Description

This delicious Ground Beef Noodle Casserole combines tender pasta, savory ground beef, sharp cheddar cheese, and a rich marinara sauce into one comforting and kid-friendly dish. Easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a budget-friendly meal that the whole family will enjoy. With simple ingredients and straightforward cooking steps, this casserole can be prepped ahead and baked quickly, making it an ideal no-fuss dinner solution.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pasta:

1 lb penne (Barilla recommended for best al dente texture)

For the Beef Mixture:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef (85/15 lean-to-fat ratio suggested)
1 onion, finely diced into 1/4-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 cups marinara sauce (Rao’s Homemade preferred)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

For the Topping:

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (sharp cheddar recommended for best flavor and melt)

Instructions

Prepare the Oven and Mise en Place: Preheat your oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with oil or cooking spray. Finely dice the onion into 1/4-inch pieces and mince the garlic cloves. Completing this prep work ahead ensures a smooth cooking process without interruptions.
Start the Pasta and Brown the Beef: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the penne. Cook for 9 minutes, aiming for slightly under al dente as the pasta will finish cooking in the oven. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, cooking for about 8-10 minutes until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Use a meat thermometer to check that the beef reaches 160°F internally.
Build the Meat Sauce Base: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce and red pepper flakes. Drain any excess fat if necessary. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors, then season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Drain Pasta and Assemble the Casserole: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander without rinsing to preserve the starch. Pour the pasta into the prepared baking dish, then add the meat sauce and stir gently to combine, ensuring noodles are evenly coated with the sauce.
Top with Cheese and Bake: Evenly spread the shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole. Bake in the preheated 400°F oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Broil and Finish: Switch the oven to broil and place the casserole about 6 inches from the heat source. Broil for approximately 2 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese turns a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving to allow the cheese to set and make plating easier.

Notes

Use ground beef with 85/15 fat content for optimal flavor and moisture; 90/10 is leaner but may need extra olive oil.
Do not overcook pasta during the boiling stage; undercooking by about 2 minutes prevents mushy noodles after baking.
Drain excess fat from browned beef to avoid an oily casserole and allow the marinara sauce to shine.
Add garlic only after the beef is browned to avoid burnt, bitter flavors.
Keep a close watch while broiling the cheese topping to prevent burning; adjust oven rack if your broiler is very hot.
Substitute penne with other short pasta like rigatoni, ziti, rotini, or elbow macaroni.
Ground turkey, chicken, pork, Italian sausage (casings removed), or even plant-based ground meat can be used instead of ground beef.
Use any tomato-based pasta sauce if marinara isn’t available; add Italian seasoning if using plain tomato sauce.
Cheddar can be swapped with mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Colby, or Mexican cheese blend; shredding your own cheese yields better melting.
Store leftover casserole in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat refrigerated casserole covered at 350°F for 20-25 minutes; frozen casserole for 45-50 minutes. Microwave individual servings for 2-3 minutes if desired.

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: ground beef casserole, noodle casserole, easy dinner recipes, family meals, kid-friendly casserole, baked pasta, comfort food, quick casserole, beef and cheese pasta