This Cheeseburger Casserole takes just 30 minutes to make in a single skillet! Your family will love this homemade hamburger helper!
Be sure to try my Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole next!
I think my family has been eating this cheesy, beefy macaroni at least every two weeks ever since I started making Instant Pot Hamburger Helper. But now that I can make this Cheeseburger Casserole in just one pot, I’m even more hooked.
PLUS, this is a perfect freezer meal. Read on for everything you need to know about this fabulous recipe.
⭐Do not miss my first PRO tip in this post, it will make you a better cook for life! ⭐
How to Make it
Note: This is an overview. See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cook and crumble the ground beef and the onions. Add the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste and stir until combined. Add the beef broth and uncooked macaroni. Stir to combine.
Cover and heat for 5 minutes. Uncover, stir, then cover again and cook for 5 more minutes, until just al dente.
Stir in the sour cream and half of the milk. Only add the remaining milk if desired it for consistency purposes. Reduce the heat to low. Sprinkle on 2 + 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese. Let the cheese melt and the sauce become creamy. Top with remaining cheese and parsley. Serve!
Pro Tips
- Refrain from adding cold ingredients into warm pasta when you prepare it. This includes the cheese, sour cream, and milk. (Otherwise, ingredients can separate, milk can curdle, and the consistency may become grainy.)
- Shred the cheese yourself. Buy your cheese in blocks whenever possible and shred it at home. It will melt and taste much better. I use Heluva Good! Sharp Cheddar. It melts perfectly.
Make Ahead Method
- If you prefer to to the prep work for this casserole ahead of time, prepare the recipe as-instructed but cook the pasta covered for 7 minutes instead of 8.
- Stop at step #10, right before you top the casserole with additional cheese.
- Let the casserole cool down, then top it with cheese.
- Refrigerate for up to two days, then bake it in a 350 degree oven, covered, for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Top with parsley and serve!
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerator
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Try These Next!
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One Pot Cheeseburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, at room temp. Separated.
- 1 lb. Ground Beef, 85% lean
- Salt/Pepper, to taste
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 (16 oz.) box elbow macaroni, *uncooked*
- ¾ cup sour cream, at room temp
- ½ cup whole milk, at room temp
- Chopped Parsley, to garnish
Instructions
- Shred the cheese and set it aside. It should be at room temperature when added to the pasta later.
- Season the ground beef with desired amount of salt and pepper.
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef along with the onions. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and the tomato paste and stir until well-combined.
- Add the beef broth and the uncooked macaroni, stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium or medium/low.
- Cover the pot and heat for 5 minutes. Uncover, stir briefly, replace the cover, and heat for 5 more minutes, or until just al dente.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in the room temperature sour cream and half of the milk. Only add the other half if desired.
- Gradually sprinkle in 2 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar, stirring as you do so.
- Once the cheese is melted and you have a uniform consistency, top with the remaining cheese.
- Replace the lid and heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Top with parsley and serve!
Notes
- Whole milk is recommended for a creamier consistency, but a lower fat milk may also be used.
- A teaspoon of ketchup and yellow mustard can be added when the pasta is cooking to round out the cheeseburger flavors! A touch of dill pickle relish can also be added at the end.
Make-Ahead Method
- If you prefer to to the prep work for this casserole ahead of time, prepare the recipe as-instructed but cook the pasta covered for 7 minutes instead of 8.
- Stop at step #10, right before you top the casserole with additional cheese.
- Let the casserole cool down, then top it with cheese.
- Refrigerate for up to two days, then bake it in a 350 degree oven, covered, for 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Top with parsley and serve!
Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. There are 5 servings in this recipe.
Nutrition
This sounds so good, but my hubby doesn’t like sour cream. Do you think I can just leave it out or maybe substitute it with something else??
You can’t taste it outright but it’s needed for the creamy texture of the sauce, you could use plain Greek yogurt or try mayo as well.
Delicious!! My hubby said 10/10 all day and I agree!!
Yayyyy! Great job Luciana, I’m so happy this was a success! Thanks so much for the great comments and for taking the time to leave a review!😍
Best recipe for homemade hamburger helper. It is an easy recipe with ingredients that give it the perfect flavor. Just remember you do not need to cook the elbow macaroni noodles. You will add them to your mix and they cook perfectly if you follow the recipe. My family loves it and the friends I share it with love it too!
Thanks so much Carrie! I’m so happy your family and friends enjoyed it. My daughter loves this and shes soooo picky!
Amazing! It came together beautifully 🙂 I added Taco Seasoning and used non-fat Greek yogurt- will be adding this to our rotation.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this and will be making it again Lenna! A little taco seasoning is a great idea. Thanks so much for the great comments and review!💖
What can you substitute the sour cream for?
Greek yogurt and mayo are typically common sour cream substitutes, (although I haven’t tried those in this recipe).
Three words: O M G! Believe it or not, I veganized this by substituting plant-based ingredients (e.g., Beyond burger, Daiya cheese, etc) and it was a total home run in our household. I decreased the cheese considerably because, to be honest, plant-based cheddar can be gross in large quantities, but a single 8 oz bag was still plenty cheesy. I followed your advice and brought all the ingredients to room temperature and it sure came out creamy. This is pure comfort food here!
wahoooo! I’m so happy to hear such great comments!😍 It’s so cool you were able to veaganize this, thanks so much for sharing that!
This was great! Warm, filling, easy to make, and even though I added diced tomatoes – my five year old still ate it!
That’s so great to hear! I have a 5 year old too and she loves this one. Casseroles are a great way to sneak in foods they wouldn’t normally eat 😆. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
900000 stars I love this recipe! Thank you!
I am so happy to hear that Paula!! Thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it!! -Stephanie
This is addicting! I use the cheese in the big orange box that “melts”. I used instant non fat milk and very lean ground beef and dehydrated onion. Can’t wait to share it with neighbors! Really good for dinner or even lunch.
Thanks so much for the great comments and review Carol! I’m so happy you plan on sharing this with your neighbors. I agree, it makes a great little lunch too. That’s usually what I do with the leftovers! ❤
Made the recipe as written and just doubled it almost didn’t have a pan big enough. Turned out amazing everyone in the house loved it, had lots left over for lunches and it was just as amazing the next day. Will be adding to our regular meal rotation.
I’m so happy everyone loved it Jon! This is always a hit in my family. It’s very kid friendly so that’s always a plus. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and review!❤️