Now that it’s fall and the weather has turned chilly, I’m fully into casserole season. There’s something cozy about turning the oven on and letting the house warm up while dinner cooks. I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about this recipe at first — it’s billed as a casserole that tastes like a summertime grilled cheeseburger, and that sounded unusual.
On my first bite I was surprised at how accurately it captured the components of a cheeseburger. The seasoned beef carries the savory base, while ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, onion, and plenty of cheddar bring familiar burger flavors. The combination worked so well that I went back for seconds. The original version of the recipe included diced pickles — feel free to add them if you love pickles; I left them out because I’m not a fan. For a simple, comforting dinner that’s more exciting than boxed mixes, this casserole is a winner.
Cheeseburger Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 cups (6 oz) uncooked rotini pasta, (spiral pasta)
- 2 tsp canola or vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cups onions, finely chopped (about 1 large onion)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tsp)
- 1 lb lean ground beef, (I used 97/3)
- 1 Tbsp peppercorn steak seasoning
- 6 Tbsp ketchup
- 3 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup dill pickles, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease a 13×9″ pan with cooking spray and set aside.
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Cook the pasta in a large pot according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
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Meanwhile, brown the beef in a large skillet. Drain any excess fat and set the meat aside.
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In the same skillet, heat the oil and sauté the onions for about 10 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
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Return the beef to the skillet and stir in the steak seasoning, ketchup, mustard, diced tomatoes, and cooked pasta. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared pan and sprinkle evenly with shredded cheddar.
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Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through. Serve hot and top with chopped dill pickles if desired.
Notes
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