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HomeHealthy FoodCheeseburger Casserole (One Pot!) – WellPlated.com

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!

cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

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

And truthfully? This is likely to be the improve we didn’t know we would have liked.

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

However as an alternative 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 needed consolation meals however didn’t need a sink stuffed with dishes staring again at me. It delivered in an enormous means. Creamy. Tacky. ALL the consolation meals vibes.

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

  • A Complete Crowd-Pleaser. Pasta + cheese + beef = common approval. Even choosy eaters will neglect 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 hold it creamy with out heavy cream or canned soup.
  • One Pot. Which implies fewer dishes to scrub. 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 Elements

You’ll discover the complete checklist of elements within the recipe card under, however listed here are some notes to remember.

  • Yellow Onion. Prepare dinner it low and gradual till it’s golden and smooth.
  • Lean Floor Beef. 93% lean is wealthy and savory with out extra grease. For those who use one thing fattier, you might want to empty it.
  • Tomato Paste. A small quantity provides huge 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 an alternative of simply tacky pasta!
  • Scorching Sauce. Be happy to regulate the quantity to your liking.
  • Diminished-Sodium Beef Broth. The pasta cooks instantly in it, absorbing taste because it softens.
  • Entire Wheat Rotini (or Elbow Pasta). I like entire wheat for the additional fiber, however any brief 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. Optionally available, however extremely inspired.
  • Inexperienced Onion. A bit recent chunk to complete issues off.

Recipe Variations

  • Make It Bacon Cheeseburger Model. Prepare dinner chopped bacon with the onions or sprinkle crumbled Air Fryer Bacon on prime for garnish.
  • Swap the Cheese. Colby Jack and even pepper jack can 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 straightforward 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 lowered sodium beef broth
  • 8 ounces entire wheat rotini noodles or elbow or comparable brief pasta
  • ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese yellow if attainable
  • ¼ cup chopped dill pickles optionally available
  • 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 smooth, about 10 minutes (get the onions good and brown).

  • Improve warmth to medium-high and add the bottom beef. With the again of a big 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, rigorously drain it away, leaving a bit within the pan simply to maintain the meat moist (in case you are utilizing meat that’s 93% lean, you probably is not going to want to empty it).

  • Stir within the tomato paste and garlic powder. Prepare 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 based on package deal directions, stirring usually 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 elements are properly mixed.

  • Stir in half of the inexperienced onion, then sprinkle the remaining inexperienced onion on prime. Take pleasure in 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 Do-it-yourself 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

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