There's something about this creamy hamburger noodle casserole that just makes life feel manageable again. Tender egg noodles, savory beef, a rich, comforting sauce that clings just right, and a blanket of melted cheese - it's the kind of dinner that feels like a hug from the inside out. It's done in half an hour, freezes beautifully, and tastes even better when reheated at midnight in fuzzy socks while questioning your personal reality.
Table of Contents
- 🎥 Watch how easy it is to make this ground beef noodle casserole
- 🗝️ Why this creamy hamburger casserole just hits different
- 🧾 Here's what you'll need for this creamy comfort food classic
- 📖 Recipe
- 🔪 Alright, let's turn this pile of ingredients into dinner
- 👩🍳You've got questions (and I've got casserole answers)
- 📚 If creamy, cheesy, and easy are your aesthetic
- 🍽️ Serve it with...
- 💬 Comments
🎥 Watch how easy it is to make this ground beef noodle casserole
Watch how this hamburger noodle casserole comes together - one skillet, one casserole dish, and one interruption away from licking the spoon.
🗝️ Why this creamy hamburger casserole just hits different
This isn't your mama's mystery casserole from the church potluck. This one's creamy, beefy, and just the right amount of trashy-delicious. It's the kind of weeknight dinner that doesn't judge you for wearing pajama pants at 6 p.m. or for eating straight from the pan.
The noodles soak up all that savory sauce, the cheese melts into a golden blanket of comfort, and suddenly the world feels slightly more manageable. It reheats like a dream, freezes without complaint, and basically exists to make Tuesdays less tragic. Try this cheesy cowboy spaghetti next time!
🧾 Here's what you'll need for this creamy comfort food classic
Nothing fancy here. Just the kind of pantry staples your grandma always had on hand - ground beef, a couple of cream soups, egg noodles, and enough cheese to make your cardiologist sigh. This casserole doesn't need truffle oil or imported anything. It's made for nights when you want dinner on the table before you lose the will to live, and it delivers every single time.
- Lean ground beef - saves you from chasing grease around the pan like it owes you money - I use 90/10.
- Egg noodles - the soft, buttery base that soaks up all that saucy goodness.
- Milk - just enough to make everything creamy without turning it into soup.
- Cream of tomato soup - the secret tang that keeps it from tasting flat.
- Cream of mushroom soup - because every vintage casserole worth its salt starts here.
- Worcestershire sauce - that little "can't quite name it but love it" flavor boost.
- Pepper Jack cheese - melty, spicy, and the reason you'll go back for seconds.
- Garlic powder - non-negotiable. We respect garlic in this house.
- Onion - sautéed till sweet, because raw onion has no business here.
Want extra tips, FAQs, storage information and more? Download the free hamburger noodle casserole Kitchen Cheat Sheet pdf!
📖 Recipe
Hamburger Noodle Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups onion, diced - 1 large
- 10.75 ounces cream of tomato soup, undiluted
- 10.75 ounces cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- ¾ cup evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 12 ounces egg noodles, cooked
- ½ cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 green onions, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°f. Spray a 13x9 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook noodles and drain. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and saute until it starts to soften.
- Add the beef and cook until no longer pink and the onion is translucent.
- Remove from heat and drain the fat. Set aside.
- Add the evaporated milk, cream of tomato soup, cream of mushroom soup, Worcestershire, and garlic powder to a large bowl.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Stir in the ground beef mixture and the cooked noodles.
- Spoon into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese on the top.
- Bake at 350°f for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Sprinkle with chopped green onions before serving if desired.
Notes
- Use a lean ground beef in this recipe for the best results.
- Grate the cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded. It melts better.
- Don't overcook noodles.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
🔪 Alright, let's turn this pile of ingredients into dinner
You don't need a culinary degree or a prayer circle for this one - just a skillet, a casserole dish, and a solid 30 minutes. It's the kind of recipe that forgives you for eyeballing measurements and using the wrong spoon. Follow these steps and you'll have creamy, cheesy, ground-beef perfection before you can say, "Where'd everyone go? Dinner's ready."
- Sauté: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the onion is soft and the beef is browned, breaking it up as you go. Drain the extra grease unless you enjoy shiny casseroles.
- Blend: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, cream of tomato soup, and cream of mushroom soup. Add Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and slightly dangerous-looking in the best way.
- Stir: Toss the cooked egg noodles, browned beef mixture, and sauce together until everything's coated in creamy glory. Try not to eat it all straight from the bowl.
- Bake: Spread the mixture in a greased 9x13-inch casserole dish. Top with shredded Pepper Jack cheese and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Garnish with green onions if you're feeling fancy.
To make in advance
- Assemble ground beef casserole according to instructions but don't add the shredded cheese.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- When ready to back just remove the plastic wrap, add the cheese to the top, and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350℉. You may need to stir in some extra milk if the noodles soaked all of it up.
👩🍳You've got questions (and I've got casserole answers)
You're not the only one standing in front of the fridge at 5:30 wondering what you can swap, freeze, or fix. These are the most common casserole conundrums - straight answers, no judgment, and maybe a little sass. Need more answers? Download the free kitchen cheat sheet above or ask in the comments.
Yes, you can! You can assemble it up to 3 days ahead of time, leaving the cheese off, and refrigerate. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Egg noodles will usually take 8-10 minutes to cook in boiling water. Don't overcook because they'll continue to cook in the oven.
📚 If creamy, cheesy, and easy are your aesthetic
Got a thing for creamy, saucy, carb-loaded comfort? Same. These recipes are all cut from the same buttery, cheese-smothered cloth - from one-pot Philly cheesesteak pasta and pulled pork mac & cheese to cheesy taco stuffed shells and that French onion ground beef casserole everyone keeps talking about. Oh, and don't skip the million-dollar spaghetti - it lives up to the gossip.
🍽️ Serve it with...
This hamburger noodle casserole's got enough personality to stand on its own, but even the best comfort food likes a few sidekicks. Pair it with baked sweet potato fries if you're feeling ambitious, smothered green beans if you're feeling Southern, or a big scoop of KFC-style coleslaw if you're just plain tired. Homemade garlic knots never hurt anyone, and if you've got time for my 30-minute dinner rolls, well-look at you, overachiever.
These side dish ideas for baked ziti also work with this easy noodle casserole.
Call it Amish Country Casserole, hamburger noodle casserole, or that miracle dinner that fixes your day faster than therapy and a bubble bath combined. It's not fancy, and it's definitely not trying to be. It's creamy, beefy, and unapologetically old-fashioned - the kind of comfort food that doesn't need validation from TikTok. It's there for you when the world's too loud, your hair's a mess, and you just need something warm, cheesy, and faithful waiting in the oven.
Some recipes exist to impress. This one exists to heal - one gooey forkful at a time.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anne Marie Higgins says
Hi Marye,
Is there any way to make this recipe in half ?
There are only 2 of us and I try to cut all in half.
Since there are 2 cans of soup, it might be a problem.
I appreciate your help, thank you.
You have great recipes.
Anne Marie Higgins
Marye says
If you hover over the serving size you can take it down to 2 servings. The instructions won't change but the ingredient measurements will. You'll need to bake for a shorter period of time - hope this helps!
Justin says
Much better if you mix in some sour cream