Description
This One Pot Cheeseburger Casserole is a quick and hearty meal combining the classic flavors of a cheeseburger into a comforting pasta dish. Ground beef is browned with onions, then simmered with tomatoes, broth, and rotini pasta, finished with melty cheddar cheese and fresh toppings for a simple, satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 Roma tomato, diced (for garnish)
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onions: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, cooking until the beef is browned and crumbled and the onions are softened, about 3-5 minutes. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
- Add liquids and pasta: Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), tomato sauce, chicken broth, ketchup, Dijon mustard, rotini pasta, and 2 cups of water. Mix all ingredients thoroughly to combine.
- Simmer the casserole: Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for about 13-16 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure the pasta cooks evenly.
- Finish with cheese: Remove the pot from heat. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Cover again and allow to stand for 2 minutes so the cheese melts completely into the casserole.
- Garnish and serve: Serve the casserole hot, garnished with the diced Roma tomato and sliced green onions for a fresh and colorful finish.
Notes
- Make sure to stir occasionally during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Using rotini pasta works well for holding sauce, but other short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli can be substituted.
- You can adjust the seasoning at the end before serving to taste, adding more salt, pepper, or mustard as desired.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or a plant-based meat alternative and use vegetable broth.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
