Our homestyle ground beef casserole is a hearty dinner packed with beef blended with tomatoes and spices layered on top of elbow noodles mixed with cream cheese, sour cream, and a touch of lemon juice to brighten the casserole. Dairy-free, gluten-free.
This old-fashioned hamburger casserole is loved by both kids and adults. There is no doubt it will become a new family staple around the dinner table. Easy to assemble in advance, this beef casserole is a great make-ahead meal that can be enjoyed any night of the week!
Looking for more gluten-free meals to meal prep? We have you covered with Make Ahead Roasted Potatoes, Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup and Gluten-Free Baked Ziti with Sausage.
Table of Contents
Gluten-Free Meal Prep Ideas
Meal prep can be a struggle, but when you add in gluten-free and dairy-free restrictions, it can become even more challenging. Our Meal Planning Spreadsheet can make meal prep a breeze by helping you organize meals on a daily, weekly or monthly plan. The meal planning sheets are easy and FREE to download. Start using yours today!
For meal ideas, check out the rest of our site, it’s 100% gluten-free. You might also enjoy these 8-Hour Crockpot Recipes. All kid-approved recipes that are simple to make ahead and store until you are ready to serve.
Related: Printable Meal Labels
We don’t know about you, but we are craving this hamburger casserole – let’s get started! Gather the equipment and ingredients then following the written instructions or using the printable recipe card below.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef ✅
- 8 ounce box gluten-free elbow pasta, cooked al dente
- 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes ✅
- 4 ounce can green chilies ✅
- 6 ounce can tomato paste ✅
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard ✅
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
- 1 teaspoon onion powder ✅
- 8 ounces Kite Hill cream cheese
- 8 ounces Kite Hill sour cream
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded Violife Colby jack cheese
- 1 medium Roma tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make Ground Beef Casserole
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook the ground beef and blend the spices
In a large skillet brown the ground beef. Once cooked blend in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, green chilies, dry mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Blend the pasta mixture
Right after draining the pasta gently stir in the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Layer the casserole
Add the pasta mixture to the baking pan. Spread the beef mixture on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Cover with tinfoil.
Pro Tip: Spray the tinfoil with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the cheese from sticking.
Bake
Bake covered for 30 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with diced tomatoes and green onions if desired. Serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assemble the casserole according to the written directions then cover with foil and refrigerate. The dish can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge. When ready to bake, keep covered with foil then bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
This recipe is a complete meal that can be served on its own or paired with a side salad or Easy Vegan & Gluten-Free Garlic Bread.
Swap ground turkey, chicken, pork, or Italian sausage for the ground beef. Add sauteed onions and bell peppers to the meat mixture. Use any noodle shape in place of elbow noodles. Add a can of beans to the meat mixture.
While we have not tried to freeze this dish, we would recommend assembling (minus the shredded cheese) then covering with foil and freezing. Thaw in the fridge overnight, add the cheese then bake according to directions. If you freeze, let us know how it turns out!
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- When measuring ingredients, make sure to fill the measuring cups/spoon by scooping, leveling off the top (making it flat) then adding to the bowl.
- To cook ground beef, add to a hot skillet then break up into small pieces while stirring until all the beef is browned (not pink).
- Help your parent(s) by assembling the casserole at night that way it is ready to place in the oven the next day.
What Can You Make With Ground Beef?
With all the delicious ground beef recipes, here are a few of our favorites!
- Gluten-Free Ground Beef Recipes
- Frozen Ground Beef in the Instant Pot
- Ground Beef and Bean Burrito
- Beef and Cheese Burrito
- Chili For A Crowd
- Halloween Chili
- Nacho Fries (Taco Bell)
- Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- tinfoil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef ✅
- 8 ounce box gluten-free elbow pasta, cooked al dente
- 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes ✅
- 4 ounce can green chilies ✅
- 6 ounce can tomato paste ✅
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard ✅
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
- 1 teaspoon onion powder ✅
- 8 ounces Kite Hill cream cheese
- 8 ounces Kite Hill sour cream
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded Violife Colby jack cheese
- 1 medium Roma tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- ⭐️Cook the ground beef and blend the spices. In a large skillet brown the ground beef. Once cooked blend in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, green chilies, dry mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder.1 pound ground beef, 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 4 ounce can green chilies, 6 ounce can tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Blend the pasta mixture. Right after draining the pasta gently stir in the cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.8 ounce box gluten-free elbow pasta, cooked al dente, 8 ounces Kite Hill cream cheese, 8 ounces Kite Hill sour cream, 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Layer the casserole. Add the pasta mixture to the baking pan. Spread the beef mixture on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Cover with tinfoil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray (prevents the cheese from sticking).1/2 cup shredded Violife Colby jack cheese
- ⭐️Bake. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with diced tomatoes and green onions if desired. Serve hot.1 medium Roma tomato, diced, 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
Notes
Recipe Variations
- Swap ground turkey, chicken, pork, Italian sausage for the ground beef. Add sauteed onions and bell peppers to the meat mixture. Use any noodle shape in place of elbow noodles. Add a can of beans to the meat mixture.
Meal Prep Instructions
- Assemble the casserole according to the written directions then cover with foil and refrigerate. The dish can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge. When ready to bake, keep covered with foil then bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
Nutrition
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