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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 7 Comments

    Ground Beef Casserole

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text divider of ground beef casserole.

    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!

    Square image of ground beef casserole on a white plate.
    Ground beef casserole is a quick and hearty dinner for the whole family!
    Jump to:
    • Easy Ground Beef Pasta Casserole
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How To Make Ground Beef Casserole
    • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
    • Why Is My Casserole Meat Tough?
    • Is Ground Beef Casserole Gluten-Free?
    • Do I Have To Use Penne Pasta For Ground Beef Casserole?
    • 😋 More Tasty Casseroles To Make!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🥘 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!

    Photo showing ingredients needed for ground beef casserole.
    • 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

    Process photo 1 showing salt added to water.
    Process photo 2 showing pasta added to water.
    Process photo 3 showing boiling pasta in water.
    Process photo 3a showing boiled pasta set aside to drain.
    1. 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.
    2. 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

    Process photo 4 showing ground beef in pan.
    Process photo 5 showing ground beef cooking in pan with garlic and seasoning.
    Process photo 6 showing adding marinara sauce.
    Process photo 7 showing mixed  marinara sauce and pasta.
    1. 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.
    2. 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

    Process photo 8 showing pasta in baking dish.
    Process photo 9 showing meat mixture added to pasta.
    Process photo 10 showing meat mixture mixed with pasta.
    Process photo 11 showing cheese added.
    1. 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).
    2. 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.

    Tall image of ground beef casserole on a white plate with a fork.

    😋 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

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📋 Recipe

    Closeup square image of ground beef casserole on a white plate.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
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    5 from 39 reviews

    Ground Beef Casserole

    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!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 613kcal
    Prep 10 minutes
    Cooking 25 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

    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

    9x13 baking dish
    colander
    Skillet

    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

    Calories: 613kcal (31%) | Carbohydrates: 63g (21%) | Protein: 30g (60%) | Fat: 26g (40%) | Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg (27%) | Sodium: 628mg (27%) | Potassium: 616mg (18%) | Fiber: 4g (17%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 549IU (11%) | Vitamin C: 6mg (7%) | Calcium: 244mg (24%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    casserole, easy dinners, Ground Beef Casserole, ground beef recipes
    Course Casseroles, Main Course
    Cuisine American

    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    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!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/
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    Comments

    1. Doris says

      July 27, 2022 at 10:08 am

      Is this the same as mostacholi ?

      Reply
      • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

        July 27, 2022 at 12:17 pm

        That is a pasta type that is great in this easy casserole (but no, not the same).

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      July 22, 2022 at 10:18 pm

      5 stars
      Great dinner!

      Reply
    3. Janice says

      July 13, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      Can you make it with a different kind of cheese?

      Reply
      • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

        July 14, 2022 at 5:09 am

        Of course, any kind of cheese that you prefer. Some ideas are American, Mozzarella, Gruyère, Colby Jack, and Provolone. Hope that helps

        Reply
        • Frances J McWilliams says

          July 28, 2022 at 5:18 pm

          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

          Reply
    4. Cheryl says

      July 11, 2022 at 7:57 pm

      5 stars
      OMG great recipe!

      Reply

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