Monday, February 23, 2026

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 excellent 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 platedcookbook author erin clarke of well plated

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

And truthfully? This is perhaps the improve we didn’t know we wanted.

It checks all probably the most crucial burger bins: savory floor beef, sharp cheddar, somewhat mustardy tang, even pickles in the event you’re into that type 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 desire a sink filled with dishes staring again at me. It delivered in an enormous approach. Creamy. Tacky. ALL the consolation meals vibes.

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

  • 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 preserve it creamy with out heavy cream or canned soup.
  • One Pot. Which implies fewer dishes to scrub. At all times 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.A pot of cheeseburger casserole with ground beef and sauce, topped with sliced green onions, sits on a wooden table.

Key Components

You’ll discover the complete record of components within the recipe card under, however listed here are some notes to bear in mind.

  • Yellow Onion. Prepare dinner it low and sluggish till it’s golden and mushy.
  • Lean Floor Beef. 93% lean is wealthy and savory with out extra grease. In the event you use one thing fattier, you might want to empty it.
  • Tomato Paste. A small quantity provides huge umami depth. Let it prepare 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.
  • Complete Wheat Rotini (or Elbow Pasta). I really like complete 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 offers probably the most taste.
  • Dill Pickles. Non-obligatory, however extremely inspired.
  • Inexperienced Onion. A little bit recent chunk to complete issues off.

Recipe Variations

  • Make It Bacon Cheeseburger Type. Prepare 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 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.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, complete 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 scorching sauce
  • 4 cups diminished sodium beef broth
  • 8 ounces complete wheat rotini noodles or elbow or related brief pasta
  • ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese yellow if doable
  • 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 prepare dinner till the onion turns brown and mushy, 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, about 6 minutes.

  • If there’s extra fats, rigorously drain it away, leaving somewhat 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. Prepare dinner and stir for 1 full minute, so the paste is effectively integrated and might caramelize a bit. Stir within the scorching sauce and Dijon.

  • Gently pour within the beef broth, utilizing a wood spoon or sturdy spatula to scrape up any browned bits caught to the pan. Convey the broth to a boil over medium-high warmth.

  • As soon as boiling, add the pasta and prepare dinner till al dente based on bundle 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 components are effectively mixed.

  • Stir in half of the inexperienced onion, then sprinkle the remaining inexperienced onion on high. Take pleasure in scorching.

  • 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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