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4.9 from 642 votes

Simple Ground Beef Casserole

This ground beef casserole recipe is super easy to throw together and feeds a crowd! It's comforting and uses simple ingredients.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 538 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound uncooked penne
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups marinara sauce
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position. Grease a 9x13 baking dish (I use Pam spray).
  2. Boil a large, salted pot of water for the penne. Cook it for 10 minutes (it should be slightly underdone so it doesn't get mushy).
  3. Add the oil, beef, and onion to a skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as you go along, for 10 minutes. Once it gets going, stir in the garlic. Spoon out excess fat if needed.
  4. Stir in the marinara sauce and warm through. Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
  5. Drain the pasta and pour it into the baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over top and then toss until it's combined with the pasta. Top with an even layer of the cheese. If you want it extra cheesy, you can stir in an additional half cup of cheese prior to topping it with the rest of the cheese.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes, uncovered, until the cheese is nicely melted. I then broil it for a few minutes (optional) to brown the cheese up a bit. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • This is a very flexible recipe where additions/substitutions/etc. are fine. I have some tips within the blog post.
  • You can also find this recipe in chapter 6 of the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.

Nutrition Information

Calories 538kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 61g (20%) Protein 34g (68%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Cholesterol 77mg (26%) Sodium 551mg (23%) Potassium 674mg (19%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 548IU (11%) Vitamin C 5mg (6%) Calcium 236mg (24%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 538

% Daily Value*

Calories 538kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 61g 20%
Protein 34g 68%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Sodium 551mg 23%
Potassium 674mg 14%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 548IU 11%
Vitamin C 5mg 6%
Calcium 236mg 24%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.