Here’s a classic, hearty ground beef casserole that’s easy, family-friendly, and perfect for a weeknight dinner.
🥘 Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 (14–15 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained (optional)
- 2 cups cooked pasta (penne, rotini, or elbow)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella (or cheddar)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- Optional: 1 cup ricotta or sour cream (for creamier texture)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Stir in marinara, diced tomatoes (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–10 minutes.
- Mix cooked pasta into the meat sauce. Stir in ricotta or sour cream if using.
- Transfer mixture to baking dish.
- Top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake uncovered 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is melted and golden.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
🔥 Optional Add-Ins
- Sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers
- Spinach (stir into sauce until wilted)
- Cooked bacon bits
- Red pepper flakes for heat
If you’d like, I can give you:
- A Mexican-style version
- A low-carb (no pasta) version
- A potato-based version
- Or a quick 5-ingredient version**
