You can make this recipe as written and serve it with a side of veggies, or mix in veggies such as cauliflower rice or spinach and turn it into a complete meal. Casseroles are so easy. You place a few ingredients in a baking dish, put it in the oven, and dinner is ready 30-60 minutes later! This cheeseburger casserole is delicious in a delightfully non-gourmet sort of way. Grownups and kids alike enjoy it. Like most casseroles, it’s a forgiving and flexible recipe, so you can experiment with different mix-ins and spices.
Ingredients
Variations
Instructions
Storing Leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power. You can also freeze individual servings of this cheeseburger casserole for up to three months.
Olive oil: My favorite oil to cook with! It’s so flavorful. Other options include avocado oil and ghee. Extra-lean ground beef: I prefer to use extra-lean ground beef (93% lean) because I drain the rendered fat anyway. However, using lean ground beef (85% lean) is OK if that’s what you have. As you can see in the photo above, I sometimes use it. Onion and garlic. Sometimes, when I’m lazy, I sub onion and garlic powders - two teaspoons of each. But it’s not as good. Kosher salt and black pepper: I use Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. Mayonnaise: I prefer mayonnaise made with avocado oil. Ketchup: I use unsweetened ketchup. Mustard: I usually like Dijon mustard. But in this recipe, yellow mustard works too. Shredded cheddar: I like to use sharp or extra-sharp cheddar. It greatly enhances the flavor of this casserole.
Add crumbled cooked bacon. I love the flavor it adds. You can make this recipe with ground chicken or turkey thighs. It won’t be the same, but it’s still good. I recommend using ground chicken thighs, not chicken breast, which is too lean. Add your favorite spices, even if they’re not classic cheeseburger seasonings. Smoked paprika and chili powder are excellent in this recipe. You can add a teaspoon of each. Sometimes, I mix sliced pickled jalapenos into the beef mixture before baking it.
You start by cooking ground beef and onion in olive oil. Drain and add seasonings: Garlic, salt, and black pepper. Off heat, stir in condiments: Mayo, ketchup, and mustard. Then, stir in shredded cheese. The last step is to transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle it with more cheese. Bake the casserole for about 15 minutes at 400°F, then serve!
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