Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole

Sometimes you just want a burger.  The comfort of a good burger off the grill and a side of macaroni and cheese.  This one pot wonder takes those two comfort foods and puts them together for one delicious treat.  Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole comes together super easy with lean ground beef, high protein pasta, a can of diced tomatoes, some cheese and a few additions for flavor.  You can easily brown all of the ingredients in a skillet, add pasta, add tomatoes and seasonings and transfer it to a 375 degree oven.

Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole

You’ll notice this is made in a cast iron pan. The cast iron pan is the major work horse in my kitchen.  Nearly EVERYTHING is better in cast iron.  Cornbread has a thick crunchy crust, french toast easily browns on the outside and stays soft inside, steak sears to perfection, and the best part is you can finish your dishes in the oven without more dirty dishes.

In the case of this cheeseburger casserole, the penne pasta gets a little crisp on the edges.  I am that person who seeks the piece of lasagna out with the crunchy edges.  I go for the crispy edges. They are the best.

If you don’t have a cast iron pan, don’t worry.  This recipe is just fine if you toss it into a casserole dish and bake it.

Substitutions for this casserole

If you aren’t a fan of ground beef, ground turkey or chicken would be fine here. I haven’t used any  of the new vegetarian ground meat alternatives, but you could try those to if there is one you like.

Feel free to use the vegetables you have on hand. I like the bell pepper and onion, but you could also sneak in some spinach or mushrooms. I would stay away from vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower for the simple fact that I don’t think they’d cook all the way through. They also might be too strong in flavor.

Any short cut of pasta will also work. I use penne here, but spirals, macaroni and shells would also be great. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover pasta.  It comes together super quick if you have some in the fridge that you need to use up.

Pin it for later! If you make this leave a comment below and let me know how it went or tag me in a photo on Instagram or Pinterest!

5 from 1 vote

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Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole

Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole is an easy casserole you can make ahead. It has all the goodness of your favorite burger in every bite and without a bun!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Baked Pasta, Casserole, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger Casserole

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 453 kcal

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. Lean Ground Beef Used 90% lean ground beef.
• 1/2 large onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper chopped
• 15 ounces Canned Diced Tomatoes I like using Fire Roasted Tomatoes for extra flavor.
• 2 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 8 ounces High Protein Pasta I like quinoa pasta or Barilla Plus Pasta. Cook according to package directions.
• 1.5 cups Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven to 375 degrees In a cast iron skillet brown the hamburger, onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Be sure to salt and pepper the mixture evenly. Meanwhile be cooking your pasta according to package instructions.

2. Add the canned diced tomatoes, Worcestershire, mustard and cooked pasta and toss together.

3. Sprinkle the top with cheddar cheese and transfer to the oven for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Allow to cool and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

You can make this gluten free by using gluten free pasta.

Nutrition Facts

Protein Packed Cheeseburger Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 453 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Carbohydrates 50g17%

Protein 31g62%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.