Hamburger Casserole Baked Cheese (Print Version)
Ground beef, macaroni, tomato sauce, and cheese come together for a classic family-friendly baked dish.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Components
01 -
1 pound ground beef
02 -
1 small onion, diced
03 -
1 red or green bell pepper, diced
04 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
05 -
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
06 -
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
07 -
1 can (14.5 ounces) fire roasted diced tomatoes
08 -
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
09 -
Kosher salt, to taste
10 -
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
11 -
1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
12 -
1 cup finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
# Steps:
01 -
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
02 -
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly.
03 -
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Halfway through browning, add diced onion and bell pepper. Continue cooking until the vegetables are soft and the beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
04 -
Reduce skillet heat to low. Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1 minute while stirring continuously.
05 -
Add tomato sauce, fire roasted diced tomatoes, and cooked macaroni to the skillet. Stir to combine and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
06 -
Transfer the beef mixture into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with a mixture of shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
07 -
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 minutes more, or until the cheese is fully melted and the casserole is bubbling.
# Notes:
01 -
Allow the casserole to rest for several minutes after baking to enhance flavor and slicing.