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• What Is Ground Beef Casserole?
• Tips for Cooking and Prepping
• Recipe Variations and Substitutes
• What to Serve with Ground Beef Casserole
• Storing, Make-Ahead, and Freezing Tips
• FAQs
• Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

If you’re looking for a one-dish dinner that stretches a single pound of ground beef into eight generous servings, this ground beef casserole is about to become a weeknight regular. It’s cheesy, a little smoky, packed with veggies and pasta, and easy on the grocery bill.

What Is Ground Beef Casserole?

Ground beef casserole is exactly what it sounds like: a comforting, oven-baked mix of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, corn, pasta, and melty cheese, all baked together in one dish until bubbly. It sits somewhere between a chili, a pasta bake, and a Tex-Mex skillet dinner, borrowing the best parts of each.

This particular version gets its flavor from a smoky, slightly spicy homemade seasoning blend (sometimes called Magic Dust), diced tomatoes with green chiles, and a double dose of Mexican-style shredded cheese. It’s the kind of casserole that reheats beautifully and feeds a crowd without requiring a trip to the specialty grocery store.

Tips for Cooking and Prepping

#1: Brown the beef in one pan to save on dishes

Cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper together in the same large skillet you’ll use to simmer the sauce. Fewer pans means less cleanup and more flavor left behind for the sauce to soak up.

#2: Buy a family-size ground beef package and freeze the extra

Ground beef is often cheapest in bulk family packs. Divide it into 1-pound portions when you get home and freeze what you don’t need right away for future casseroles.

#3: Cook your pasta al dente, not soft

Since the pasta bakes again in the oven, cooking it just shy of done keeps it from turning mushy by the time the casserole is finished baking.

#4: Make a big batch of the seasoning blend ahead of time

The Magic Dust seasoning recipe makes far more than you need for one casserole, so mix up the full batch and store it in an airtight container to use on grilled chicken, pork, or burgers all season long.

#5: Swap the bell pepper for whatever’s cheapest

Orange bell pepper adds color, but green pepper is usually the most affordable option at the store and works just as well in this recipe.

#6: Don’t skip the simmer step

Letting the sauce simmer for 15-20 minutes before adding the corn and pasta gives the chili powder and oregano time to fully bloom and deepen in flavor.

Recipe Variations and Substitutes

This casserole is very forgiving, so feel free to adjust it based on what’s in your pantry. Swap the macaroni-style pasta for any small shape you have on hand, use a plain diced tomato can if you want less heat, or stir in black beans or diced zucchini to stretch the recipe even further. Ground turkey or a beef-and-sausage blend can also stand in for the ground beef if that’s what’s on sale.

What to Serve with Ground Beef Casserole

This casserole is a complete meal on its own, but a simple green salad, warm cornbread, or steamed green beans rounds things out nicely. A dollop of sour cream and extra sliced green onions on top add a fresh finishing touch.

Storing, Make-Ahead, and Freezing Tips

Leftovers keep well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days and reheat easily in the microwave or a covered skillet. To freeze, cool the casserole completely, portion it into freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven.

FAQs

Can I make this ground beef casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the casserole up through step 7, cover, and refrigerate for up to a day before baking. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time since it will start out cold.

Can I freeze ground beef casserole?

Absolutely. Let it cool completely, then store it in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven or microwave.

What is Magic Dust seasoning?

Magic Dust is a smoky, slightly spicy homemade seasoning blend made from paprika, salt, sugar, mustard powder, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne. It’s a great substitute for store-bought steak seasoning and works well on grilled meats too.

Can I use a different pasta shape?

Yes, any small pasta shape like shells, ditalini, or elbow macaroni will work well in place of the macaroni-style pasta. Just be sure to cook it al dente since it will finish cooking in the oven.

How do I keep the casserole from drying out?

Make sure the sauce is nice and saucy before adding the pasta, since the pasta will absorb some liquid as it bakes. Covering leftovers tightly when storing also helps keep the casserole moist when reheated.

Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Prep time: 30 min | Cook time: 30 min | Total time: 60 min | Servings: 8

Ingredients

For the Casserole

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced orange bell pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak seasoning or Magic Dust seasoning (see below)
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 10 ounces can Red Gold Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 2 ounces shredded Mexican 4 Cheese blend
• 1 1/2 cups dried macaroni style pasta, cooked al dente
• 1 cup shredded Mexican 4 Cheese blend
• sliced green onions, for garnish

For the Magic Dust Seasoning (makes extra for future use)

• 1/2 cup paprika
• 1/4 cup finely ground Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons mustard powder
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1/4 cup ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup granulated dried garlic
• 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a two-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper, and red pepper flakes. Season with 1 teaspoon of Magic Dust or Montreal Steak seasoning.
3. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, oregano, and chili powder, and bring to a gentle boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
5. Stir in the frozen corn and simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the 2 ounces of shredded cheese until melted.
6. Gently stir in the cooked pasta.
7. Pour everything into the prepared casserole dish and top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
8. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.
9. Garnish with sliced green onions before serving, if desired.
10. For the Magic Dust seasoning: mix all seasoning ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Keep some in a shaker bottle for seasoning grilled meats too.

The Magic Dust seasoning recipe makes much more than you need for this casserole, so save the rest in an airtight container for burgers, chicken, or grilled veggies.