Hamburger casserole is a staple meal on frugal meal plans. This casserole comes in many varieties and can be adapted to be made from on hand staples. This guide pages shows how to make hamburger casserole in several different varieties.

Hamburger casserole may go on the dinner table to help save precious grocery dollars or it may be a family favorite. Either way this versatile casserole can be adapted to match family favorites or to makes use of the best items on sale at the local grocery store. Ground beef casserole recipes may use rice, potatoes, or noodles as a starch.

For variety, this casserole can be seasoned to be a Mexican Casserole or include vegetables and less meat to further stretch grocery dollars. It can include tomato based products and use seasonings to make it Italian in style. Hamburger casserole can be added to a low carb meal plan depending on the ingredients chosen. The number and variety of hamburger or ground beef casseroles is only limited by the place you are searching. Hamburger often has its own section in hard copy cook books and is a large portion of online recipe sections.

The image section of this guide page provides links to other ground beef casserole recipes. Other budget stretching casserole ideas are found in the Related Mahalo Pages.

For an easy, quick hamburger casserole meal, consider making a hamburger skillet meal. The skillet meal has the same serving structure as a baked casserole but generally cooks quicker and may be a one pot meal making clean up easier.

Hamburger Rice Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef (May use half pork or turkey)
• 3 cups water
• 2 medium carrots, cut into thick slices
• 1envelope onion soup mix
• 2 cups uncooked instant rice

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat
2. Drain grease and return to heat.
3. Stir in the water, carrots, and soup.
4. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender.
5. Return to a boil; add the rice.
6. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes or until rice is tender.

Potatoes are the stretching starch item in this family favorite casserole recipe.

Hamburger Potato Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 cups thinly sliced potatoes
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 3/4 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Brown the ground beef; drain fat.
3. Combine cream of mushroom soup, onion, milk, salt and pepper
4. Layer the potatoes, soup mixture and meat in a 2 quart baking dish.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
6. Top with Cheddar cheese and baking until cheese is melted.

Mexican Hamburger Casseroles can range from those which are taco or burrito type to ones with a corn meal or cornbread base. This recipe is one which can be increased easily based on the number of people to be fed.

Mexican Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 cups salsa
• 1 can chili beans
• 3 cups crushed tortilla chips
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 small can sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Brown ground beef
3. Stir in salsa and simmer 20 minutes
4. Stir in beans draining if there is a lot of liquid. Heat mixture thoroughly.
5. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
6. Spread crushed tortilla chips in dish and add beef mixture over chips.
7. Cover with sour cream and sprinkle drained olives, green onion, and tomato.
8. Top with Cheddar cheese.
9. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes

Noodles help to stretch the amount of meat needed for a meal. Egg noodles can be bought in different sizes. For this recipe a medium noodle works well

Hamburger Hot Dish

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 Can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 8 Ounce package of egg noodles, cooked

Directions

1. Brown ground beef and chopped onion. Drain grease.
2. Add Soups and mix well
3. Site in cooked noodles
4. Pour into 9X13 casserole dish
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour