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Cheesy Cheeseburger Casserole

Source of Recipe

From "In the Kitchen with David" by David Venable


Recipe Introduction

"Forgive me for getting a little 'cheesy' here, but that's just what this one-dish wonder is all about: cheese. Everything we love about melted cheese—rich, ooey, gooeyness—is right here in this cheeseburger casserole. It's easy to make, can be put together ahead and frozen, and it's kid-friendly. For kids of all ages, that is."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
â—¦ 1 16-ounce package elbow macaroni
â—¦ 2 pounds ground beef
â—¦ 1 large onion, chopped
â—¦ 2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
â—¦ â…› teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
â—¦ 1 cup (8 ounces) ricotta cheese
â—¦ ¼ cup (2 ounces) sour cream
â—¦ â…“ cup chopped green bell pepper
â—¦ â…“ cup chopped scallions
â—¦ ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar
â—¦ ¼ cup (1 ounce) shredded mozzarella
â—¦ ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of the salt and the macaroni and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion and cook, stirring, until the beef is well browned. Carefully drain the fat from the skillet and stir in the tomato sauce, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer over low heat while preparing the remaining ingredients.

Combine the ricotta, sour cream, bell pepper, and scallions in a medium bowl. Spread half of the pasta in the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Top with the ricotta mixture, then the remaining pasta. Pour the meat mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the Cheddar and mozzarella. Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
Sprinkle with the parsley before serving.

Makes 6 servings