and adults will enjoy!
Easy Ground Beef Pasta Casserole
Nothing screams comforting home-cooked meal quite like a delicious casserole. This easy ground beef casserole is a family-favorite of ours, and it's sure to be a hit in your house, too!
Pasta noodles are coated in saucy ground beef, topped with cheese, and baked in the oven. It's simple, yet the flavor is anything but!
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🥘 Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this casserole. I always keep ground beef in the freezer so I can make a crowd-pleasing casserole like this one on days I don't have dinner planned!
- Penne Pasta - 1 pound, uncooked pasta.
- Ground Beef - 1 pound of hamburger, I prefer 80/20 but you can use a leaner ground beef if you like.
- Onion - 1 cup chopped white or yellow onion, or ½ teaspoon onion powder or ½ tablespoon of dried minced onion (*see note).
- Garlic - ½ teaspoon (about 1 clove) of minced garlic.
- Marinara - 1 ½ cups, or 12 ounces, of marinara sauce.
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon of both salt & pepper, or more, to taste. Plus, some to salt the pasta water.
- Cheddar Cheese - 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese (4.5 ounces if there are 3 ounces per cup using a medium grate.)
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 How To Make Ground Beef Casserole
Just brown the ground beef, boil the pasta, combine, and bake! To get started, you will need a 9x13 baking dish, a colander, and a skillet.
This casserole will serve 6, but don't worry if you have some leftovers. It is even better the next day!
Cook The Penne Pasta
- Preheat. Move a rack in your oven to the middle position and preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Grease a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Boil the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water (*see note) to a boil. Add 1 pound of penne pasta and boil for 10 minutes. It should be just under al dente when you drain the water because the pasta will continue to cook while baking.
Brown the Ground Beef & Mix With Marinara
- Brown the beef. As the pasta boils, add 1 pound of ground beef and 1 cup of chopped onion (*see note) to a skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the meat as it browns for 10 minutes. A few minutes before the meat is done browning, add ½ a teaspoon of minced garlic. *Spoon out any excess fat as needed.
- Add marinara. Once the beef is browned, mix in 1 ½ cups of marinara sauce and let it heat until warmed through. Taste the sauce and beef mixture and add ¼ teaspoon of salt & pepper, or more as needed.
Assemble the Casserole
- Combine. Pour the cooked, drained pasta into the baking dish followed by the marinara and beef mixture. Toss to combine. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese over the top in an even layer (*see note).
- Bake and serve. Bake, uncovered, at 400°F (204°C) for 15 minutes or until all of the cheese is gooey and melted (*see note). Serve immediately.
Some crusty garlic bread makes the perfect appetizer or side for your ground beef casserole. If you prefer something lighter, try a fresh Caprese salad. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- I opted for dried minced onion and added it to the beef after 5 minutes of cooking (it should take 6-8 minutes total to brown ground beef) before draining the excess fat so that it could take on the pan juices to re-hydrate.
- When salting the pasta water, use 1 ½ tablespoons of salt per pound of pasta with 3-4 quarts (12-16 cups) of water. For instance, I use 12 cups of water with 1 ½ tablespoons of salt.
- If you want your casserole extra cheesy, mix in an additional ½ cup of cheese with the pasta and sauce before you top it with the remaining cheese.
- Optionally, you may pop the casserole under the broiler for a few minutes at the end of cook time to brown the cheese some.
- Storing: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be frozen in heavy-duty freezer bags or a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the entire casserole in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Why Is My Casserole Meat Tough?
When browning the beef, try not to cook it more than necessary. Once all of the red is gone, mix in the marinara sauce.
The meat will continue to cook while the casserole is baked for 30 minutes.
Is Ground Beef Casserole Gluten-Free?
As-is, this recipe is not gluten-free. However, you can make it gluten-free by simply using gluten-free pasta!
Do I Have To Use Penne Pasta For Ground Beef Casserole?
Just about any pasta will work in this ground beef casserole. Rotini, macaroni, ziti, or even egg noodles would all be a good choice.
Give this recipe a try with whatever pasta you have on hand, just be sure to cook it a few minutes shy of al dente.
😋 More Tasty Casseroles To Make!
- Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Sausage Egg & Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Ham and Potato Casserole
- Mexican Cornbread Casserole
- Jiffy Corn Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
📋 Recipe
Ground Beef Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta (uncooked)
- 1 lb ground beef (I prefer 80/20)
- 1 cup onion (chopped, or ½ teaspoon onion powder or ½ tablespoon of dried minced onion)
- ½ teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups marinara (12 ounces)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste, plus more salt for the pasta water)
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese (4.5 ounces (3 ounces per cup using a medium grate), shredded)
Instructions
- Move a rack in your oven to the middle position and preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Grease a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne for 10 minutes. It should be just shy of al dente because it will cook more while baking and you don't want it to get mushy.1 lb penne pasta
- Meanwhile, add the ground beef and onion (*see note) to a skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the meat as it browns for 10 minutes. A few minutes before the meat is done browning, add the minced garlic. *Spoon out any excess fat as needed.1 lb ground beef, 1 cup onion, ½ teaspoon garlic
- Next, mix in the marinara sauce and let it heat until warmed through. Taste the sauce and beef mixture and add salt & pepper as needed.1 ½ cups marinara, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- Once the pasta is ready, drain the water and pour the pasta into your prepared baking dish. Pour the marinara and beef mixture into the dish and toss to combine. Sprinkle a layer of cheddar cheese over the top (*see note).1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
- Bake, uncovered, at 400°F (204°C) for 15 minutes or until all of the cheese is nice and melted (*see note). Serve immediately.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- I opted for dried minced onion and added it to the beef after 5 minutes of cooking (it should take 6-8 minutes total to brown ground beef) before draining the excess fat so that it could take on the pan juices to rehydrate.
- When salting the pasta water, use 1 ½ tablespoons of salt per pound of pasta with 3-4 quarts (12-16 cups) of water. For instance, I use 12 cups of water with 1 ½ tablespoons of salt.
- If you want your casserole extra cheesy, mix in an additional ½ cup of cheese with the pasta and sauce before you top it with the remaining cheese.
- Optionally, you may pop the casserole under the broiler for a few minutes at the end of cook time to brown the cheese some.
- Storing: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be frozen in heavy-duty freezer bags or a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the entire casserole in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Doris says
Is this the same as mostacholi ?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
That is a pasta type that is great in this easy casserole (but no, not the same).
Beth says
Great dinner!
Janice says
Can you make it with a different kind of cheese?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Of course, any kind of cheese that you prefer. Some ideas are American, Mozzarella, Gruyère, Colby Jack, and Provolone. Hope that helps
Frances J McWilliams says
Could also use Gouda cheese as it is a soft cheese and melts very well
How much is considered one serving as to actual amt?
Thank you
Cheryl says
OMG great recipe!