Healthy Cheeseburger Casserole

Cheeseburger macaroni casserole with a healthy twist. A creamy, cheesy casserole loaded with lean ground beef, whole wheat pasta, finely chopped veggies, and cheddar cheese. Healthier comfort food made in one pot in 30 minutes!

Course Main dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 560kcal

Author Allison - Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup finely diced yellow onion
1 cup finely diced carrot
½ cup finely diced celery
⅓ cup finely diced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups low sodium beef broth plus more, if needed
⅓ cup ketchup
15 oz can tomato sauce
3 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni
1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Instructions

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil and ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until the meat is mostly cooked through. Add onion, carrot, celery, bell pepper, garlic and ½ teaspoon salt and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables have softened, stirring occasionally. If the mixture seems dry you can add a drizzle of olive oil.
Add beef broth, ketchup, tomato sauce and pasta. Increase heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until the pasta is cooked through (about 10 minutes). As the mixture is cooking it will thicken. Add water as needed to keep it creamy. Once the pasta is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, stir in 1 cup of cheese. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top and place a lid on the saucepan to melt the cheese (or pop it under the broiler to melt it). Serve immediately. If the sauce thickens, just stir in a little water to make it creamy again.

Notes

Reheating leftovers? Stir in a splash of water to make the pasta creamy.

Nutrition