4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole
4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole is a fuss-free weeknight dinner, made with ground beef, pasta shells, condensed tomato soup, and shredded cheese. Just mix everything together, top with cheese, and bake until bubbly. No complicated steps or long ingredient list. It is budget friendly, kid approved, and easy to mix up the flavors. Perfect for busy nights and picky eaters, it comes together in about 45 minutes and serves 8.
If you are hunting for an easy dinner, stop right here, because this is the one. Just four ingredients (ground beef, pasta shells, canned tomato soup, and plenty of cheese) bake together to make a dinner the whole family will eat.
No long grocery list, no fancy steps, just dinner on the table fast. That’s what we all need, right?
When everyone is running in different directions and I need something quick, this fills everyone up with no complaints.
That pound of ground beef in the freezer is ready when you are. You can also use it to make my Hamburger Gravy or Grandma’s Ground Beef Casserole.
More Easy Ground Beef Dinners
- Homemade Hamburger Helper – one pan weeknight dinner
- Philly Cheesesteak Tater Tot Casserole – loaded cheesy bake
- Salisbury Steak Casserole – ground beef, savory mushroom gravy
- Lazy Enchiladas – no rolling, cheesy enchilada bake
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Condensed Tomato Soup – This shortcut is what makes this super easy. You can always swap it out for your favorite tomato sauce. The soup is easy because it has a little sweetness and thickens as a sauce should.
Pasta Shells – Medium shells hold the sauce and cheese perfectly. Use a medium shaped pasta that holds the sauce like the shells do. Rotini is a great substitute and you can use gluten free pasta too.
Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef so you don’t have to drain it too much. Substitute your favorite ground sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Toss in a little Italian seasoning while you brown it for more flavor.
Shredded Cheese – Most recipes use cheddar cheese but I like to mix in some mozzarella to tame down the flavor and it melts really well! Grate your own from a block so it melts better.
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How To Make 4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Cook the pasta shells in salted water to al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Drain the excess fat if you prefer.
- In the skillet or a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, both cans of tomato soup, 1/2 cup water, and half the cheese. Stir to combine.
- Pour into the prepared dish and top with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it sit 2 to 3 minutes, season with salt and pepper if desired, and serve.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat: You can warm this back up in the oven or the microwave but unless they are covered they can dry out a little bit. I like to reheat mine in a skillet and I add a little extra broth or sauce.
Freezer: Assemble the casserole, wrap tightly or store in an airtight container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw before baking as you normally would. If you’re freezing it, I would cook the pasta a little less because it can get soft after you thaw it.
Make Ahead: Assemble it earlier in the day and refrigerate until you are ready to bake for an even faster dinner.
Variations
Add Veggies: Sneak in diced green pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, or onion when you brown the ground beef. Toss in some garlic too!
Flavor Boost: Mix a splash of Worcestershire in the ground beef to add more beef flavor.
Spicy: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the sauce, or use a spicy tomato sauce for a little kick.
Different Seasoning: Stir a spoonful of my Homemade Italian Seasoning into the ground beef. You can also stir in some taco seasoning and use a Mexican cheese blend and make it on Taco Tuesday!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, because there isn’t enough moisture in the casserole to cook the noodles. Just be sure to undercook it (make it al dente) before you add to the mixture. This keeps it from getting too mushy when it bakes.
Yes. Use tomato sauce, or tomato sauce mixed with a little brown sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Diced tomatoes work in a pinch, but the sauce will be thin. I like to add more cheese.
Absolutely. Assemble it and refrigerate until ready to bake, or freeze it for up to 2 months.
Use the reserved pasta water for a creamier casserole, and if leftovers seem dry, stir in a little more sauce or a splash of beef broth when you reheat it.
Yes! Ground turkey is a great substitute, just like Italian sausage or ground chicken. Just add in your favorite seasoning if you need more flavor.
Definitely. Double the ingredients and use a larger dish or two pans. You might need to bake it longer if you use a really large or deep dish.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use extra lean ground beef so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Cook the pasta just to al dente since it keeps baking in the oven.
- Save 1/2 cup of pasta water for a creamier casserole.
- Shred your own cheese so it melts better.
- Try different seasonings to add more flavor.
This 4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole recipe is cheesy, hearty, and about as easy as dinner gets. Make it on your next busy weeknight and watch the whole family clean their plates!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 21.5 ounces condensed tomato soup (2 cans)
- 1 pound pasta shells cooked al dente
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 cups shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. (Cook al dente or firm to the bite). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water for later if needed.
- In a large skillet, while pasta is cooking, brown 1 pound ground beef over medium high heat until there is no more pink.
- Remove from the pan and drain if desired.
- To the skillet, or a large bowl if the skillet isn't big enough, add the pasta, two cans of tomato soup, ½ cup water, and half the shredded cheese.
- Stir to combine.
- Pour into the prepared dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and return to oven.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
- Remove and serve.
Notes
- Use extra lean ground beef so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Cook the pasta just to al dente since it keeps baking in the oven.
- Save 1/2 cup of pasta water for a creamier casserole.
- Shred your own cheese so it melts better.
- If you top it with foil while it bakes, spray the underside of the foil to keep the cheese from sticking.
- Try different seasonings to add more flavor.
Nutrition
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