Each bite is a nostalgic trip back to your hometown, when things seemed a little less hectic. Hometown Hamburger Casserole is packed with not just the classic juicy ground beef but also plenty of rich, tangy tomato flavor for the full burger and ketchup feeling. Of course, Hometown Hamburger Casserole doesn’t skip on the melty, sharp, creamy cheese; it brings plenty by the handful! Take a taste of it yourself and let the good times roll back to you!
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 red or green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, finely shredded
- fresh parsley, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Step 3 –Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Step 4 –Cook the macaroni in the boiling water to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 5 –Drain the macaroni well.
Step 6 –In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook, while crumbling, until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 7 –Halfway through cooking the beef, add the onion and the bell pepper and cook until softened.
Step 8 –Drain the fat from the skillet.
Step 9 –Reduce the heat to low.
Step 10 –Add the garlic and the Italian seasoning to the beef mixture and cook, while stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Step 11 –Stir in the tomato sauce, the fire-roasted tomatoes, and the cooked macaroni and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Step 12 –Season the beef mixture with the salt and the pepper.
Step 13 –Spoon the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 14 –Top the casserole with the cheddar cheese and the Monterey Jack cheese.
Step 15 –Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
Step 16 –Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Step 17 –Serve garnished with the parsley.
