The week before last, our family was completely down for the count with the stomach bug. For days, food was the last thing on our minds. But as we finally started feeling human again, all we wanted was something hearty, comforting, and easy to make—with ingredients I already had on hand.
This simple hamburger casserole was just the thing.
With only four basic ingredients (plus seasonings of your choice), it came together quickly and hit the spot. Here’s how I made it:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef (I like organic grass-fed when it’s on sale at Kroger)
- 1 cup dry pasta (whole wheat, chickpea, or lentil varieties work great)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 12-13 oz pasta sauce (half of a 25 oz jar—my favorite is Simple Truth Organic Tomato Basil from Kroger)
- Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning
Instructions:
- Brown the beef: In a cast iron skillet (or a regular frying pan), brown the ground beef over medium heat, seasoning as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess grease.
- Cook the pasta: While the beef is cooking, boil 1 cup of dry pasta according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water.
- Combine: Stir the drained pasta, reserved pasta water, ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, and pasta sauce into the skillet with the beef. Mix well.
- Top & Bake: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top. If using a cast iron skillet, you can place it directly in the oven. Otherwise, transfer the mixture to a baking dish.
- Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
And that’s it—a healthy-ish, budget-friendly, deeply satisfying comfort meal.
(And this picture is taken on a paper plate, because, real life. I want to try my best to share my real, non-Pinterested life with you guys. This meal tasted great even if it wasn't the most amazingly crafted photo.)
This casserole is so simple and customizable. You can add in some veggies (red onion, zucchini, eggplant, and green pepper would be some of my go-to's here), swap the cheese, or play around with different seasonings. You could even use salsa instead of spaghetti sauce and cheddar instead of mozzarella and go for a more Mexican style flavor. But as-is, it’s just about as cheap, easy, and cozy as it gets.
So, if you ever find yourself coming back from a rough week (or just need a no-fuss dinner), give this one a try!
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