Kid's Favorite Casserole

Get ready to make dinnertime a breeze with Kid’s Favorite Casserole, the ultimate comfort food that’s packed with flavor and kid-approved goodness! This hearty dish features tender elbow macaroni tossed in a savory blend of browned ground beef, aromatic garlic and onion, and a medley of frozen vegetables for a pop of color and nutrition. Simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce seasoned with Italian herbs, it’s finished off with a generous topping of melted cheddar and Parmesan cheese for that irresistible cheesy crust. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy casserole comes together in just under an hour and serves up to six hungry mouths. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or looking for a family-friendly dinner idea, this cheesy, veggie-packed pasta bake is sure to become a household favorite. Serve it with a simple salad or garlic bread, and watch this dish disappear in no time!

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Elbow macaroni
• 1 pound Ground beef
• 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup Frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, etc.)
• 1 15-ounce can Crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Butter for greasing the casserole dish

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with butter and set aside.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4

Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 6

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined.

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni and the beef mixture. Mix well to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.

Step 8

Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Spread it out evenly.

Step 9

Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Step 10

Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 11

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.

Step 12

Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1758.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3342.2

Total Fat 188.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 93.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 612.7mg	0%
Sodium 4955.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 233.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.8g	0%
Total Sugars 38.9g
Protein 182.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2282.2mg	0%
Iron 21.1mg	0%
Potassium 2980.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.6%

Protein: 21.7%

Carbs: 27.8%