Easy Layered Hamburger Pasta Casserole
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups dry) spiral pasta, rotini, or penne
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (24-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 small can sliced mushrooms (optional)
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 6-8 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until just tender. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Drain the excess grease.
- Stir the spaghetti sauce and mushrooms into the cooked beef. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Spoon a thin layer of meat sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spread half of the cooked pasta over the sauce.
- Cover with about one-third of the meat sauce.
- Spread the yogurt or sour cream evenly over the pasta.
- Lay the cheese slices over the creamy layer.
- Add the remaining pasta.
- Spread the remaining meat sauce evenly over the noodles.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling, the cheese is melted, and the center reaches 165°F.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Kid Chef Jobs
- Measure the pasta, cheese, yogurt, and spaghetti sauce.
- Help stir the meat sauce after the beef has finished cooking.
- Layer the pasta, sauce, cheese, and yogurt in the casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the top.
- Help set the table while the casserole rests before serving.
Adult Helper
An adult should brown the ground beef, safely drain the grease, cook and drain the pasta, handle the hot casserole dish, and place the casserole in and out of the oven.
Cook Pasta Just Until Tender
Since the casserole continues baking in the oven, cook the pasta only until al dente. Slightly firm pasta keeps its shape better and won't become mushy after baking.
Easy Variations
- Use rotini, penne, shells, bowties, or egg noodles.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage.
- Add diced onions, bell peppers, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or shredded carrots.
- Use cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, provolone, or an Italian cheese blend.
- Season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Top with Parmesan cheese or buttered breadcrumbs for a crisp baked topping.
Recipe, image, and content from
Kids-Cooking-Activities.com