5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole

Introduction

A 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole is the ultimate answer for anyone craving a hearty, home-cooked meal without the hassle of a complicated recipe. With just a handful of pantry staples, this casserole delivers comfort food flavor in under an hour, making it a lifesaver for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.

Effortless Flavor with Just 5 Ingredients

This recipe stands out for its simplicity and adaptability. It combines ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, cheese, and seasoning blend for a dinner that’s both satisfying and incredibly easy to throw together. Each bite is packed with savory notes and melty cheese, guaranteeing family members of all ages will ask for seconds. It’s a classic crowd-pleaser that turns bare-minimum ingredients into maximum flavor.

Choosing the Right Ingredients

Go for a high-quality ground beef to add richness to the dish. A tubular or bite-sized pasta, such as penne or rotini, will capture more sauce and enhance the texture. Use your favorite jarred marinara or tomato sauce for convenience—its seasonings will help build robust flavor with minimal effort. Finally, meltable cheeses like mozzarella or cheddar deliver that irresistible gooey topping. If desired, a store-bought Italian seasoning blend rounds out the casserole with aromatic herbs and spices.

Assembly Made Simple

Quickly brown the ground beef, mix it with cooked pasta and tomato sauce, then finish in the oven with a generous layer of cheese. That’s it—no need for complicated layering or extra prep. This straightforward assembly makes it easy to double the recipe for leftovers or a freezer-friendly meal.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole hot out of the oven, garnished with chopped parsley or fresh basil for color and freshness. It pairs well with a crisp green salad or steamed broccoli, and a side of garlic bread makes it a cozy, filling meal.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields approximately 6 hearty servings. Each serving contains about 400 to 500 calories, depending on your specific beef and cheese choices. It’s a balanced meal that provides protein, carbohydrates, and fats for steady energy.

5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole (Recap)

5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole delivers family-pleasing flavor and simplicity, transforming a handful of ingredients into a bubbly, cheesy classic. Its quick prep and easy customization make it a must-have in any meal planner’s rotation.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
3. While the beef cooks, boil the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
4. Combine cooked pasta, browned beef, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning in a large mixing bowl. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
7. Let cool for a few minutes, then garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Weekly Meal Planning

This 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole is perfect for adding to your meal prep rotation. Save and schedule this recipe to decide which night to serve it, and automatically generate comprehensive shopping lists for all your weekly meals.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates ingredient totals across multiple recipes
– Groups grocery items by store section for faster trips
– Eliminates duplicate purchases and ensures nothing is left off your list
– Streamlines weekly meal prep and keeps your meals organized

Pro tip: When planning several meals, schedule recipes together so overlapping ingredients are consolidated. If you’re making two beef-based recipes, CookifyAI will add up the total ground beef needed, minimizing food waste and extra shopping trips.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes