Description
Ground Beef Casserole delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Hearty layers of seasoned meat, tender vegetables, and melted cheese make your weeknight meal both satisfying and simple.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups shredded cheese
Base Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup bell peppers
- 1 cup corn
Canned and Pantry Items:
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Gather and chop 1 medium onion, 1 cup bell peppers, and 3 garlic cloves into fine, uniform pieces using a sharp knife.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat at 350F. Add 1 lb lean ground beef and season generously with salt, pepper, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- Cook the ground beef for 6-8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains and a golden-brown crust develops.
- Incorporate diced onions, minced garlic, and bell peppers into the beef. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften and become translucent.
- Pour 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of kidney beans, and 1 cup of corn into the skillet. Stir and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Spread half the beef mixture across the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the layer.
- Add remaining beef mixture on top of the cheese, then cover with the final 1 cup of cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes at 350F.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Optional: garnish with chopped green onions or cilantro.
Notes
- Browning the ground beef thoroughly creates a deeper, richer flavor in the casserole, so take time to cook it until it develops a nice caramelized texture.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or lean ground chicken and reduce the cheese to half a cup for a healthier alternative.
- Customize the spice level by adjusting chili powder and adding a dash of hot sauce if your family enjoys more heat in their dishes.
- Make this dish ahead of time by assembling the casserole and refrigerating it, then bake when ready to serve – perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg