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. This is the garlic press I use to avoid the hassle of mincing garlic by hand.
- 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 9x13 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.
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.
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 Tex-Mex 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.

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
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 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!
Cassie says
Love this recipe to mealprep lunches during the week!
Roughly how many cups of uncooked penne is 1 pound?
Natasha says
Hi! It's roughly 4 cups (American cups), but if you buy a standard size box of penne in America, it'll usually be 1 lb/16 oz. Here in Canada, they often come in different sizes like 500g.
Karen says
So easy and wuick. My family loved it. Thank you
Natasha says
You're very welcome, Karen! 🙂 Thanks for your review!
Neil says
If I wanted to add veggies to this, which ones do u think work best, without making. it taste like a veggie casserole?
Natasha says
Hmmm... you could read thru the comments to see what others have done. Possibly a bit of zucchini?
Rosie says
Has anyone tried this with sour cream mixed in for moisture and creaminess?
jodie says
Easy, delicious and so easy to customize! So glad I found this recipe. Will be making again soon 💜
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Awesome!! So glad you liked it, Jodie!
Lindsey says
I am going to try with vodka pasta sauce and Italian sausage!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Sounds good to me! We actually have a new pasta bake coming out this week with vodka sauce and Italian sausage though, haha! Stay tuned, and enjoy. 🙂
Linda says
I think the recipe needs more moisture so if I make it again, I will add a can of diced tomatoes at the same time the marinara is added to the meat.
Natasha says
Yup, you could for sure do that or add more marinara.
Kay says
Loved your recipe.It is excellent.It is one of my favorite pasta recipes .
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Thanks so much, Kay! That's wonderful to hear.
CJ Walker says
Hi, been looking for fast hamburger/ pasta dish and this would be/will be great. Suggestion: you can use paper towel either held with tongs or large enough piece by hand to absorb all that grease from "lean" ground beef. Just tilt the pan to either side and place the paper towel at the edge or on top the oil in the pan and it will absorb it. Depending on the amount of oil, you may need two towels.
Natasha says
Yes! Great tip! Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy this recipe, CJ! 🙂
Judith Burgess says
If I make this today, will it be okay to reheat for guests tomorrow? Or is it better to make and serve the same day?
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Hi Judith! I'd say fresh is always best. You can make it ahead, but then you might want to add some more sauce since it will likely dry out a bit.
Arin says
Hi, I’m trying to use what’s just in my kitchen as I live an hour away from the nearest grocery store. I only have sliced Velveeta cheese. Can I layer the entire top with that? Or will it not melt, well?
Natasha says
I think that should work! Let me know. 🙂
Call.Me.Jellie says
I have been doing something extremely similar to this for a while now. I put in some parmesan cheese into the sauce so it cooks into the mixture and it add such a delicious cheesy flavour. I layer it as meat at the bottom of the bowl, some pasta, then more sauce on top. So I can tell you 100% this recipe is the bomb and it's a must try with extra spices like ground cumin, paprika, and some parsley!! 😋
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Love those additions!! 🙂
Isabella says
Great recipe!!
Natasha says
Thank you!! 🙂
Cornelius says
Tasty
mike says
thank you so much this was delicious. my family really enjoyed it and i am a bad cook.
Natasha says
You're very welcome!! 🙂 Glad it was a hit!
Tommy Flahavan says
So easy, but oh so good.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it, Tommy! 😀
Pam says
Can I use cream of mushroom soup instead of marina sauce?
Natasha says
You could definitely try and see how it goes. Let me know!
Sarah says
I don’t know what it is but this recipe is AMAZING. SO EASYTO MAKE BUT ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. My husband and I fight over leftovers!!! I will say, I’ve tried many of your recipes and they’re all sure fire hits! But something about this one is just the perfect comfort food! Thank you!!!!!!! Making this again tomorrow and I can’t wait! Safe to say, we’re both looking forward to it!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy you guys love it!! 🙂
Danni says
I’m currently pregnant and onions give I’ve me a headache. Will it be similar if I use onion powder instead or no onions at all?
Natasha says
I think either would be fine, Danni! 🙂
Michelle says
I'm allergic to garlic and onions - you can try substituting an Indian spice called Asafetida (ground) available on Amazon. It's a bit potent so you don't need a lot (about 1/4 tsp or less). I think it makes a little difference in recipes.
Natalie Cobb says
It doesn’t look like I have the right pasta for this. Can I use rice? Does that count as a pasta type lol
Natasha says
Hi! You could cook some rice and then assemble it as instructed then put it in the oven to melt the cheese haha that would be fine. 🙂
Natalie Cobb says
Yessss okay!! Thank you!
Megan says
Is the nutrition information per serving?
Natasha says
That's correct.
Megan says
Can I use Alfredo instead of red sauce?
Natasha says
Sure!
anna says
looks fast and easy. I haven't made it yet but I need to make something for day after tomorrow. Can I make the sauce, meat, penne bit ahead of time and then do the cheee bit just before baking it?
Natasha says
Yup, that'll work fine. 🙂
Autumn says
Can I use velveeta cheese? If so, how much?
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't tested it, but I imagine the same amount as suggested would probably be fine unless you usually use less than you'd use cheddar.
Catherine Johnson says
Hi. I was putting this all together and I got my marinara sauce out the fridge.
I had use to spaghetti sauce instead.
The marinara sauce was no good.
Haven't tasted it yet though. Still not done I'm sure it'll be fantastic. Thsnks for sharing.
Natasha says
You're welcome! The recipe is very flexible, so should work just fine. 🙂
Chrissy says
Hi! I am making this as a freezer meal for after my baby is born. How long should I bake from frozen? Thanks
Natasha says
Hi! I haven't personally tested it myself, but perhaps start with putting foil on for 20 then take off the foil and do another 15-20 and see how that goes. If using a ceramic dish, I'd let it warm up a bit first so it doesn't crack.
Brionna M says
OMG! I looked up a quick ground beef recipe so I could make lunch/dinner before work and this was soooo quick, easy and delicious! Definitely gonna use this recipe a lot.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
That's awesome to hear, Brionna!! 🙂
Pauline E Dwyer says
made this tonight and it is DELICIOUS...Thank you for sharing:}
Natasha says
So glad you liked it!! 🙂
Melissa says
We make this at least 2-3 times a month. It’s definitely a go-to in our house. It’s so yummy, super quick and easy and inexpensive! I add extra sauce to mine but I also use 2lbs of ground beef so, just trying to even it all out. I think one of these times I’ll try adding green peppers and use jalapeño Monterey Jack Cheese. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that!! 🙂 You're very welcome, Melissa!
Tralonda Jay says
Quick, Easy & Yummy!!!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Thrilled you enjoyed it, Tralonda! 🙂
Joanne Schumacher says
For the "Comments" saying that the cheese did not melt well.
I would like to give a little tip.
Use a block of cheese and shred it by hand instead of using a bag of shredded cheese.
Block Cheese shredded by hand melts better.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Absolutely, Joanne! Bagged cheese has extra preservatives to keep it from caking, which also makes it melt less well. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Joanne Schumacher says
Looks Yummy!!
Try melting shredded Monterey Jack Cheese on top of this casserole dish. It's creamier and more flavorful! 😋
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Love that variation! Enjoy 🙂
Jenn says
Super simple and delicious! I had all the ingredients on hand and it all came together easily and fast. Once it was done, i added a little hot sauce to give it an extra zing! Something the whole family can enjoy 🙂
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Fantastic to hear, Jenn! Glad the whole family liked it!
Sherry says
My family loved this recipe! Followed all directions with no substitutions! I would definitely recommend!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
That's wonderful! So pleased your family liked it, Sherry.
Tamara says
I love that this is such a simple, adaptable recipe. I added fresh mushrooms and spinach this time, and it was excellent!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
So glad you liked it, Tamara! We love how versatile it is too 🙂
Maniha says
Love it! I’m not a good cook - not an experienced one either. And I love making this - always turns out great. Super simple to make and easy to follow instructions. Love how you mention that the recipe can totally be adapted based on what’s in the pantry.
Maniha says
I’m thinking of making this using Beyond Meat Ground Beef and adding 50% more ground beef than the recipe calls for. Also thinking of adding diced green pepper. Thank you for such a simple yet delicious recipe!
Natasha says
Yes that sounds good to me!!
Natasha says
I'm so happy to hear that!! 🙂 That was definitely my goal with this recipe... easy to make, adaptable, and inexpensive. Thanks for your review, Maniha!
Diane says
Hello! I just tried your recipe for the beefy penne pasta casserole. Very easy to assemble. I used 2 pounds of ground beef instead of one for a pound of penne pasta plus I also substituted whole wheat penne pasta. I used shredded cheddar but it did not melt very well. I think when I make this again I’ll use a cheese that melts a little bit better. It’s very tasty that’s for sure! Thank you!
Diane says
I was just thinking, it could be the brand of shredded cheddar I used. Also my broiler is out so I couldn’t heat the cheese from the top. After reading the other comments, I wish I’d have added some veggies too! Maybe next time I’ll tent some aluminum foil over the top to help the cheese melt more. Thanks again!
Becky B says
The aluminum foil will Slow the cheese melting. Leave it uncovered longer ir turn the heat up. The cheese WILL melt
Natasha says
Hi Diane! Perhaps try grating your own cheddar - it melts better than the pre-bagged kind. I'm glad you enjoyed it overall! 🙂
Connie says
Actually this recipe is not good. Waste of 1 lb of hamburger and pound of noodles. Cheese and sauce. Do yourself a favor make goulash half the noodles more spices mix all together don't bake.
Natasha says
Sorry you didn't like it. It has tons of good reviews, so I wonder why you had such a strong negative reaction to it. 🙁
Miriam says
Greetings from The Netherlands! As today is cold I was looking for an easy and comforting dish. Your recipe was very eady to follow and it looks yummy.
Natasha says
Hello!! Here in Canada it's cold today too! I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Donna Almon says
I have made this 2-3:times and it is always a hit. I always use a plant based substitute with no problems at all. Today I plan on making it for company and am wondering if I can put it together, then refrigerate and bake at the appropriate time?
Natasha says
Hi Donna! So glad it's a favorite in your home. Yes, that will definitely work. Perhaps add a little more sauce to it in case the pasta soaks it up a bit.
Arlinda Edwards says
I made this today and added spinach in the meat mixture after it was done then pour over pasta turn out great. Also, I used ground turkey. Yummy
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂 Love the spinach addition.
Kennie P. Coco says
Great recipe as is. Having said that, there are multiple variations. I have made this a lot. Mexican style, cheesy stroganofish, adding broccolli & cauliflower and shredded carrots etc. Its a great recipe.
Natasha says
Totally!! This is definitely a fun one to play with. 🙂 Thanks for your review, Kennie!
Debbie says
Is it saucy enough or can you add more sauce? I don’t want it too soupy . Thanks
Natasha says
It's got quite a bit of sauce. I would try it as-is and then if you find it needs a little more sauce, add another splash of cream at the end.
Jaclyn says
It was very good! A huge hit with the kids. I made a couple changes such as, garlic powder in addition to the clove of garlic, 1 cup of spaghetti sauce and 1 cup of jar Alfredo sauce. It was delicious!!
Natasha says
Excellent!! 🙂
Jennifer says
I was sneaky and grated carrots and added after the beef was almost cooked.
Very good!
Natasha says
Excellent!! That's a good idea! 🙂
Christian says
So easy and delicious, and leftovers are even better the next day! Glad I found this since I didn’t want to just make spaghetti again 😊
Christian says
Meant to rate it 5 whoops lol
Natasha says
Thanks!! 😀
Natasha says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
TS says
This was a huge hit!! My first meal I made for the family in my new role and they think I'm an amazing chef now. Mwahaha 😈 This was so easy to make but shhhhhh "I slaved for hours" while they were at school/work. Thanks for making me a rockstar.
Natasha says
Haha that's awesome!! Thanks for letting me know. SO happy it was a hit! 😀
Cathy Romanczuk says
I substituted taco powder and water for the marina. I also used rotini instead of penne—because that’s what I had. My daughter approved by grabbing some even before I put it in the oven.
Natasha says
Haha love it!! So glad it was a hit.
Donna Kemp says
H I wanted to make this tonight for dinner but i dont have shredded cheddar .
Do you think it would be okay to use 4 cheese mexican blend?
It has monterey , mild cheddar , queso quesadilla and asadero cheese .
Thanks,
Donna Kemp
Natasha says
Yes! That's totally fine.
Heather says
Hi! I'm making this right now and I'm thinking about mixing some ricotta with an egg and mixing it in with the meat mixture and then baking it with the cheese on top Just worried about the egg and the ricotta fitting in okay lol what do you think
Natasha says
I think that should be ok! I know some lasagna recipes do that, so I think it would be worth a shot! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
Gramma says
I’m using leftover penne pasta and was wondering if I cooked up some hamburger with taco seasoning that I could use some salsa and turn it into a taco flavored thing?
Natasha says
Sure, I think that would work fine 🙂