4-Ingredient Hamburger Casserole

This 4-Ingredient Hamburger Casserole is the ultimate easy weeknight meal, bringing together savory ground beef, tender pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce, all baked under a gooey blanket of cheese. It’s a comforting, family-friendly dish that’s incredibly simple to prepare with minimal ingredients.

4-Ingredient Hamburger Casserole

Ingredients

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven & Prep Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the medium shell pasta according to package directions until it’s al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set it aside.
3. Brown Ground Beef: While the pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks until no longer pink. Season the beef as you like; simple salt and pepper, seasoned salt, or garlic powder all work well. Drain any excess grease from the cooked beef.
4. Combine Ingredients in Dish: In the prepared baking dish, combine the browned ground beef, both cans of tomato soup, the cooked pasta, and 1/2 cup of water. Stir everything together until well combined. Stir in half of both the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses into the mixture.
5. Bake (Covered): Top the casserole with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
6. Finish Baking: Remove the foil and continue to bake for 10 more minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden. If you prefer a darker, crispier cheese topping, you can broil it for 2-3 minutes at the very end, watching carefully to prevent burning.

This 4-Ingredient Hamburger Casserole is a complete meal on its own, perfect for those nights when you need something quick and satisfying. What’s your go-to easy weeknight dinner when you’re short on ingredients?