BUDGET COMFORT MEALS · FAMILY BAKES
Everything kids love about a cheeseburger, in one baking dish. Lean ground beef, onion, ketchup and mustard go into pasta with a creamy cottage cheese and cheddar sauce, then get more cheese on top. Serve it with the classic burger toppings.
Jump to Recipe
- Serves
- 6
- Baking dish
- 9×13 inches
- Bake
- 20 minutes
- Oven
- 375°F / 190°C
- Beef done at
- 160°F / 71°C
Why You’ll Love This Casserole
- A budget-friendly dinner. Ground beef, dry pasta and cottage cheese are everyday ingredients.
- Creamy without canned soup. Blended cottage cheese, milk and cheddar make the sauce.
- Kid-approved flavors. Ketchup, mustard and pickles taste like a burger.
Ingredient Notes
Lean (93/7) ground beef keeps the casserole from turning greasy. With fattier beef, drain the fat well after browning.
Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the package says. It finishes cooking in the oven and stays tender instead of mushy.
Dill pickles are optional but give the real cheeseburger taste. Dice them small and pat them dry.
The recipe card below lists every quantity in one place.
How to Make Cheeseburger Casserole with Cottage Cheese
Cook the pasta and the burger filling
Boil the pasta until just under al dente. Brown the beef with the onion, drain, then stir in the ketchup, mustard and seasonings.
Mix, top and bake
Blend the cottage cheese with the milk, then combine it with the pasta, beef, pickles and most of the cheddar. Spread in the dish, top with the remaining cheddar and bake until bubbling.
Photos in this article are AI-generated illustrations of the recipe, created for AllRecipeEasy.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Do not skip the drain. Even lean beef releases some fat and liquid. Drain it so the sauce stays creamy.
- Season at the end. Taste the filling after adding the ketchup, mustard and pickles; they are all salty.
- Make it ahead. Assemble, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake 10 minutes longer, until hot in the center.
Substitutions
- Ground turkey: Use 93% lean ground turkey and cook to 165°F / 74°C.
- Lower carb: Replace the pasta with 4 cups of roasted cauliflower florets.
- Whole wheat pasta: Whole wheat elbows add fiber; cook them the same way.
Serving Suggestions
Top each serving with shredded lettuce, diced tomato and extra pickles, just like a burger. For another ground beef idea, the hamburger bowl is a lower-effort skillet version. For a chicken bake, try the jalapeño popper chicken casserole.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate the leftovers within 2 hours, covered, for up to 4 days. Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of milk until hot in the center (165°F).
Food safety: Cook the ground beef to 160°F / 71°C (no pink remaining) before assembling the casserole. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
Cheeseburger Casserole with Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 375°F / 190°C and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain.
- Meanwhile, cook the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, until no pink remains (160°F / 71°C). Drain off the fat.
- Stir the garlic powder, salt, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire into the beef.
- Blend the cottage cheese and milk until smooth. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, beef, cottage cheese sauce, 1 cup of the cheddar and the pickles, if using.
- Spread in the dish, top with the remaining ½ cup cheddar and bake for 20 minutes, until bubbling. Rest for 5 minutes and serve with lettuce and tomato.