Forktionary

Bare Cupboard Casserole Recipe

This incredibly easy casserole is a lifesaver for busy weeknights! Created from pantry staples, it's adaptable to whatever you have on hand. Featuring hearty ground beef, pasta, and zesty taco seasoning, this dish is ready in under an hour. Customize it with your favorite pasta shape and tomatoes – even a little ketchup can help! Perfect for those nights when you're short on time but big on flavor.

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Calories 865.3 kcal
Protein 107g
Rating 4.5 (2 Reviews)
Bare Cupboard Casserole 100

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Bare Cupboard Casserole

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 packet (about 1 ounce) taco seasoning
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 pound dry pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, plus additional 1/4 cup per serving for topping
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup (if using regular tomatoes instead of Roma)

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How to Make Bare Cupboard Casserole

  1. Cook 1 pound of pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, brown 1 pound of ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Add 1 medium onion, chopped, to the pot and sauté with the beef until softened and translucent (about 5 minutes).
  4. Stir in 1 packet (about 1 ounce) Lawry's Taco Seasoning (or your favorite brand/homemade), 1 cup of water, 1 (28 ounce) can of diced Roma tomatoes (or 1 (28 ounce) can of diced tomatoes + 2 tablespoons ketchup if using regular tomatoes), and the cooked pasta.
  5. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for 30 minutes, or until the tomatoes have softened and broken down slightly.
  6. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese) until melted and smooth.
  7. Serve immediately, topped with an additional 1/4 cup of shredded cheese per serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

59 g

Sugar

38g

Fat

108g

Carbs

20g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes The Americas American

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

60 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation North American Main Dish Beef Easy Beginner Cook Inexpensive Ground Beef Meat 3 Steps Or Less