Cheeseburger Casserole (One Pot!) – WellPlated.com

Cheeseburger Casserole is cozy, tacky consolation meals made with lean floor beef, tender pasta, melty sharp cheddar, and an irresistibly creamy sauce. Prepared in half-hour and made in a single pot, it’s good for busy weeknights!

Cheeseburger casserole in a creamy tomato sauce, mixed in a large pot with a wooden spoon.

Cheeseburger casserole has all of the deliciousness of a burger, with out the bun!

This cheeseburger casserole tastes like your favourite burger, however like my Burger Bowl, you eat it with a fork as a substitute of on a bun.

And actually? This is likely to be the improve we didn’t know we wanted.

It checks all probably the most essential burger containers: savory floor beef, sharp cheddar, a bit mustardy tang, even pickles for those who’re into that form of factor (I very a lot am).

However as a substitute of firing up the grill, you stir it collectively in a single cozy pot and name it dinner. BOOM.

I made this on an evening after I wished consolation meals however didn’t need a sink stuffed with dishes staring again at me. It delivered in a giant manner. Creamy. Tacky. ALL the consolation meals vibes.

Let’s discuss why this cheeseburger casserole recipe works so properly:

A Complete Crowd-Pleaser. Pasta + cheese + beef = common approval. Even choosy eaters will overlook any protestations as soon as they take a chunk.
Weeknight-Pleasant. 5 minutes of prep. About 25 minutes on the range. No oven required.
Lightened Up (However You’d By no means Guess). Lean floor beef and Greek yogurt maintain it creamy with out heavy cream or canned soup.
One Pot. Which implies fewer dishes to clean. All the time a win in my e book!

A pot of cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and sauce, topped with sliced green onions, sits on a wooden table.

Key Substances

You’ll discover the total record of substances within the recipe card beneath, however listed below are some notes to remember.

Yellow Onion. Cook dinner it low and gradual till it’s golden and gentle.
Lean Floor Beef. 93% lean is wealthy and savory with out extra grease. In the event you use one thing fattier, it’s possible you’ll want to empty it.
Tomato Paste. A small quantity provides large umami depth. Let it cook dinner for a minute so it caramelizes barely—belief me.
Garlic Powder. This has the savoriness of garlic with out the sharpness.
Dijon Mustard. That is what makes it style like a cheeseburger as a substitute of simply tacky pasta!
Sizzling Sauce. Be happy to regulate the quantity to your liking.
Decreased-Sodium Beef Broth. The pasta cooks instantly in it, absorbing taste because it softens.
Entire Wheat Rotini (or Elbow Pasta). I really like entire wheat for the additional fiber, however any quick pasta works.
Plain Greek Yogurt. My secret weapon for creaminess with out heaviness.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Go daring! Sharp cheddar has a sassier taste than delicate cheddar. Freshly grated melts finest and provides probably the most taste.
Dill Pickles. Elective, however extremely inspired.
Inexperienced Onion. A little bit recent chunk to complete issues off.

Recipe Variations

Make It Bacon Cheeseburger Type. Cook dinner chopped bacon with the onions or sprinkle crumbled Air Fryer Bacon on high for garnish.
Swap the Cheese. Colby Jack and even pepper jack could be delish.
Add Veggies. Stir in chopped bell peppers or mushrooms with the onions to veg it up.

A bowl of cheeseburger casserole with creamy sauce, ground meat, and chopped green onions, served with a gold spoon.

What to Serve with Cheeseburger Casserole

This simple cheeseburger casserole is made in a single pot with lean floor beef, entire wheat pasta, cheddar, and Greek yogurt. Prepared in half-hour!

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small yellow onion ½-inch diced
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon floor black pepper
1 pound lean floor beef I used 93% lean
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 to three teaspoons sizzling sauce
4 cups diminished sodium beef broth
8 ounces entire wheat rotini noodles or elbow or related quick pasta
½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese yellow if attainable
¼ cup chopped dill pickles elective
¼ cup chopped inexperienced onion
Water as wanted

Warmth a Dutch oven or a big, deep skillet over medium-low warmth. Add the oil, onion, salt, and pepper. Let cook dinner till the onion turns brown and gentle, about 10 minutes (get the onions good and brown).
Improve warmth to medium-high and add the bottom beef. With the again of a giant spoon or a sturdy spatula, break the meat into small items. Proceed to brown, stirring periodically, till the meat is browned and cooked by way of, about 6 minutes.
If there’s extra fats, fastidiously drain it away, leaving a bit within the pan simply to maintain the meat moist (if you’re utilizing meat that’s 93% lean, you seemingly is not going to want to empty it).
Stir within the tomato paste and garlic powder. Cook dinner and stir for 1 full minute, so the paste is properly integrated and might caramelize a bit. Stir within the sizzling sauce and Dijon.
Gently pour within the beef broth, utilizing a picket spoon or sturdy spatula to scrape up any browned bits caught to the pan. Carry the broth to a boil over medium-high warmth.
As soon as boiling, add the pasta and cook dinner till al dente in line with package deal directions, stirring typically and scraping a spoon alongside the underside of the pan to maintain it from sticking. If at any level the pasta turns into too dry, splash in a little bit of water as wanted.
Take away the pan from the warmth and let cool 1 minute. Add the Greek yogurt, cheddar, and pickles. Stir till the cheese is melted and the substances are properly mixed.
Stir in half of the inexperienced onion, then sprinkle the remaining inexperienced onion on high. Get pleasure from sizzling.

TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
TO REHEAT: Heat gently on the range or within the microwave with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
TO FREEZE: Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day earlier than reheating.
Tailored from my Selfmade Hamburger Helper

Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 636kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 49gFats: 28gSaturated Fats: 12gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gTrans Fats: 0.4gLdl cholesterol: 114mgSodium: 1296mgPotassium: 1090mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 631IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 356mgIron: 3mg