Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole
+5 photos

Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole

12 servings
The weeknight casserole staple is amped up with flavor from aromatics and tangy tomatoes, plus cream, pasta, and loads of cheese. It's a dish so good, you'll swear it's worth a million bucks.

Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • olive oil
    2 tbsp.
  • bay leaf
    1
  • ground beef
    1 lb.
  • garlic

    minced

    4 cloves
  • onion

    chopped

    1 medium
  • carrots

    chopped

    2 medium
  • kosher salt
    1 tsp.
  • black pepper
    1 tsp.
  • dry red wine
    ½ c
  • can whole peeled tomatoes

    such as san marzano

    1
  • heavy cream
    1 c
  • fish sauce
    1 tsp.
  • uncooked fusilli pasta
    8 oz.
  • thinly sliced fresh basil plus more for garnish
    2 tbsp.
  • shredded low-moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
    16 oz.
  • panko breadcrumbs
    1 ½ c
  • butter

    melted

    2 tbsp.
  • grated parmesan cheese
    ½ c

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Gather all ingredients.

    Step 1
  2. 2

    Heat oil with bay leaf in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and garlic, cooking until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add carrots, onion, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 to 4 minutes. Add red wine, tomatoes, heavy cream, and fish sauce. Use your spoon to break up tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

    Step 2
  3. 3

    Add pasta and basil, and cover with a lid. Simmer for 10 additional minutes until pasta is nearly tender. Remove from heat. Remove and discard bay leaf.

    Step 3
  4. 4

    Add 1/2 of meat mixture to prepared casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat this layering process one time.

    Step 4
  5. 5

    In a medium bowl, stir together breadcrumbs, butter, and Parmesan. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake in preheated oven until browned and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh basil.

    Step 5
Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole
+5

Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole

4.2(5)70 min12 servings

Similar Recipes

Million Dollar Meatloaf

Million Dollar Meatloaf

Pepper jelly is the star of this million dollar meatloaf. It provides sweetness and a hint of heat for a meatloaf unlike any you've ever had.

75 minutes6 servings
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is rich and creamy—and yes, it tastes like a million bucks. But this popular chicken casserole is easy to make and great for freezing so you can get ahead on future meals.

Million Dollar Ravioli Lasagna

Million Dollar Ravioli Lasagna

Million Dollar Ravioli Lasagna is the easiest and most flavorful baked ravioli you'll ever make!  This comfort food lasagna casserole is a total crowd pleaser!

55 minutes8 servings
Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

Picky eaters are going to love this quick and easy dinner. Mom called it busy day casserole but our readers call is cheesy ground beef and rice casserole.

95 minutes8 servings
5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

5-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole is a budget-friendly and simple dinner for the entire family. With five ingredients, your dinner will be ready in a little more than an hour and you can get to more important things.

75 minutes12 servings513 kcal
Pizza Casserole

Pizza Casserole

Enjoy your pizza, pasta-style, with all your favorite pizza toppings baked into a cozy casserole with cheese and marinara sauce. It is so simple to make always a family favorite.

60 minutes8 servings654 kcal
Creamed Cabbage and Ground Beef Casserole

Creamed Cabbage and Ground Beef Casserole

A cozy, comforting casserole featuring creamy cabbage and ground beef, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

45 minutes
Keto Ground Beef Casserole

Keto Ground Beef Casserole

This delicious Keto Ground Beef Casserole is insanely easy to make! It's a cheesy ground beef recipe that's perfect for any night of the week!

25 minutes8 servings

Ratings & Reviews

0.0/ 5
Excellent

Based on 5 ratings

southernliving.com
4.2(5 reviews)
View original recipe

Rating Breakdown

About this Recipe

Looking for the ultimate comfort food casserole that truly lives up to its name? This Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole takes a familiar weeknight staple and elevates it to extraordinary heights. It’s a hearty, satisfying dish that promises rich flavors and a touch of indulgence, making your dinner feel truly special.

Why This Casserole Works

The secret to this casserole's exceptional flavor lies in its thoughtful combination of ingredients. Starting with a robust base of ground beef, it’s infused with aromatic garlic, onion, and carrots, building layers of savory depth. The unexpected addition of dry red wine and tangy whole peeled tomatoes (like San Marzano) provides a bright, complex backbone, while heavy cream and a hint of fish sauce (which subtly boosts umami without tasting fishy) create an incredibly rich and velvety sauce. It’s a blend that ensures every forkful is packed with flavor.

What to Expect

Prepare for a deeply comforting experience. You'll find tender fusilli pasta enveloped in a savory, slightly sweet, and tangy ground beef sauce. Melted shredded mozzarella cheese creates irresistible gooey pockets throughout the dish, complementing the rich sauce. Capping it all off is a golden, crunchy topping of panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese, providing a delightful textural contrast that completes this decadent meal. It's designed to be a generous dish, perfect for feeding a crowd or ensuring delicious leftovers.

Customization & Variations

The carefully selected ingredients in this Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole work in harmony to create its signature taste. For an extra touch of freshness and vibrant color, feel free to add additional thinly sliced fresh basil as a garnish just before serving.

Serving & Context

This robust Million Dollar Ground Beef Casserole is ideal for family dinners, potlucks, or any occasion where you want to serve a comforting and impressive meal. It's a complete meal in itself, but pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad to cut through the richness.

Frequently Asked Questions