This ground beef casserole recipe is super easy to throw together and feeds a crowd! It's comforting and uses simple ingredients.
Love casseroles? You may also like my Easy Tater Tot Casserole or Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole.

Why you'll love it
This cheesy beef and pasta casserole is sure to be a hit with the kiddos. It's also really easily adaptable based on what you've got in the fridge/pantry/etc. You could even throw in some extra veggies if you want. It's a favorite around here, and that's because it's very tasty for how few ingredients are involved in this budget-friendly meal.
I wasn't sure whether to call this a casserole or ground beef pasta bake or what. Basically, you just boil up some penne, and while that's cooking, you make a quick tomato and meat sauce. You then toss it together in a casserole dish, top it with cheese, and bake. It couldn't be easier, and I think that's what we're all looking for on busy weeknights!
What you'll need
- Penne - I like this shape because it's sturdy and holds up great in casseroles with the sauce and cheese
- Onion and garlic - our tasty base aromatics. Sweet (Vidalia) onion is my go-to, but yellow works as well.
- Ground beef - I used extra lean hamburger meat here. Aim for 90% or more.
- Olive oil - for sautéing
- Marinara sauce - just grab a jar of your favorite brand that you enjoy the taste of since it's a key ingredient
- Cheddar cheese - I grate my own from a block of cheddar for best taste and freshness

Pro tips
- The ingredient quantities don't have to be exact. A bit more or less beef will be totally fine. Want to add more sauce? Go ahead. Same with the cheese. Many readers like to use the entire jar of marinara sauce. It's all good! 🙂 This recipe definitely can be adapted based on what's in your pantry.
- I recommend slightly undercooking any pasta/noodles so it doesn't go mushy in the oven.
- This recipe can easily be halved if you need a smaller quantity and made in an 8x8 dish instead.
How to make this ground beef casserole
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Preheat your oven to 400F, and grease a baking dish. Boil the pasta for a minute less than package directions. Meanwhile, add the oil, onion, and beef to a skillet. Sauté until cooked, adding the garlic once it gets going. Spoon out any excess fat, then pour in the marinara and warm through. Taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.

Drain the pasta, and add it to the baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over top, and toss to combine. Spread everything in an even layer. Top with the cheddar cheese, and bake uncovered until melty. Broil if desired to brown the cheese, and enjoy right away.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- This is the garlic press I use to avoid the hassle of mincing garlic by hand.
- You'll need a 9x13 baking dish for this casserole.
- Store the other half of the onion in the fridge in an onion saver for later.
- Break apart the meat as it's browning with my favorite cooking spoon.
Substitutions and variations
- Any jarred tomato-based pasta sauce will work, or use a similar amount of tomato sauce or even a combo of tomato products such as diced tomatoes and tomato paste or crushed tomatoes. I'd then add in a bit of Italian seasoning or other herbs for more flavor.
- You can substitute the penne with whatever pasta you have on hand or (even use egg noodles like some casseroles do).
- Ground turkey or Italian sausage are other protein options instead of the beef, or you could do a mixture.
- If you want to put a Tex-Mex spin on this hamburger pasta casserole, add in some beans, Taco Seasoning, and use a Mexican cheese blend.
- For some veggie content, stir in some frozen mixed vegetables until thawed. Simply add to the skillet and cook for a couple minutes once the beef is browned.
Make ahead tips
- Up to 1 day ahead: assemble it, cover and refrigerate, and then bake as directed below, possibly adding a few more minutes onto the time to ensure it's cooked all the way through if it's cold from the fridge.
- Freezer instructions: assemble it, and then cover it tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw for 24 hours in the refrigerator, then bake it as indicated. I would definitely recommend using more sauce for make-ahead methods.
- Baking from frozen: warm it up on the counter for a bit so that the casserole dish doesn't crack. It will take a little longer, so bake covered with foil until the middle is hot, and then broil the cheese at the end, watching carefully.

What to serve with this ground beef casserole
- It's pretty hearty, so I like to enjoy it with a side salad. Mixed greens with my Homemade Italian Dressing round out the meal, or go all out and make a Caesar salad with my popular 10 Minute Caesar Dressing.
- Breadsticks, a dinner roll, or a slice of hot and bubbly Cheesy Garlic Bread are all good ideas as well.
Leftovers and storage
- Keep any leftovers of this beef casserole in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat until warmed through, or microwave in short intervals. Since the pasta will absorb sauce over time, feel free to add a splash more marinara when reheating.
- I generally don't suggest freezing leftover pasta, but if you typically do that with success, go for it!
More tasty ground beef recipes

Let me know if you'll give this easy ground beef pasta casserole recipe a try! Questions? Leave me a comment below. You can also find me on Instagram.

Simple Ground Beef Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked penne
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1.5 cups marinara sauce
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the middle position. Grease a 9x13 baking dish (I use Pam spray).
- Boil a large, salted pot of water for the penne. Cook it for 10 minutes (it should be slightly underdone so it doesn't get mushy).
- Add the oil, beef, and onion to a skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat, breaking the meat up as you go along, for 10 minutes. Once it gets going, stir in the garlic. Spoon out excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and warm through. Give it a taste and season with salt & pepper as needed.
- Drain the pasta and pour it into the baking dish. Pour the beef mixture over top and then toss until it's combined with the pasta. Top with an even layer of the cheese. If you want it extra cheesy, you can stir in an additional half cup of cheese prior to topping it with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 10 minutes, uncovered, until the cheese is nicely melted. I then broil it for a few minutes (optional) to brown the cheese up a bit. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This is a very flexible recipe where additions/substitutions/etc. are fine. I have some tips within the blog post.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on April 17, 2020. It's been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
Jane Lamb says
We loved this. I did a more garlic and I added some italian seasoning. Used the whole jar of marinara sauce so it was 2 cups. Did not have penne so I used rollatini. I also used 2 cups of italian cheese and parmesan.
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jane!
Jane says
Taste is good but found it a little dry. Next time I shall add more marinara sauce. Thank you for the recipe.
Natasha says
You're welcome! Yes, you can definitely add more sauce next time.
Linda says
Thank you for this great quick dish. I made it with Ro*Tel diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro. It is was a little Spicy and my husband loved it.
Natasha says
Excellent!! I love hearing what twists readers put on this recipe. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
Doris says
I was looking for a simple hamburger recipe and came across your recipe for Hamburger Casserole. This dish was super easy to make and super delicious! Thank you so much for sharing!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! So happy you liked it, Doris!
Angela says
Was looking for a last minute quick dish and this one did not disappoint. The family really enjoyed it and went back for seconds. It will definitely make it again! Thank you for sharing!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
That's great to hear the family enjoyed it, Angela! You're welcome.
Carlene says
Made this because it said it didn't take much time. It didn't, and it tasted so good. The whole family enjoyed it and now it is a staple meal for us. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! So happy it made it into your rotation. 🙂
Scott says
This was very tasty! Didn't alter recipe much except added black beans, cheddar, asiago and a fresh parmesan cheese trio. I will make again and would be easy to freeze for a month or so.
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Scott!!
Ashley says
I made this for the first time last night and loved it. I didn’t have marinara sauce so I substituted It with diced tomatoes and tomato paste. It Is good and added more cheese to make it cheesier. Love It, and my sister Is coming over tonight to try it. One question though Is can I warm it in the over, I don’t like warming things in the microwave lol but has anyone warmed it back up in the oven and what did you put it on? I don’t want it to dry out is the only thing. Help please
Natasha says
I am so glad you liked it!! I'd probably cover it with foil and warm it up on 275F.
Teresa says
Hello, I am about to try this. Have you substituted the red sauce for Alfredo or any white sauce? I am using what I have in the pantry and thought I should ask.
Thank you
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't personally tried that, but I think it should work. I'm a little concerned that it could separate in the oven, but since this is only being baked for 10 minutes, I think you will be ok. I hope you enjoy it, and let me know how it goes! 🙂
Michelle W says
I was looking for a dinner alternative for hamburger meat and came across this! My honey is super picky about red sauces and noodles so I was hopeful it would be a hit and it sure was! Now I have a new rotation. I used Monterey Jack and a little cheddar for the cheese and I make homemade marinara (all recipes; Best Marinara Sauce Yet). So delicious! I will try to freeze it and see how it holds up. Thank you!!
Natasha says
That's awesome!! So glad it was a hit. 😀
Molly McAdams says
Can this be frozen with the pasta and cheese already in the casserole?
Natasha says
Hi Molly! I haven't tested it, but I think that should be ok. I'd thaw in the fridge overnight then bake as normal. You may want to add a bit more sauce when you're preparing it in case the pasta soaks it up. I'd probably freeze it as soon as it's cooled.
Chris David says
This recipe is amazing! This was my first time making ground beef and it exceeded expectations!!
Becca says
I used egg noodles and crushed tomatoes with some tomato paste to thicken it up, since that’s all I had on hand. Added in Italian seasoning to taste. It made a HUGE casserole. So much food that I can eat on it for the rest of the week even without adding garlic bread or salad. Thank you for such a simple yet delicious recipe. Going to add this to my rotation.
Natasha says
You're very welcome, Becca!! 🙂
Michelle says
Husband found this recipe a few nights ago and made it, the whole family loved it so much. Tonight I made it, tripled the meat sauce so I can freeze two batches. Next week hubby just has to make noodles and assemble.
Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Natasha says
Yay!! You're very welcome. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Stephanie says
I had whole wheat noodles only in home 🙁 and I didn't have marinara sauce so I used tomato sauce with oregano, rosemary, basil onion sugar salt and pepper (found recipe online) and I used cheddar and mozzarella cause xD i didn't have much okay. :3 it's in the oven now but thanks for the recipe I'm sure it's going to be yummy
Natasha says
I hope you enjoy it, Stephanie! 🙂
Terrie Scott says
I'm going to go try it right now.
Natasha says
Enjoy!
Amber Wise says
Definitely an family favorite!! Easy to follow recipe, delicious, definitely a 10/10! I’m a newbie “chef” and I followed the recipe to the T, without any problems. Absolutely amazing. Thank you
Natasha says
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Amber! 🙂 So glad it worked out for you.
Blaire says
I also forgot to add that I also used roasted garlic and herb pasta sauce instead of plain marinara!
Blaire says
This was so good! We all throughly enjoyed it. The only changes I made was using veggie rotini and adding some crushed red pepper for spice. Definitely will be making again!
Natasha says
Thank you!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Mak says
This was so good! I’m in college and I made this for my family and they loved it! I added mixed veggies, added cheese on the inside, and added Italian seasoning. Would definitely recommend this recipe 🙂
Natasha says
That's awesome!! so pleased you enjoyed it and tweaked it a bit. 🙂
Janie Barrera says
This has become a family favorite for my family and friends. I sometimes use fusilli or rotini. I double the recipe for my sons that don’t live at home. I do add the extra cheese. Love it!
Natasha says
That's great to hear!! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Regina Winters says
This recipe is on the top of my list of things to make for myself and my family and if I have any friends that will be more than happy to eat at my table if they still consider me, their "friend" after I get out of this strange relationship thing that I brought on myself m.
Natasha says
Lol well, I hope you'll enjoy it, Regina!
Julie J says
This is now in our rotation and I call it "lazy mom lasagna." I make it a bit kid friendlier (my kids won't eat onions), add a little mozzarella when I mix together, and substitute chickpea rotinni for the penne. It's great! And it tastes a lot like lasagna with a lot less work!
Natasha says
I'm so glad that your kids love it, Julie!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your tips.
Kathy Kramer says
Love this recipe. Super tasty. I minced mushrooms and yellow squash in my processor and added it to the meat sauce. I love that you can add extra vegetables if you desire. Great meal for young and old!
Natasha says
Thank you!! I'm so pleased you liked it. Love the hidden veggie idea too. 🙂
Lori says
can you freez this/
Natasha says
You can... but I am personally not the biggest fan of frozen pasta. It tends to get a bit soggy when you reheat it.
Abigail Rangel says
Can I substitute the spaghetti sauce for tomato sauce I'd I don't spaghetti sauce?
Natasha says
Yes, but you may need to add in some additional flavorings... like sauté it with some onions and garlic first, perhaps. Tomato sauce is very plain by itself.
Bridget says
Hello! I have a bunch of ameeican cheese I dont want to go waste. Any thoughts about using that instead of cheddar?
Natasha says
You could use that for sure!
Rachel Torres says
Great recipe thank you. Im excited to try it. Can you tell me if Squash or Zucchini or Asparagus would be ok to add in with it? Im not a great cook but saw you put you can add vegetables. Id appreciate your help 🙂
Natasha says
Thanks! I think that those would work just fine, Rachel. I'd chop everything fairly small so it cooks in time. I'd probably brown the beef then add the veggies in so the water cooks off a bit before adding it to the casserole dish. Let me know how it goes!
Shelli says
I just made your dish! Big hit! I added sliced black olives and pinto beans onto the meat sauce. Served with chilled chunky mix fruit and garlic bread. Thank you!
Natasha says
Fabulous! Love those additions. You're welcome, Shelli! 😀
Jaiden says
I tried this tonight for supper ! Very easy and good!
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jaiden!!
atgoodrich says
Isnt this called Baked Ziti??? Nothing new here.....
Natasha says
I removed your 1-star rating since you just came here to be rude and didn't make the recipe. And, actually, no. It's a baked pasta dish, but baked ziti uses ziti (shocking, I know), and the sauce is a bit different... it uses sausage (for one thing). What a weird comment to leave on a stranger's website lol.
Marcee Gregory says
People are so rude sometimes!
Tina Garcia says
Oh my…people are so rude!! Looking forward to making this! On my menu for the week and going to add squash after reading a few comments. Can’t wait! 🙂
Natasha says
Enjoy 🙂
Kp says
No it’s not called backed ziti. Ziti is a different pasta, and a whole diffferent recipe, using ziti pasta, marinara or meat sauced, layered and baked with mozzarella, and ricotta. Different taste altogether. You should try it sometime!
Bernie says
Get a life you rude person!!!!!
Kim says
Loved this & so easy to make
Natasha says
Thank you, Kim!!
Brandi L Moe says
Can I make this dish ahead of time, and does the cooking temp and time frame differ if so?
Natasha says
Yes, I believe some readers have done that. I would prep it up until the baking step then cover it tightly and it'll keep in the fridge for a day or two. Baking time will be a bit longer since it'll be cold, so I'd keep an eye on it. Might want to start it covered with foil and then uncover and broil to bubble up the cheese.
Katarina says
European here! I was trying to do something different with ground beef and this has entered "the favourite top 5" according to my 3 sons. It is so simple and yet so delicious.
Oh, yes...almost forgot..I added some button mushrooms once and it was still yummy.
Natasha says
Well that makes me so happy!! Thanks for letting me know, Katarina! 😀
Brody Blane says
Perfect meal for the young, and old alike. Accompany with a little Texas garlic bread. Bueno.
Natasha says
Thanks so much, Brody!
Jasmine Kennedy says
Can I use pizza sauce
Natasha says
That should be fine.
Shaun says
Like many others here, I was looking for something different to make with the ground meat I had out. Since we often make tacos at the house, I decided to take a taco spin on this. Rather than making a tomato sauce, I used the seasoning mix and sauce that is usually put in the beef for tacos. Stirred in some diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce before putting in the oven. Thanks for the inspiration!
Natasha says
Love that idea!! You're welcome. Sounds delicious! 🙂
Renee says
Like a recent reviewer, my husband and I were doing the "what are we having for dinner, I don't know, what do you want, what do YOU want..." discussion. He had pulled a pound+ of ground beef from the freezer yesterday so I googled, "what can I make with hamburger meat for dinner" and your site popped up with this recipe. I was thrilled because I had a box of whole wheat penne, spaghetti sauce, onion and a fresh bag of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. I used a full jar of sauce, 1/2 can of tomato paste, added a packet of taco seasoning and used garlic powder (no fresh garlic at home). We put sour cream on it after it was served (hubs also put hot sauce on it). it was AMAZING. Next time, we'll use marinara and 2 packets of taco seasoning for a little stronger flavor. Thanks for a very easy to follow recipe with ideas for variation. So happy I found your site and will be trying more recipes soon!!
Natasha says
Haha that's excellent. I'm so glad that you enjoyed it, and I love your adaptations. It's fun to see what readers do with this recipe!
Vanessa says
Omg!! What a great and easy recipe . Made this tonight and my boyfriend and I absolutely fell in love with this meal. I love that it was quick and simple to make but tasted even better. Will definitely be adding this to the rotation 🙂 A++
Natasha says
I'm thrilled to hear that, Vanessa!! Thanks so much. 😀
Marie Klassen says
I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner and again I got the famous phrase “I don’t know” and so I googled recipes for I don’t know and somewhere along the line I came across your recipe and I made it for dinner, it was delicious, just way too much for the two of us but will make it again and will be a big hit for my grandkids.
Natasha says
HAHAHA ok that's hilarious. I'm so glad it worked out!
Kara says
Hello! Making this tonight and very excited 😊Do you use red or white onion? Also is that parsley that you topped it with?
Natasha says
Hi Kara! I typically only use red onions for raw applications (salads etc.). I usually cook with Vidalia/sweet onions, but white or yellow (Spanish) work just fine. Yes, it's parsley on top. Mostly just to add a pop of color to the photos. Totally optional. Hope you like the recipe!
Louise James says
I made this for supper last night. Because I had some leftover cooked pork meatballs and tomato sauce I decided to mince the meatballs and add them to the dish. Wow! One of the best casserole dishes EVER and so easy to make. It was a hit with the family and I will definitely make this again. Thanks for this great recipe.
Natasha says
Fantastic!! That's a good idea! 🙂
Caitlin says
This is a go to recipe for us! I use a whole jar of marinara because we like it a little extra saucy 🙂
Natasha says
Fantastic!!
skye says
this really is an amazing recipe, my whole family loved it!
Natasha says
Thrilled to hear that!! 😀
Pamela M Hartter says
Can I freeze it after cooling down? I used more sauce than recipe but it seemed a little dry but still delicious!
Natasha says
Yes! Cooked pasta doesn’t always freeze great, but it should be fine. Reheat on a low heat.
Andre says
Hello Natasha,
My name is Andre. I made this tonight for my mom and I and loved it. I didn't have marinara sauce though and used pasta sauce. I also didn't have onions or garlic so I used the powdered versions 😂. I put cheese in the beef mixture and on top. The one thing I was confused about is how much a pound of pasta is(I used maceronie) in cups lol. I put two cups and it was a bit to much. Next time I plan on using the right ingredients. Anyway loved the dish.
Hope you are having a good day
Andre.
Natasha says
Hi! I'm so glad it worked out for you. 🙂 A pound of pasta is 16 ounces or 454g. In cups it really depends on the shape of pasta... for macaroni I believe it's around 3 cups. This definitely makes a lot of food haha. I'd say definitely use less if you want to use macaroni again.
Keira Gilleland says
is the nutritional information including the whole dish or just a portion of it? it is very good but since I am diabetic I need to know the amount of carbs per cup.
Natasha says
Hi Keira! It's for 1/6 of the recipe (the recipe card indicates it's 6 servings). Unfortunately, I can't provide any info beyond that. I am not a trained nutritionist, and even providing the info that I do comes with a heavy disclaimer that it's an estimate because it's calculated automatically, and brands vary and so forth, the leanness of beef you use can vary, and so on. I have no idea what exactly 1 cup equates to. If you're planning on making this recipe, I would weigh out/properly measure the exactly ingredients you're using and plug it into something like My Fitness Pal.
Darren Bryant says
Hi Natasha! This was so easy to make and it was fantastic! Can't believe how something so simple could be so flavorful. I used 1/2 cup of shredded triple cheddar in the meat mixture and then just an even layer of regular mild cheddar on top. The triple cheddar, being a mix of sharp and mild cheddars, gave it just enough tangy goodness to elevate this dish, at least for us. We use Gardein faux beef crumbles, so without the animal fat for added flavor, I've had to learn how to amp things up a little. The triple cheddar did the trick.
This dish was a HUGE hit, and will be included in the rotation often. This is true comfort food.
Natasha says
Hi!! I'm so happy you all enjoyed it, Darren. 😀 Thanks for the tips!
Amy says
Hi Natasha! We LOVED the recipe, it's so simple and delicious! This is my first time making a casserole! My son who's 5, wanted me to write a review to let you know that he LOVED the casserole! We cut the recipe in half and it came out amazing! Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Natasha says
That makes me so happy, Amy!! Tell your son thank you and that I'm so glad he enjoyed it. 😀
Sonya says
Very good! Made half with vegan meatless crumbles and half with ground turkey. Everyone loved it
Natasha says
Wonderful!! 🙂