Description
Hearty cheeseburger casserole delivers classic American comfort cuisine in one satisfying pan. Melted cheese, ground beef, and crispy tater tots combine for a crowd-pleasing meal seasoned with nostalgia and guaranteed to satisfy hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) ground beef
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) sharp cheddar, grated
- 8 ounces (226 grams) wide egg noodles
- 1 can (29 oz / 822 grams) diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 tbsp (15 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp (5 milliliters) dried oregano
- 1 ½ tsps (7.5 milliliters) Lawry’s seasoning salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 milliliters) pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and gather all necessary cooking equipment.
- Meat Sautéing: In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, breaking down meat into fine pieces until completely cooked through and no pink remains.
- Flavor Development: Incorporate diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, Lawry’s seasoned salt, and black pepper into the meat. Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Noodle Preparation: Boil noodles in salted water for 8 minutes until achieving perfect al dente texture, then drain thoroughly.
- Mixing Components: Combine cooked noodles with seasoned meat mixture, ensuring complete and even distribution of ingredients throughout the dish.
- Assembling Casserole: Transfer the combined noodle and meat mixture into a lightly greased 8×13 inch baking dish, spreading evenly across the surface.
- Cheese Topping: Generously scatter shredded cheese over the entire casserole, creating a complete coverage layer.
- Final Baking: Place casserole in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese melts completely and develops a light golden-brown crust.
Notes
- Meat Browning Tip: Ensure ground beef is completely browned with no pink spots for food safety and optimal flavor development.
- Noodle Texture Alert: Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushiness, maintaining a perfect bite in the final casserole.
- Cheese Melting Strategy: Spread cheese evenly for uniform melting and golden-brown top that delivers delicious crispy edges.
- Seasoning Balance: Adjust Worcestershire sauce and seasonings to taste, allowing personal preference to shine through the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg