Description
This Cheesy Beef & Macaroni Casserole is the ultimate comfort food dinner! Tender elbow macaroni is baked with seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, and layers of gooey melted cheese until hot and bubbly. Hearty, cheesy, and satisfying, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, potluck gatherings, or feeding a hungry family with minimal effort!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound 450 g ground beef
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups 200 g elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g tomato sauce)
- 1 can (14.5 oz / 411 g diced tomatoes, undrained)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups 200 g shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 cup 100 g shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for cooking beef)
- Fresh parsley (chopped (for garnish, optional))
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente (slightly firm). Drain and set aside.
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add Aromatics & Sauce: Stir in onion and garlic; cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 5–7 minutes to blend flavors.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the drained macaroni into the beef mixture and stir well to coat.
- Assemble the Casserole: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the beef-pasta mixture in the dish, sprinkle with half the cheddar cheese. Add remaining mixture, then top with mozzarella and the rest of the cheddar.
- Bake: Place uncovered in the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
Can be prepped ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to 3 months. For variety, ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of beef.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 1050 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: cheesy beef macaroni casserole, pasta bake, comfort food, family dinner, beef and macaroni