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This single serving hamburger casserole is a hearty, cheesy dish made with seasoned ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. Baked until warm and bubbly, it delivers all the flavors of a classic hamburger in a comforting, meal perfectly portioned for one. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s perfect for an easy dinner without leftovers.
This hearty hamburger casserole goes great with many of our small batch sides. Enjoy it with a simple tomato salad, sautéed green beans, buttery cornbread, or tomato soup for a complete and meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Simple steps make this casserole easy to put together.
- Hearty and Satisfying: A balanced meal with plenty of flavor.
- Classic Comfort Food: Everything you love about a hamburger in a warm, cheesy casserole.
- Perfectly Portioned: Made for one, but can easily be doubled to make a hamburger casserole for two.
Hamburger casserole and hamburger hot dish are essentially the same—both are hearty dishes made with ground beef, pasta, and a creamy sauce. “Hotdish” is just a regional name, especially in the Midwest. I’ve always thought of it as an easy, no-fuss dinner that’s great for using up ingredients I already have on hand.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small hamburger casserole recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Pasta: Use your favorite small to medium-shaped pasta. I use 2 ounces of uncooked penne, about 2/3 cup. Leftover pasta can be used in Chicken Paprika, Mushroom Pasta, or Penne alla Vodka.
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil for its rich flavor and quality, but a lighter olive oil works too.
- Ground beef: Adds heartiness to the casserole. You can swap it with ground turkey or a meatless alternative. Extra ground beef can be used in Chili Mac, Baked Ziti, or Lasagna.
- Vegetables: Chopped onions and garlic bring depth and flavor.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper enhance the dish. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use a mix of basil, oregano, thyme, or rosemary.
- Tomato sauce: Use your favorite jarred tomato or marinara sauce, or make a small batch of homemade tomato sauce. Leftover sauce can go into Lasagna Soup or Eggplant Parmesan.
- Sour cream: Makes the casserole creamy. Greek yogurt works as a lighter option. Use extra in Salisbury Steak or mini German Chocolate Cake.
- Cheese: Any melting cheese works well, like mozzarella or cheddar.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few ways to customize this casserole to suit your taste:
- Add Vegetables: Stir in chopped bell peppers or mushrooms when cooking the ground beef for extra flavor and texture.
- Make It Spicy: Add chili flakes to the tomato sauce for a little heat.
- Change the Cheese: Try using mozzarella, cheddar, or a mix of your favorites.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
How To Make Hamburger Casserole
These step-by-step instructions will guide you through making an individual hamburger casserole. For ingredient amounts and full details, see the recipe card below.
- Cook the Pasta: Follow the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onions, garlic, and seasonings until the beef is browned. Drain the excess fat and transfer the mixture to a bowl.
- Mix the Ingredients: Stir in the sour cream, cheese, cooked pasta, and tomato sauce until well combined.
- Assemble and Bake: Lightly grease a small baking dish (I use a 5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch), pour in the mixture, and sprinkle extra cheese on top. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Expert Tips
- Use Lean Ground Beef: I recommend 90% lean ground beef for great flavor with less grease. If using higher-fat beef, drain it well to avoid excess oil.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that affect melting. For the best texture and taste, shred your own.
- Pasta Options: While penne works well, you can use any small to medium pasta you have on hand..
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Assemble the casserole, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, allow it to come to room temperature and bake.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Yes. Double the ingredients and use either two 5×5 inch baking dishes or one 6×8 inch baking dish.
Yes, you can freeze it before or after baking. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve made this single serve hamburger casserole recipe or any recipe from One Dish Kitchen, let me know by leaving a rating and a comment below!
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Hamburger Casserole For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dried penne pasta (⅔ cup uncooked – 1 ¼ cup cooked)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 ounces ground beef
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons shredded sharp cheddar cheese -for topping
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a 10-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat for about 30 seconds. Add the ground beef, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until fully browned and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Drain any excess grease and transfer the mixture to a medium bowl.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, sour cream, cooked pasta, and ½ cup of shredded cheese until well combined.
- Lightly grease a 4×6 or 5×5 inch baking dish with butter or oil. Pour in the mixture and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm.
Notes
- Use Lean Ground Beef: I recommend 90% lean ground beef for great flavor with less grease. If using higher-fat beef, drain it well to avoid excess oil.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that affect melting. For the best texture and taste, shred your own.
- Pasta Options: While penne works well, you can use any small to medium pasta you have on hand.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Casserole was excellent. My wife is on a very restricted vegan ish diet ( diverticulitis ). More
meatless meals would be great.
Really enjoy your site!! Have shared with my older widowed sister. Hamburger casserole in oven…
so can’t rate yet. Going to try your lemon curd recipe tomorrow..
Thank you so much for sharing our site. Hope you enjoy the recipes!
So good!! Had no cheddar so I used mozzarella. Put provolone on top. Will definitely make again!!!
Just made this tonight and it really was very tasty& so quick to make.. Will definitely be making again.. I only added two things.. 2tablespoons of sweetcorn stirred through the mix & some parmesan scattered over the top of the cheese…
I also cooked it in my Ninja on Airfry at 170c for about 16 minutes, and it came out great..( I just kept checking to see how it was coming along, as I’d set timer for 20mins) ….. Anyway Joanie.. another great recipe..๐ Thanks….๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
I’m so happy you enjoyed the casserole, Lorna. Thank you for your feedback, especially on how you used your air fryer – this will be very helpful to many.
First of all..Happy Easter๐ฃ๐Joanie…
I am having this for tea tomo night..
Can I sub Greek yoghurt (I could thin it down slightly with a wee bit milk?) as I don’t have any sour cream….
( I still haven’t gotten round to making your chicken& rice casserole yet, because I keep coming across other equally delicious& easy dishes of yours..)
I did say in one of my earlier comments a while back, that I was spoilt for choice, and how right I was I, as the more I check out your fantastic variety of recipes it really is difficult to finally decide which one to make!!๐.. I so wish I had discovered your amazing website long before this…๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Hi Lorna, Happy Easter to you too! It makes me so happy to know you are enjoying our recipes. Yes, Greek yogurt is an excellent substitute for sour cream, and no need to dilute it with milk. Enjoy!
This dish is scrumptious! I had some chickpea pasta (never had it before) so I used that and added a 4-ounce drained can of mushrooms to cook with the meat and vegetable mixture. I found this to be a generous portion so I will have half later for lunch this week. Delicious!
Awesome dish! Easy to put the few ingredients together too.