Cheeseburger Casserole – (One Pot!)

This Cheeseburger Casserole takes just 30 minutes to make in a single skillet! Your family will love this homemade hamburger helper!

Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, at room temp. Separated.
• 1 lb. Ground Beef, 85% lean
• Salt/Pepper, to taste
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 (16 oz.) box elbow macaroni, *uncooked*
• ¾ cup sour cream, at room temp
• ½ cup whole milk, at room temp

• Chopped Parsley, to garnish

Instructions

• Shred the cheese and set it aside. It should be at room temperature when added to the pasta later.
• Season the ground beef with desired amount of salt and pepper.
• In a large pot over medium heat, cook and crumble the ground beef along with the onions. Drain any excess grease.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
• Add the Worcestershire sauce and the tomato paste and stir until well-combined.
• Add the beef broth and the uncooked macaroni, stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium or medium/low.
• Cover the pot and heat for 4 minutes. Uncover, stir briefly, replace the cover, and heat for 4 more minutes. At this point the macaroni should be just about cooked through.
• Reduce the heat to low.
• Stir in the room temperature sour cream and half of the milk. Only add the other half if desired.
• Gradually sprinkle in 2 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar, stirring as you do so.
• Once the cheese is melted and you have a uniform consistency, top with the remaining cheese.
• Replace the lid and heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
• Top with parsley and serve!

Notes

• Whole milk is recommended for a creamier consistency, but a lower fat milk may also be used. 

Make-Ahead Cheeseburger Casserole

• If you prefer to to the prep work for this casserole ahead of time, prepare the recipe as-instructed but cook the pasta covered for 7 minutes instead of 8.
• Stop at step #10, right before you top the casserole with additional cheese. 
• Let the casserole cool down, then top it with cheese. 
• Refrigerate for up to two days, then bake it in a 350 degree oven, covered, for 15 minutes. 
• Remove the lid and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Top with parsley and serve!

Credit to: thecozycook