Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

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When the week gets totally crazy and you need dinner on the table without thinking too hard, this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe is my absolute go-to savior. Seriously, this is the definition of comfort food—creamy, cheesy, and so satisfying. I swear, I must have made this dish a hundred times since I first found the recipe card years ago.

What makes this particular casserole shine is how simple the sauce is. We’re talking about using those trusty condensed soups to build a rich, velvety base that coats everything perfectly. It’s the kind of meal where you dump everything together and magic happens in the oven. It’s fast enough for a Tuesday, but delicious enough for company!

Essential Ingredients for Your Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Okay, let’s talk about what you need. This Ground Beef Casserole Recipe relies on pantry staples, which is why I love it so much—no last-minute panic trips to the store! You’ll notice we use two different condensed soups for that amazing creamy flavor. Don’t skip them; they are the backbone of this dish.

Make sure you have everything measured out before you start mixing, because once we get going, things move pretty fast. Here is the exact list of what you need to gather:

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• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups cooked egg noodles
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preparing the Core Components of This Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Before we even think about mixing the sauce, we have to get our main players ready for the oven. The very first step for this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe is getting that beef browned up. Grab a big skillet and toss in your ground beef and that chopped onion. Cook it over medium heat until the beef is totally brown. Now, this is important: make sure you drain off every bit of excess fat! Nobody wants a greasy casserole, right?

While the beef is cooking, if you haven’t already, get those egg noodles boiling. You need 2 cups of noodles that are already cooked before we stir them into the creamy mixture later. If you use dry noodles, trust me, they soak up all the sauce and you end up with a brick instead of a casserole!

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Alright, now that everything is prepped—the beef is drained and the noodles are waiting patiently—it’s time to put this amazing Ground Beef Casserole Recipe together. The actual assembly goes super fast, so have your 9×13 inch baking dish ready to go. I always give mine a quick spray with non-stick, just to be safe!

First things first, get that oven heating up to 375 degrees F (that’s 190 degrees C). We want it nice and hot when this dish goes in.

Mixing and Assembling Your Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

In a big bowl—the biggest one you have—we’re building the sauce for our Ground Beef Casserole Recipe. Whisk together your cream of mushroom soup, the cream of celery soup, the cup of milk, and then add your salt and pepper. Whisk it until it looks smooth and creamy. Don’t worry if it seems a little thin right now; the cheese and noodles will help thicken it up in the oven!

Next, gently fold in that cooked ground beef and onion mixture until everything is coated. Then, carefully stir in your 2 cups of cooked egg noodles. You want to mix this gently so you don’t mush the noodles! Once it’s all combined, pour the whole thing into your greased baking dish. Spread it out evenly so the top is nice and flat for the cheese layer.

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Baking Time and Finalizing the Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

This is the easiest part of the whole Ground Beef Casserole Recipe! Take your cup of shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle it generously and evenly all over the top. I like to make sure the cheese goes right to the edges so we get that glorious bubbly crust.

Pop that dish into your preheated oven. You are looking for a baking time of about 25 to 30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and maybe just starting to turn a light golden brown around the edges. The whole casserole should be heated right through. Seriously, the smell alone is enough to make your mouth water!

Tips for Success with Your Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Listen, this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe is already pretty foolproof, but I have a few little tricks I’ve picked up over the years that just make it even better. The biggest tip is about customization. Don’t feel locked into just mushroom and celery soup! If you have cream of chicken sitting there, throw it in! Mixing and matching those condensed soups is totally fine and adds a fun little twist every time you make it.

Also, think about veggies! This recipe is a perfect base for sneaking in extra nutrition. Frozen peas or corn are my favorite additions. Just toss them in when you mix everything in that big bowl—no need to thaw them first. They’ll cook perfectly in the oven. And finally, if you don’t have egg noodles on hand, don’t panic. Use rotini or even elbow macaroni, but make sure you cook them just shy of *al dente* because they’ll keep cooking in the oven for this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe.

Common Questions About This Easy Dinner Casserole

I get asked the same few things whenever I share this recipe because everyone wants to make sure their first attempt results in perfect Comfort Food. It’s so simple, but a few small details can make a difference between a good casserole and an amazing one. Don’t stress, though—this is designed to be an Easy Dinner!

Here are the little clarifications I always share:

Can I use different types of pasta in this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe?

Absolutely! The recipe calls for egg noodles because they have that lovely soft texture that soaks up the creamy sauce beautifully. However, if you don’t have them, go ahead and use elbow macaroni, rotini, or even shells. Just remember the noodles should be cooked beforehand, and they should be slightly underdone—maybe a minute or two less than the package suggests—because they will continue to cook and soften while the casserole bakes. You don’t want mushy pasta!

How long should you bake the Ground Beef Casserole?

We bake this dish at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). You’re looking for a bake time right around 25 to 30 minutes. Since everything in the casserole is essentially already cooked (the beef, the noodles, and the soups), we are really just heating it through and getting that gorgeous cheese melted and bubbly on top. If your dish seems very cold when it goes in, it might need that full 30 minutes, so just keep an eye on it!

Storing and Reheating Leftover Ground Beef Casserole

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers from this amazing Ground Beef Casserole Recipe, saving them is easy! Once the casserole has cooled down a bit, cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil or transfer any remaining portions into an airtight container. It keeps great in the fridge for about three or four days. That’s a perfect lunch waiting for you!

When you’re ready to eat it again, you have two reheat options. For the best results, cover it loosely with foil and warm it up in a 350-degree oven until it’s heated through. If you’re in a real rush, the microwave works fine, just use shorter bursts and stir halfway through to make sure the center gets warm without drying out the edges.

Estimated Nutritional Data for This Comfort Food Dish

I always tell people this is satisfying Comfort Food, and the numbers back that up! Keep in mind these values are just estimates for this Ground Beef Casserole Recipe based on the ingredients listed. If you use leaner beef or low-fat cheese, the numbers will shift a little bit, so take these as a general guide. For more information on general nutritional guidelines, you can check out resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Per serving, you’re looking at roughly:

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 28g
• Fat: 25g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Sodium: 750mg

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A simple and satisfying ground beef casserole recipe. This dish combines ground beef, pasta, and a creamy sauce for a comforting meal.

• Author: Recipes Deal
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: None

Ingredients

Scale

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups cooked egg noodles
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

INSIDE_INGREDIENTS

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, milk, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir in the cooked ground beef mixture and the cooked egg noodles.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
6. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through.

Notes

• You can substitute other condensed soups for variety.
• Use your favorite type of pasta instead of egg noodles.
• Add frozen peas or corn for extra vegetables.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 750mg
• Fat: 25g
• Saturated Fat: 10g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 75mg