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Craving a quick and comforting meal? This easy mini hamburger casserole is perfect for one or two! It’s a classic, one-dish recipe with all the familiar flavors of a hamburger – seasoned ground beef, rich tomato sauce, pasta, and melted cheese – baked together for the ultimate comfort food experience.
This hearty hamburger casserole pairs beautifully with a variety of our small batch sides. Enjoy it with a fresh tomato salad, tender sautéed green beans, a slice of rich, buttery cornbread, or a cozy bowl of tomato soup for a complete and satisfying meal.
Why You’ll Love This Hamburger Casserole Recipe
- Easy to Prepare: With just a few basic steps, this dish comes together quickly.
- Versatile: The recipe can be customized to cater to your dietary preferences or to what you have in your pantry.
- Hearty and Filling: This casserole is a satisfying, balanced meal that hits the spot.
- Perfect Portion: Crafted for one, this recipe saves you from dealing with leftovers.
- Classic Flavors: The beloved taste of a hamburger is amplified in this comfort dish.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small hamburger casserole recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Pasta: Use your favorite type of small to medium-shaped pasta in this hamburger casserole. I used 2 ounces of uncooked penne pasta which is about 2/3 cup. If you’ve got a little pasta leftover, consider using it in Chicken Paprika, Mushroom Pasta, or Penne alla Vodka.
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this mini hamburger casserole recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It’s my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
- Ground beef: I use ground beef but you can substitute with ground turkey or a meatless alternative for a different spin. Leftover ground beef can be used in Chili Mac, Baked Ziti, or Lasagna.
- Vegetables: Chopped onions and garlic add lots of flavor.
- Seasonings: We recommend using Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. The main herbs found in Italian seasoning are basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use one or two of these herbs instead.
- Tomato sauce: Use your favorite jarred brand of tomato or marinara sauce, or make a small batch of homemade tomato sauce instead. Any leftover tomato sauce can be used in Lasagna Soup or Eggplant Parmesan.
- Sour cream: This makes the casserole extra creamy. For a lighter version, you can use Greek yogurt instead. Consider using extra sour cream in our Salisbury Steak or mini German Chocolate Cake recipes!
- Cheese: Any type of melting cheese works well, like mozzarella or cheddar.
Are hamburger casserole and hamburger hotdish the same thing? Yes, this hamburger casserole is a variation of hamburger hotdish! Both dishes are hearty casseroles made with ground beef, pasta, vegetables, and a creamy sauce. Hamburger hotdish is a regional name for this type of casserole, particularly popular in the Midwest of the United States.
Recipe Variations
- Veggie Boost: Mix in chopped bell peppers or mushrooms with the ground beef for an added serving of vegetables.
- Spice It Up: Add some chili flakes to the tomato sauce for a little heat.
- Cheese Swap: Experiment with different kinds of cheese to switch up the flavor.
- Gluten-Free: Substitute regular pasta with a gluten-free option for a gluten-sensitive diet.
How To Make Hamburger Casserole For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a mini hamburger casserole. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
- In a medium-sized skillet, cook the ground beef along with the onions, garlic, and seasonings over medium-high heat. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
- Stir in the sour cream, cheese, pasta, and sauce.
- Pour into a small lightly greased baking dish, top with a little extra cheese, and bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Expert Tips
- Choose Lean Ground Beef: Choose 90% lean ground beef, which offers a balance of taste and reduced grease. This beef has only 10% fat, ensuring flavor without excessive oiliness. If you use a higher fat content beef, remember to drain it on a paper towel-lined plate after cooking to remove excess grease.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: For the best melting quality, shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain preservatives that prevent optimal melting, affecting the texture and taste of your casserole.
- Pasta Flexibility: Feel free to use any pasta you have in your pantry. While penne is suggested, this recipe is versatile enough to work well with various pasta shapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the photos shown, we are using a 4.75 x 7-inch baking dish. This recipe also works in a 5×5-inch baking dish which has an area of 25 square inches. For best results, use a dish of similar size. All of these dishes can be found on our Store page.
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
Yes. If you’d like to make a larger casserole, double the ingredient amounts and use either a 6×8 inch baking dish or a 6.5×6.5 inch square baking dish.
All the dishes we use and recommend can be found on our store page.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze a small hamburger casserole by placing it in an airtight container and keeping it in your freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in a 350F oven or microwave until hot.
Yes, you can prepare the casserole, refrigerate, and bake it within 3 days.
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 tried this mini hamburger casserole or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section 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 (2/3 cup)
- 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 package directions, drain and set aside.
- Heat oven to 350° F (177° C).
- In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil 30 seconds. Add ground beef, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking the ground beef up with a spoon or spatula until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Drain and transfer ground beef and vegetables to a medium-sized bowl.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, sour cream, cooked pasta, and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese.
- Pour into a baking dish lightly greased with butter or oil. Top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Notes
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.