Easy Ground Beef and Noodle Casserole with Cheddar Sauce

Oozing cheese and a tasty tomato sauce make this deliciously seasoned ground beef and noodle casserole the ultimate comfort food. Smothered in a rich, from-scratch cheddar sauce, the savory ragu and mounds of macaroni hit all the right notes. It bakes perfectly in just 30 minutes for a highly satisfying, cozy dinner!

🧀Flavorful & Cheesy Family Dinner

What makes this bake so special (just like our Eggplant Italiano Casserole and Crockpot Baked Ziti) is how it combines the best parts of Italian cooking into one easy dish. The wonderfully flavored ragu simmers to perfection, wrapping around every single noodle.

And the absolute best part? The velvety, creamy cheese topping that comes together effortlessly on the stove. It makes this hearty bake an instant crowd-pleaser that will have everyone at the table going back for seconds!

😍Why You'll Love This Ground Beef Casserole

Once the initial prep work is out of the way, this comforting ground beef and noodle casserole bakes in just one dish for 30 minutes in the oven. It's also a fantastic make-ahead recipe! You can easily assemble the entire meal (minus the cheese sauce) several hours before baking, making it a massive timesaver on those extra busy weeknights. (To save even more time, check out our ingredient shortcuts mentioned below).

🍽️Easy Plating

When it comes to dinnertime, serving is an absolute breeze. Because everything is baked right into one hearty dish, there's no need to stress over additional sides-just pair it with a simple slice of crusty bread or a fresh green salad. Plus, it stores incredibly well. The leftovers keep nicely in the fridge and reheat with minimal effort, or you can even freeze it for a completely hassle-free meal later on!

🥘Ingredients Needed

• Macaroni: To make your prep work a little easier, cook the macaroni noodles just before you start on the hearty ragu.
• Lean Ground Beef: For the best flavor and texture in this casserole, using an 85% lean ground beef or above is highly recommended.
• Onions: Freshly chopped onions are essential here, as they beautifully bring out the rich, savory flavor of the meat sauce.
• Green Pepper: Adding a diced green pepper gives the base of this dish a little extra aromatic spice and a wonderful crunch.
• Marinara Sauce: You will need this sauce divided into two portions, as some will be used in the ragu and the rest is reserved for a delicious topping.
• Italian Seasoning: A dash of Italian seasoning provides that classic flavor profile, but if you don't have any on hand, oregano works as a perfect swap.

Cheese Sauce Ingredients:

• Butter: Rich butter serves as the delicious, flavorful base for our from-scratch stovetop sauce.
• Flour: You will need a bit of all-purpose flour to act as the perfect thickening agent for the creamy sauce.
• Whole Milk: When making a velvety cheese sauce, using whole milk is simply the best option for achieving that perfectly creamy, luscious texture.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: While pre-shredded works in a pinch, choosing to grate your own cheddar cheese guarantees a much smoother melt and superior taste.
• Salt & Pepper: Simple salt and pepper are all you need to perfectly balance and enhance the overall seasoning of the bake.

🔪How To Make Cheesy Ground Beef And Noodle Casserole

1. Step 1: Cook macaroni; set aside. Brown beef with onions and pepper; drain. Then add marinara sauce and seasoning; simmer.

2. Step 2: Arrange beef mixture in bottom of casserole dish. Add cooked noodles on top.

3. Step 3: Make the velvety cheese sauce, then transfer to casserole dish.

4. Step 4: Top the cheese sauce with the remaining marinara sauce; bake.

Hint: Be sure to boil your macaroni just until al dente, as it will continue to bake and soak up all that delicious sauce in the oven without becoming mushy!

🌿Healthy Ingredient Substitutions

• Whole Wheat or Chickpea Pasta: Swap out the traditional macaroni for a whole wheat or plant-based protein pasta to effortlessly boost the fiber and nutritional value of this comforting bake.
• Lean Ground Turkey: If you want to lighten up the homemade ragu, swapping the ground beef for lean ground turkey or ground chicken is a fantastic way to reduce saturated fat while keeping all of that savory flavor.
• 2% Milk: While whole milk yields the absolute richest stovetop cheese sauce, you can easily substitute 2% milk to cut down on calories without losing that beautiful, velvety texture.

📖Quick & Easy Shortcuts For This Ground Beef And Noodle Casserole

• Premade Cheese Sauce: If you want to skip making the stovetop sauce from scratch, you can easily swap it out for a jarred option like Ragu Double Cheddar Sauce to get that perfectly melty, velvety finish in a fraction of the time.
• Jarred Spaghetti or Pizza Sauce: To save time on measuring out seasonings, simply replace the plain marinara sauce with your favorite store-bought spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce for a deliciously robust flavor base.
• Pre-Chopped Vegetables: Save yourself some valuable prep time on a busy weeknight by picking up pre-chopped onions and green peppers right from the produce or freezer section of your local grocery store.

For more delicious oven-baked noodle casseroles, see Lazy Lasagna, Easy Baked TikTok Feta Pasta, and Turkey Tetrazzini.

🍽Essential Equipment Needed

• saucepans
• colander
• chef's knife
• cutting board
• large skillet with lid (for beef ragu)
• meat chopper (optional, but handy)
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• large mixing bowl
• mixing/stirring spoon
• 13x9 glass baking dish (lightly greased) or 3-quart casserole dish

🍶How to Store Leftover Ground Beef and Noodle Casserole

Since this hearty bake generously serves 8, you will likely have leftovers! Here is the best way to keep them tasting just as fresh and cheesy the next day:

• To Refrigerate: Allow the bake to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, making it perfect for meal prep.
• To Freeze: This casserole is wonderfully freezer-friendly! Store portions in a tightly sealed, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before you plan to eat it.
• To Reheat: For the quickest results, warm individual servings in the microwave in 1-minute bursts. To reheat the entire dish, cover it with foil and pop it back into the oven at 350°F until the cheese sauce is hot and bubbly again.

❓Hamburger Macaroni Casserole FAQ

🥄More Family Dinner Recipes

🍴Pairing With Our Favorite Desserts

Here are some desserts we enjoy with this Beef and Noodle Casserole:

📋Recipe With Step-By-Step Instructions

Ground Beef and Noodle Casserole with Cheddar Sauce

Kitchen Ready Betty

This comforting ground beef and noodle casserole features a savory, homemade meat sauce tossed with macaroni and baked to perfection. Smothered in a rich, from-scratch cheddar cheese sauce, it is the ultimate satisfying weeknight dinner!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Rest Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8

Calories 415 kcal

Equipment

• 13x9 casserole dish (or 3 QT casserole) well-greased
• box grater

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 cups uncooked macaroni

For the ragu:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ½ cup onions chopped
• ¼ cup green pepper chopped
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

For the cheese sauce:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 8 ounces cheddar cheese freshly grated for best results
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain in colander
• In a large saucepan, cook ground beef with onions and pepper over medium heat until beef is browned; drain excess grease.
• Add 1 & ¼ cups of the marinara sauce and seasoning. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove saucepan from heat and set aside.
• In a medium nonstick saucepan, make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter. Add the flour and gradually blend in milk. Stir constantly and cook until thick.
• Remove from heat and add cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese melts.
• Transfer beef mixture to prepared 3-quart casserole dish or 13x9 baking dish. Top with cooked macaroni.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles. Then drizzle the remaining marinara sauce on top. Use a spoon to gently spread the sauce so that it covers the cheese.
• Bake uncovered in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes and enjoy!

Notes

I always use 85% or above ground beef for this recipe.

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within five days.

For the absolute best, most velvety cheddar topping, always remove your saucepan from the heat before stirring in your freshly grated cheese. If the milk and roux mixture is actively boiling when the cheese goes in, it can separate and become slightly grainy. Letting the residual heat gently melt the cheddar guarantees a perfectly smooth, restaurant-quality finish every single time!

Nutrition

Calories: 415kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 27gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 707mgPotassium: 601mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 758IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 305mgIron: 3mg

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_{Please note that nutritional information is provided by a third party service and is intended for guidance purposes only. KitchenReadyBetty.com makes no claims to its accuracy.}