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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.
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.