Cheeseburger Casserole
This easy Cheeseburger Casserole is always a winning dinner with both kids and adults! It’s made with a combination of ground beef, rice, cheese, bacon and seasonings, all baked together to golden brown perfection. Top with pickles, tomato and burger sauce for a family-friendly dinner that everyone will love!
You can’t go wrong with a hearty, flavorful casserole! Try some of our other favorites like this Enchilada Casserole or this layered Taco Casserole.
This delicious Cheeseburger Casserole is like your favorite burger served up in casserole form! It’s a simple mix of ingredients and takes just minutes to put together, but the end result is a comfort food classic that’s sure to be a hit.
As an added plus, this dish makes for a super convenient weekday meal option. You can even prepare it in advance and then pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve dinner!
It’s always nice to have some meal options, that are easy and the kids will gladly devour. This cheeseburger casserole is totally that meal!
I’ve made this several times and it is one of my family’s favorite weeknight meals! Easy to make and full of delicious flavor!
— Jessica
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make: This dish only takes 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to cook, dinner will be ready to serve in no time at all.
- Better for you: We’re using ingredients like lean ground beef, rice (use brown rice, if you’d like!) and Greek yogurt to keep this lighter than most cheeseburger casserole recipes.
- So delicious: This mixture of beef, rice, bacon and cheese is so tasty, just like cheeseburgers!
- Crowd-pleasing: Not only do the adults go crazy for this meal, but your picky kiddos will love it too!
Ingredients needed
If you love a good burger, this cheeseburger casserole recipe is for you! It’s packed with all of your favorite cheeseburger ingredients and rice for a satisfying meal the entire family will enjoy. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact measurements.
- Bacon: Crispy, crumbly bacon brings incredible savoriness.
- Ground beef: I typically use 90% lean ground beef in this dish. It will add great flavor but not be overly greasy. If you use ground beef with a higher fat content, be sure to drain off any excess grease before proceeding with the recipe.
- Rice: Use any cooked rice you’d like. I like to quickly cook instant rice or even use the Minute Ready-to-Serve rice cups.
- Onion: Sautéed with the ground beef to add depth of flavor.
- Seasonings: You’ll need garlic powder, onion powder and salt to bring all of the flavors together.
- Ketchup and mustard: For that classic hamburger taste!
- Greek yogurt: Makes everything deliciously creamy and adds a subtle tangy flavor.
- Egg whites: The liquid egg whites act as a binder while adding extra protein to the dish.
- Cheese: Sprinkle on as much or as little shredded cheddar cheese as you’d like.
Variations and substitutions
- Meat: Use any ground meat that you like best – ground turkey, ground chicken and ground bison all work great!
- Use sour cream: Instead of using Greek yogurt, you can use an equal amount of sour cream.
- Cheese: Use any favorite cheese – pepper jack cheese, Colby cheese or American cheese melt really well. You could also mix in a bit of mozzarella too.
- Toppings: Enjoy with any favorite burger toppings like diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, pickles, avocado and burger sauce.
How to make this recipe
Good thing cheeseburger casserole is so easy to make because you’re going to be craving this on repeat! See printable instructions below in the recipe card.
1. Cook the bacon: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook bacon until crispy in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove from skillet and crumble after allowing it to cool slightly; set aside.
2. Cook the beef and add rice: Into the same skillet, add ground beef, onion, and seasonings. Cook meat, breaking it up into crumbles, until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Add cooked rice, stir until warmed through.
3. Mix in flavorings: Remove skillet from heat. Add ketchup, mustard, Greek yogurt, egg whites and 1/3 cup shredded cheese. Stir until fully combined and transfer to baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
4. Top and bake: Top with crumbled bacon and additional 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
5. Continue baking without foil: Remove from oven and remove foil. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is just melted on top.
6. Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with tomatoes, pickles and burger sauce, if desired, and enjoy!
Helpful tips
Here are a few tips and tricks for the best cheeseburger casserole possible!
- Shred the cheese: If you have the time, buy the cheese in a block and shred it yourself rather than buying bags of pre-shredded cheese. It will melt and taste much better.
- Bake covered: Be sure the casserole is covered in aluminum foil when you start baking it, so the top doesn’t become overly brown. Then, in the last 5 minutes, remove the foil, so the cheese gets nice and melty.
- Make ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to 8 hours before you plan to bake it. Store it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to put it in the oven. You may need to increase the cooking time to compensate for starting with a cold dish.
Frequently asked questions
It’s very similar to those dishes, just without the pasta! I really love the texture of this with rice and it’s not quite so heavy. For something with pasta, try our homemade Hamburger Helper made with elbow macaroni.
Yes! You could actually swap the regular rice for cauliflower rice. In addition, you can add two cups of raw baby spinach leaves to the beef mixture when it’s done cooking. Add the spinach right before adding the rice and mix it in until it wilts very slightly. Don’t overcook it.
You’ll need about 10 minutes to prep the ingredients like chopping the onion, cooking the bacon, browning the meat and measuring out the seasonings. Then, everything goes into the oven for about 30 minutes.
Serving suggestions
We love to enjoy this dish with potato salad, potato chips, tater tots or French fries for the complete burger night experience. However, this casserole is really satisfying enough to stand alone as a full meal and it even works paired with a light side salad or roasted veggies. Here are some light sides to choose from:
Storage recommendations
- Storing leftovers: Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container in the fridge and are best if used within 4 to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.
- Freezing: Baked cheeseburger casserole freezes well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To enjoy after freezing, defrost overnight and reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.
Tip: Leftover cheeseburger casserole is delicious as a dip with chips or as a filling for burritos and crunch wraps!
More favorite family dinners
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 lb. lean ground meat
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 onion, chopped, about 1 cup
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoons mustard
- 1/3 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cups liquid egg whites
- 1/3 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, (I used 1/3 cup for mixing into the casserole and 1/2 cup for topping the casserole before baking. Use as much or as little as you'd like.)
Optional toppings
- diced tomato
- dill pickle slices
- drizzle of burger sauce or chipotle mayo
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook bacon until crispy in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove from skillet and crumble after allowing to cool slightly; set aside.
- Into the same skillet, add ground beef, onion, and seasonings. Cook meat, breaking it up into crumbles, until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Add cooked rice, stir until warmed through.
- Remove skillet from heat. Add ketchup, mustard, Greek yogurt, egg whites and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Stir until fully combined and transfer to baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Top with crumbled bacon and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Remove from oven and remove foil. Bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is just melted on top. Remove from the oven and garnish with tomatoes, pickles and burger sauce, if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
- Storing leftovers: Leftovers should be refrigerated in an airtight container and are best if used within 4 to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.
- Freezing: Baked cheeseburger casserole freezes well and can be stored for up to 3 months. To enjoy after freezing, defrost overnight and reheat in a microwave or an oven heated to 350°F until warmed through.
Did you make this recipe?
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I’ve made this several times and it is one of my family’s favorite weeknight meals! Easy to make and full of delicious flavor!
This is the best! My kids devour this every time I make it. Tastes equally delicious with cheddar or Colby Jack. Thanks for a great, easy and delicious recipe!
I was looking for an easy weeknight meal this week and this is perfect!! I love how easy it is and it’s pure comfort food!
I made this one added a dash or two of hot sauce. It was devoured at my house!
So easy and family friendly! It was a hit!
10/10 repeat recipe in my household!
I’m so happy I gave this Cheeseburger casserole a try!! It has all the same flavors as a burger and easy to make!
Am I able to use regular whole milk yogurt for this OR omit the yogurt completely?
Thanks!
Regular yogurt will be fine.
WOW! I love how I can have a burger experience without having to have it with bread. Served it with potato chips and it was super delicious 😀
My son loved this! Thanks so much for the great dinner idea!
Kim this is AMAAAAZING! Super kid friendly too! LOVE LOVE LOVE