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This mini hamburger casserole is a hearty single serving dinner made with ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s the perfect easy weeknight meal.
Featured Comment
“Awesome dish! Easy to put the few ingredients together too.”
– Jan
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect 30-minute meal for busy weeknights.
- Hearty and Satisfying: Loaded with ground beef, pasta, and melted cheese to deliver a one-dish dinner that really fills you up.
- Budget-Friendly & Family Friendly: Affordable ingredients and an easy formula that works for singles or couples.
- Classic Comfort Food: All the flavor of a cheeseburger baked into a warm, cheesy casserole.
- Fully Customizable: Swap the protein, change the cheese, add vegetables or use gluten-free pasta. This versatile casserole adapts to what you have on hand.
What I love most about this mini hamburger casserole is how comforting and familiar it feels. Whether you call it a hamburger casserole or a hamburger hot dish, it’s the same hearty, satisfying meal made with ground beef, pasta, and a creamy sauce.
I’ve always thought of it as an easy, no fuss dinner that comes together with simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. It’s warm, filling, and perfect for when you want something homemade without much effort.
This hearty hamburger casserole goes great with many of our small batch sides. Enjoy it with a simple tomato salad, sautéed green beans, a small batch of cornbread, or a single serving of tomato soup for a complete and meal.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small hamburger casserole recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Pasta: Use 2 ounces (about ⅔ cup) of uncooked small or medium pasta such as penne, rotini, or shells. Leftovers can be used in chicken paprika for one, mushroom pasta for one, or single serve penne alla vodka.
- Ground beef: Provides hearty flavor. Substitute with ground turkey or a meatless alternative if preferred. Extra ground beef can be used in chili mac for one, single serve baked ziti, or our single serving lasagna recipe.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper bring everything together. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use a mix of basil, oregano, thyme, or rosemary.
- Tomato sauce: Use your favorite jarred or homemade tomato sauce. Leftover sauce works well in lasagna soup for one or eggplant Parmesan for one.
- Sour cream: Adds creaminess. Substitute with Greek yogurt for a lighter option. Use any extra in salisbury steak for one or mini german chocolate cake.
- Cheese: Use any good melting cheese such as mozzarella or cheddar.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations
Looking to switch up your mini hamburger casserole? Try these easy, flavorful variations to make this one-dish ground beef casserole your own.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini when cooking the ground beef for extra flavor, color, and nutrients.
- Make It Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne to the tomato sauce for a little kick.
- Swap the Cheese: Use mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend for a gooey, melty topping.
- Gluten-Free Option: Replace regular pasta with your favorite gluten-free variety.
- Add More Protein: Mix in cooked bacon crumbles or top with crispy fried onions for added crunch and flavor.
How To Make A Small 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: Boil the pasta according to the package directions. 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 any excess fat and transfer to a bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the sour cream, cheese, cooked pasta, and tomato sauce until evenly mixed.
- Assemble and Bake: Lightly grease a small baking dish (5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch), Pour in the mixture, top with extra cheese, and bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Expert Tips
- Use Lean Ground Beef: Choose 90% lean ground beef for rich flavor without too much grease. If using a higher-fat blend, drain it well before mixing.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts smoother and gives your ground beef casserole better texture and flavor than pre-shredded cheese.
- Choose the Right Pasta: Penne is a great choice, but rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni also work perfectly in this easy hamburger casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re essentially the same dish made with ground beef, pasta, and a creamy or tomato-based sauce. “Hot dish” is a regional term often used in the Midwest.
Yes. Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add a few extra minutes of baking time if chilled.
Yes. Double the ingredients and use either two 5×5 inch baking dishes or one 6×8 inch baking dish.
Yes. Cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Small to medium pasta shapes like penne, rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni work best since they hold the sauce and cheese well.
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. Add the ground beef, onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Drain any excess grease and transfer to a medium bowl.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, sour cream, cooked pasta, and ½ cup shredded cheese until evenly mixed.
- Lightly grease a 4×6-inch or 5×5-inch baking dish. Pour in the mixture, sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese on top, and bake for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Use Lean Ground Beef: Choose 90% lean ground beef for rich flavor without too much grease. If using a higher-fat blend, drain it well before mixing.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts smoother and gives your ground beef casserole better texture and flavor than pre-shredded cheese.
- Choose the Right Pasta: Penne is a great choice, but rotini, shells, or elbow macaroni also work perfectly in this easy hamburger casserole.
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.
This is absolutely a wonderful casserole dish, made it for my husband and myself last night and had some nice baked cabbage on the side along with a nice home made chocolate pie for dessert. Must tell you that I also made your lovely tomato soup and that to was delicious.
Thank You so much for this lovely site. There is only my husband and yours truly left, so I am paring down all my recipes. .My two sons are grown and live in other countries with their own families now so they don’t come home to Canada to often. I am 77 years young and my hubby is 85 years young. We are enjoying every bit of retirement.
Once again Thank You again for all your wonderful recipes and all the hard work you put into creating this site.
It’s very much appreciated.
Want to also take the opportunity to wish you and your family the Happiest Christmas ever and a very Blessed Prosperous 2023.
Thank You again from the bottom of my heart.
Muriel
Thank you so much for your very kind words.
Line the dish with parchment paper first and you will have a very simple clean up! It doesn’t have to be neat or pretty, just scrunch it in and the weight of the ingredients will do the rest!
I made this last night for my husband. Over the years – his taste buds have really changed & everything he liked in the past – he doesn’t like any longer.
He commented on this hamburger casserole “as having a really good taste” & said he thoroughly enjoyed.
Fixed with a simple tossed salad and homemade bread.
Thank you, Joanie!! These wonderful recipes for one are a blessing to our small household where each person likes to eat diferently.
I really liked this dish. It was easy to prepare since I had everything I needed on hand. Makes a great lunch or dinner.
I do like this recipe but wanted vegetables in it, so I reduced the penne to 1/2 cup dry and added 1/2 cup of lightly steamed broccoli flowerettes. Courgettes would work also, I think. Thanks for the excellent recipes.
i haven’t made this, but intend to as it looks so easy. i do have a question: my ground beef comes deep frozen. is it okay to thaw it out, portion it into single serving sizes (4 ounces) , and then refreeze it again?
Once ground beef is frozen and thawed it isn’t safe for the meat to be frozen again.
When I get my hamburg home I cook it all then freeze it in portions. I add the frozen hamburg to the pan when I’m cooking the onions, garlic and other ingredients. It defrosts fast and absorbs the other ingredients.
When I make this I’m going to add a small amount of mixed frozen veggies. Looks yummy and healthy.
Loved this recipe. Unfortunately I am 78 years old with multiple health issues that limit my diet. I have kidney disease so I have to limit my sodium, potassium and phosphorus. This recipe is very high in both sodium and potassium so I can only have it rarely. But I have to say it was wonderful. I had kept my sodium and potassium very low for the day so I could enjoy it. It made two servings for me so that also mitigated my counts. Thank you so much for this site.
Hope to make this soon but will make it for two and serve with a side salad.
This recipe is very good! The sour cream gives it a nice creamy flavor. I used mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar but I am sure just about any combination of cheese would work well. 👍
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Liz. Thank you so much for your feedback.