Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe

By
Morgan Baker
Morgan Walker
Morgan Baker
Morgan is a recipe developer and photographer. She is also a gardener and exceptional hugger.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/5/23
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cheeseburger Casserole in a cast iron skillet and on a plate, with a side of mustard

The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 50 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Is there anything more comforting than a casserole? This particular hot dish, as they call it in the Midwest, takes all the elements of your favorite cheeseburger meal and combines them into one hearty and easy dish. There are a lot of ways to customize this casserole, like using ground turkey, chicken, or buffalo instead of beef. You could even leave off the tater tots entirely and transfer the mixture to a toasted bun and eat it like a sloppy joe with sweet potato or shoestring fries on the side. If you’re looking for a less carb-heavy meal, wrap the mixture in large lettuce leaves and garnish with a pickle spear.

Cheeseburger casserole is one of the easiest ways to feed a large family during the colder months. You can double this recipe and store one of the dishes for reheating later. Just bake the casserole in a throwaway foil baking dish and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, wrap tightly in plastic and then place in a freezer bag. When ready to serve, reheat the casserole in a 400 F oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes. The frozen casserole will last in the freezer for up to three months.

"The cheeseburger casserole had plenty of flavors with cheese and tomatoes, and kids love tater tots. Because cheese, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce can make the dish saltier, I recommend holding off on adding salt and pepper until after tasting it with the cheese." —Diana Rattray

cheeseburger casserole with tater tots/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound ground beef, 80% lean

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoons sea salt, more to taste

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 cup beef broth

  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided

  • 4 cups frozen tater tots, about 16 ounces

  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

  • 1/2 cup favorite mustard, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cheeseburger Casserole ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F.

    Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet or other large heavy-duty oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.

    Cast iron pan with oil

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  3. Add the ground beef and onion, and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until it is crumbled, no longer pink, and the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.

    Ground beef and onions in a cast iron pan with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  4. Drain all fat from the skillet.

    Beef and onions in a cast iron and drained beef fat in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  5. Lower the heat to medium. Add tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.

    Tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper with the beef mixture in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  6. Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. 

    Flour added to the beef mixture in the cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  7. Add the Worcestershire, beef broth, and tomatoes. Stir until the mixture is well combined, about 2 minutes.

    Worcestershire, beef broth, and tomatoes added to the beef mixture in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  8. Add half the shredded cheese, stirring until it melts into the mixture, about 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

    Shredded cheese added to the beef mixture in the cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  9. Top the mixture with a single layer of tater tots.

    Tater tots on top of the beef mixture in the cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  10. Transfer to the oven and bake until the tater tots are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes.

    Cheeseburger Casserole in a cast iron pan

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  11. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue baking until the cheese is golden and bubbling, about 5 minutes more.

    Cheese on top of the Cheeseburger Casserole in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

  12. Garnish with fresh parsley and sea salt to taste. Pass the mustard at the table for drizzling onto the casserole.

    Cheeseburger Casserole in a cast iron pan with a spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn

Recipe Variations

  • Substitute ground turkey, chicken, or buffalo for the ground beef.
  • Make it like a sloppy joe by serving on a toasted bun. The tater tots are a fun addition to a sandwich.

Make Ahead and Freeze

Plan ahead and double this recipe to store one of the casseroles for later use.


The casserole you're going to freeze for later should be made in a foil baking dish, then cooled completely. Once cooled, wrap tightly in plastic and then place in a freezer bag.


When ready to serve, reheat the casserole in a preheated 400 F oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes. The frozen casserole will last in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
595 Calories
37g Fat
34g Carbs
34g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 595
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 47%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 1904mg 83%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 34g
Vitamin C 15mg 74%
Calcium 353mg 27%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 849mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)