There are plenty of ways to enjoy the familiar flavors of a cheeseburger besides in between a bun. Take the cheeseburger chowder for instance, a quick and easy meal that uses shredded cheese to make the soup thick and creamy. Or a cheeseburger pie with a biscuit crust that's topped with ground beef, cheese, and tomatoes. Cheeseburger casserole falls into this wonderful category of comfort food. This casserole has every flavor element you would find in a cheeseburger including ketchup, mustard and dill pickle. Seasoned ground beef is combined with onions, potatoes and whole wheat pasta before being topped with a mountain of cheddar cheese and baked in the oven. Your family will love this new take on this classic American meal.
Cheeseburger Casserole
2 cups (6 ounces) uncooked whole wheat fusili pasta
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cups onions, finely chopped
2 garlic clove, finely minced
1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups cubed frozen potatoes
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablespoons ketchup
4 large tomatoes, deseeded and diced
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Place a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta according to packaged directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet on medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and saute until onions are soft and transparent. Add the minced garlic and stir about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the ground beef and fully cook through until brown. Stir in the seasoning salt, pepper, ketchup and mustard until well combined. Add the chopped tomatoes and potatoes. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 2 minutes or until the mixture is thickened. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the meat and mix until well combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and evenly sprinkle the cheese across the top. Bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving. Top with chopped dill pickle.
Note: Feel free to add crumbled bacon to turn this dish into a bacon cheeseburger casserole.
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