This ground beef casserole is both easy and delicious.

Seasoned meat, sauce, noodles, and three kinds of cheese are layered in a casserole dish and baked until bubbly!

It’s perfect to prep ahead, and it reheats and freezes well!

baked ground beef casserole in a dish with a spoon

You’ll Love This Ground Beef Casserole Because…

  • It’s budget-friendly and a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef!
  • My easy, cheesy recipe has lots of flavor and it’s easy to make.
  • This ground beef casserole recipe is versatile; add your favorite vegetables or even beans.
  • Prep ahead and bake before serving. Just like chili or meatloaf, it’s just as good (or even better) the next day!
ingredients to make Ground Beef Casserole with labels

Ingredients for Ground Beef Casserole

Almost lasagna-like in flavor, this family favorite uses ingredients you likely have on hand.

  • Meat: I use lean ground beef, but you can also use Italian sausage or ground turkey.
  • Pasta: Choose hearty noodles with twists or ridges to grab the sauce.
  • Sauce: Use your fave pasta sauce (I love this brand) with a can of whole tomatoes. You can also use canned diced tomatoes, but I find whole tomatoes have a better consistency.
  • Cheese: I combine use cottage cheese and sour cream for a double dose of creamy goodness. Replace the cottage cheese with ricotta cheese. Parmesan and mozzarella add flavor. You can add any cheese blend or even cheddar cheese in place.

Variations

  • Add almost any veggie you’d like to the sauce (try zucchini or bell peppers). Add it to the skillet once the meat has browned and cook until tender before adding the sauce ingredients.
  • Egg noodles work well in this recipe, too.
process of adding ingredients to pan to make Ground Beef Casserole

How to Make Ground Beef Casserole

This pasta bake is easy to make.

  1. Brown Beef: In a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion, & garlic.
  2. Prep Sauce: Add whole tomatoes, pasta sauce, and seasonings and simmer until thickened.
  3. Prep Cheese Layer: Combine sour cream, cottage cheese, egg, basil, remaining parsley, and parmesan.
  4. Bake: Layer the pasta, cheese mixture, and ground beef mixture in a baking dish. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly.

Serve this pasta casserole with a big piece of cornbread or crusty bread for sopping up any sauce.

a plate of ground beef casserole

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover ground beef casserole covered in the fridge for up to 4 days (if it lasts that long)! Reheat in the microwave (or oven) for meals throughout the week.

Freeze the entire casserole before or after baking. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as directed above. If the casserole is cold fr the fridge, you may need to add extra cooking time.

serving ground beef casserole in a dish with a spoon

More Ground Beef Casserole Recipes

Casseroles are truly the ultimate comfort food and these easy casserole recipes will hit the spot!

Did your family love this Ground Beef Casserole? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

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serving ground beef casserole in a dish with a spoon
4.98 from 34 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Ground Beef Casserole

This homemade casserole is loaded with ground beef, pasta, and 3 different kinds of cheese in a flavorful tomato sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8
Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

an empty white 9x13 inch baking dish
9 x 13-inch Casserole Dish
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Ingredients  

Meat Sauce

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 large white onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 15 ounces pasta sauce or tomato sauce
  • 28 ounces canned whole tomatoes with juices
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley plus more for garnish if desired

Other

  • 12 ounces medium pasta such as rotini or penne
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or more to taste

Instructions 

  • Cook beef, onion, and garlic in a large deeps skillet until no pink remains. Drain fat.
  • Break up the canned tomatoes with your hands. Add (including the juices) to the ground beef along with pasta sauce, sugar, and Italian seasoning.
  • Simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in half of the parsley, taste, and season with salt & pepper.
  • Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain, do not rinse.
  • Mix sour cream, cottage cheese, egg, basil, remaining parsley, and grated parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
  • Add a thin layer of sauce to the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
  • Layer half of the pasta, top with all sour cream mixture, the remaining pasta and the meat sauce.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese and cover.
  • Bake 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Keep leftover ground beef casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
4.98 from 34 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 419 | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 750mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 758IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Casserole, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Ground Beef Casserole on a plate and dish full in the back with a title
plated Ground Beef Casserole with a title
cooked Ground Beef Casserole in the pan with a spoon and writing
Ground Beef Casserole cooked in the pan and plated with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  3. This casserole is delicious! I added mushrooms to the meat sauce, as well as an Italian sausage. I just ate the last of it – had it four nights in a row, and enjoyed it just as much this last time!!

    I’ve made several of your recipes, and have never been disappointed! Thank you!5 stars

    Reply

  5. Recently retired and cooking my way through your wonderful site. This is hubs favorite and it’s delicious and easy. Portioned smaller servings and froze. Numerous meals out of the freezer and even a meal sent to a neighbor recovering from surgery who also loved and it made her several meals. Your recipes use inexpensive, everyday ingredients, incredibly delicious and are so easy to make. Notice I used the word “easy” twice. Thanks for making cooking fun, and affordable, again, Christine5 stars

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for the kind words Christine! I am so glad you have been enjoying the recipes!

      Reply

  6. Trying this recipe for the first time I’m on a fixed budget the ingredients cost me 28$ hopefully I can have a few meals out of it but it smells delicious in the oven4 stars

    Reply

  7. Awesome recipe! I added some left over roast beef and stew meat and Italian sausage…so had extra sauce after making the casserole so added cream to the left over meat sauce-Devine! Thank you for all your recipes…love them so much5 stars

    Reply