This easy ground beef noodle casserole is a family favorite, made with egg noodles, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, parmesan, and mozzarella.
The whole family will love this casserole dish because it's a classic: egg noodles covered in a meaty red sauce with parmesan and mozzarella. Old-fashioned beef noodle casserole is one of my favorite easy dinner recipes because it's a complete meal all in one.
If you like simple pasta recipes, try one-pot sun-dried tomato pasta or creamy one-pot rigatoni.
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Recipe Highlights
- Easy recipe: An easy casserole recipe, perfect for busy weeknights and Sunday family dinner.
- Simple ingredients: This delicious meal is made with pantry staples.
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Ingredients
- Egg noodles: Wide or extra-wide egg noodles are ribbon-shaped pasta made from egg and flour
- Ground beef: Your preferred ground beef such as regular ground beef, lean ground beef, ground chuck, ground round, and ground sirloin
- Onion: White onion, yellow onion, sweet onion, or red onion, based on preference and availability
- Diced tomatoes: To add some chunky tomatoes to the sauce (do not drain)
- Tomato sauce: The base of the pasta sauce
- Beef broth: Enhances the beefy flavor of the dish
- Basil, oregano, garlic salt, black pepper: To season the pasta and enhance the overall flavor
- Grated Parmesan: Shaker cheese adds a salty and cheesy element
- Shredded mozzarella: Melts into a gooey, stretchy topping
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.
Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions, minus 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion over medium heat until the beef is cooked and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat.
Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic salt, and pepper to the skillet and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Add the cooked noodles to the skillet with the beef and tomato mixture. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until everything is well combined.
Transfer the mixture to the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the mozzarella cheese.
Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Substitutions
- Egg noodles: Medium egg noodles, extra-wide egg noodles, and whole wheat egg noodles will also work! Other pasta like ziti or fettuccine also work (cook until al dente).
- Ground beef: Any ground meat will do the trick: ground Italian sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, plant-based ground meat.
- Chopped onion: White onion, yellow onion, sweet onion, red onion, or shallots.
- Diced tomatoes: Petite diced tomatoes, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, or canned crushed tomatoes. If you do not want a chunky pasta sauce, you can replace this with a second can of tomato sauce.
- Tomato sauce: Jarred marinara sauce will also work, but you may choose to skip the additional seasonings.
- Beef broth: Chicken broth, vegetable broth, mushroom broth.
- Oregano and basil: You can replace one or both of these seasonings with dried Italian seasoning.
- Garlic salt: Substitute with your own blend of garlic powder and salt. Try a little more salt than garlic powder.
- Grated Parmesan cheese: Use shredded parmesan if that's what you have on hand. You can also use Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, and Asiago.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Provolone is my top substitution recommendation, but you can also try Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, or Gouda.
Variations
Vegetarian: Omit ground beef and use plant-based ground meat and vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
Creamy and cheesy: Add 4 ounces of softened cream cheese to the sauce mixture after simmering the sauce. Add an extra cup of mozzarella cheese at the same time as when you mix in the parmesan.
Spicy: Replace ground beef with spicy Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish - To bake the casserole.
- Large pot - To boil the egg noodles.
- Colander - To drain the egg noodles after boiling.
- Large skillet - To brown the ground beef.
- Chef's knife - To dice the onion.
- Cutting board - To dice the onion.
Storage
Leftover hamburger casserole should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, cover the casserole with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. For individual servings, microwave for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring until hot.
When freezing this casserole, the noodles might get a bit softer after reheating. To keep their texture better, undercook them a little before freezing. This helps them not turn too soft when you warm the dish back up. Thaw the frozen casserole overnight in the fridge, or cook an additional 20 minutes from frozen (covered in foil).
Related
Looking for more easy pasta recipes? Try one of these delicious recipes.
Pairings
- Green salad: A fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette or your favorite salad dressing can add a refreshing contrast to the rich casserole.
- Garlic bread: Crispy garlic bread is perfect for soaking up any sauce and adds a nice garlic flavor to your meal.
- Steamed vegetables: Broccoli, green beans, or a medley of seasonal vegetables, lightly steamed, provide a healthy and colorful side.
📖 Recipe
Easy Ground Beef Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounces wide egg noodles
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with the liquid
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190ºC). Lightly spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.
- Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions, minus 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion over medium heat until the beef is cooked and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic salt, and pepper to the skillet and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet with the beef and tomato mixture. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until everything is well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the greased baking dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Safe Temperature: Ground beef should reach a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Cross-Contamination: Separate raw ground beef from other ingredients, utensils, and cutting boards to prevent the spread of bacteria. Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling raw beef.
- Storage: Refrigerate or freeze ground beef promptly after purchase.
Louise says
This recipe is so easy to make and a family favorite 🥰 thanks for sharing Kelsey.
Kelsey Smith says
Very happy to hear you enjoyed it Louise, thanks for stopping back by to leave a rating.