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Close-up of curly cavatappi pasta coated in creamy orange-red sauce and melted cheese. (Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole)

Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole: The Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef Bake

A visually stunning, creamy Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole featuring curly cavatappi pasta, well-browned ground beef, and a glossy tomato-cheese sauce topped with blistered mozzarella and fresh tomatoes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 645
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Recipe Ingredients
  • 1 lb (454g) Cavatappi Pasta Cooked al dente
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) Ground Beef 80/20 blend
  • 2 cups (225g) Sharp Yellow Cheddar Shredded, divided
  • 1 cup (115g) Low-Moisture Mozzarella Shredded
  • 1/2 cup (120g) Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup (240ml) Tomato Sauce
  • 1.5 cups (360ml) Heavy Cream
  • 2 tsp (10g) Yellow Mustard
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 cup (75g) Fresh Red Tomatoes Small diced
  • 2 tbsp (8g) Fresh Green Parsley Finely chopped

Equipment

  • 1 Rectangular Ceramic Baking Dish 9x13 inch preferred
  • 1 Large heavy-bottomed skillet Cast iron or stainless steel
  • 1 Whisk For sauce emulsification

Instructions
 

Preparation
  1. Boil the cavatappi in salted water until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until it is crumbled and develops a deep golden-brown crust.
Sauce and Assembly
  1. Stir tomato paste into the beef for 2 minutes. Whisk in heavy cream, tomato sauce, mustard, and Worcestershire. Simmer until glossy, then melt in 1 cup of cheddar.
  2. Toss pasta with the sauce, transfer to a ceramic dish, and top with remaining cheddar and mozzarella. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes.
  3. Broil for 2-3 minutes until charred golden spots appear. Rest for 5 minutes, then scatter diced tomatoes and parsley over the top.

Notes

Always grate cheese from a block for the smoothest melt.
Don't skip the resting period; it prevents the sauce from becoming runny.
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