Hamburger Tomato Casserole

Not Fancy

The no-frills name of this dish didn’t inspire a lot of confidence that it would be tasty. Neither did the ingredient list, which is about as basic as a casserole gets. But a recipe with minimal ingredients is usually quick and easy, and that was exactly what I needed on the day of my test. 

One look at the baking time made me rethink my plan, though. One hour at 300 degrees? Why? If the ingredients were cooked on the stove first, why would they also need to bake for an hour at such a low temperature?  

How to Make Hamburger Tomato Casserole

I browned the hamburger while pondering that question. (In case you're curious, I used this tool while I was at it.) 

Maybe the person who created the recipe needed an hour of free time before dinner to help their kids with homework. Or the recipe was devised during the coal stove era, and the creator was running too low on fuel to get a hot oven. Or, to be optimistic, maybe the noodles were supposed to soak up a rich, tomato-y flavor during that low, slow bake. 

Whatever the reason, I didn’t have time. I threw the veggies and tomatoes in with the browned hamburger and let them simmer until they were tender.

In the meantime, the noodles boiled in a pot. I added the sugar and chili powder to the meat mixture then combined the noodles with the meat mixture in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.  

Forgoing my vow to make every recipe as written, I set the oven to 350 degrees. The dish went in until it started to bubble and some of the juice had been absorbed by the noodles, about 20 minutes.  

That was more like it–quick and easy. 

The Verdict

As you can see from above, the presentation of this dish is not super attractive. But then how many casseroles are? Flavor is what counts, but I didn’t expect much in that department.  

A few mouthfuls later, I decided that the good thing about low expectations is that they almost always get surpassed. Hamburger Tomato Casserole is hearty, saucy, and slightly spicy. I could also envision all sorts of ways this dish could be embellished to add even more flavor. You could increase the chili powder for an even bigger zing. A sprinkling of cheese hardly ever goes wrong. Or you could switch out the seasonings for a completely different flavor profile, such as using basil and oregano for an Italian flair. The options for fiddling are endless. But even as written, this dish is “good,”  as my husband proclaimed.  

Well, if the hubby thinks so, then into the digital box it goes. It might not be pretty, but it’s quick, easy, and “good.” 

Try it for youself by clicking on the link below the recipe card to print it out.