Here’s a rich, comforting Ultimate Cheeseburger Casserole—all the flavors of a loaded cheeseburger in one easy baked dish 🍔🧀
🧀🍔 Ultimate Cheeseburger Casserole
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
Ingredients
Meat Layer
- 1½ lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Casserole Base
- 2 cups cooked pasta (elbow, rotini, or shells) or
- 3 cups diced cooked potatoes (for a potato version)
Cheese Sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Colby Jack
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese (optional but very creamy)
Toppings (optional but “ultimate”)
- ½ cup cooked bacon bits
- Pickles, chopped (add after baking)
- Sesame seeds (for bun flavor)
- Extra cheese for topping
Instructions
1. Preheat oven
- Preheat to 375°F (190°C)
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish
2. Cook the beef
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until browned.
- Drain excess grease.
- Add garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and mustard.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes.
3. Make it creamy
- Lower heat and stir in:
- Milk
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
- Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in half of the shredded cheese.
4. Assemble
- Stir cooked pasta or potatoes into the beef mixture.
- Spread evenly into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese and bacon bits on top.
5. Bake
- Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- Optional: Broil 2–3 minutes for extra cheesy browning.
6. Serve
- Let rest 5 minutes.
- Top with chopped pickles, sesame seeds, or a drizzle of burger sauce if desired.
⭐ Tips & Variations
- Low-carb: Use cauliflower instead of pasta or potatoes
- Spicy: Add diced jalapeños or pepper jack cheese
- Big Mac style: Drizzle with Thousand Island dressing before serving
- Extra cheesy: Add cheese between layers
If you want, I can also give you:
- 🥔 Cheeseburger Potato Casserole
- 🥓 Bacon Cheeseburger Version
- 🧄 Garlic Butter Cheeseburger Bake
Just tell me!