Company Casserole is a ground beef and pasta casserole in a super creamy, cheesy tomato sauce. This baked casserole earns its name! Make ahead friendly and a favorite of both adults and kids, this is the perfect dish for busy weeknights or dinner parties.
A Pasta Casserole the Whole Family Will Love
If I was in charge of the dictionary, I would slap a full page photo of this Company Casserole next to the words: “Comfort Food.”
This recipe is way up at the tippy top of my list of satisfying, crowd pleasing, lick-the-plate-clean meals. It's holding its own next to this Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta and Italian Tortellini Soup.
My 3 year old got to sample the casserole before his brother came home from school, and I later overheard him telling his brother “the noodles with the pizza sauce and cheese were BLAZING good.”
If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.
Here’s why I think you’ll love this as much as my 3 year old:
- It’s perfect for making ahead of time. This casserole can be assembled in the morning and baked at night (or even the next day). You can also freeze it as a gift to your future self.
- It’s great for guests. There’s a reason it’s called Company Casserole! Kids and adults both love it, you can make it advance, and it only needs an easy garden salad and garlic bread to complete the meal!
- It’s a great way to stretch a pound of ground beef. This casserole serves 6-8 hungry souls, depending on how many of those souls are teenage boys.
Ingredients Needed
- Pasta- Any shorter pasta can work here–rotini, penne, farfalle–but by far our favorite is cavatappi. It’s just the right shape for gripping the creamy tomato sauce and it holds up well to baking.
- Sour Cream- This is used to coat the noodles after they’re cooked. It keeps them from sticking together and adds a hint of tang.
- Ground Beef- Good ol’ faithful. You can use any lean ratio for this recipe.
- Onion- Saute a little onion and ground beef and you’ve got yourself the start of a casserole (or Lasagna Soup or Ground Beef Quesadillas or Ground Beef Gyros).
- The Cheese Trifecta (Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, and Mozzarella Cheese)- Ok, if you’re lactose intolerant, this might not be the casserole for you. But for the rest of us, you’re going to LOVE how ridiculously creamy and melty this casserole is.
- Spaghetti sauce- Any kind of jarred sauce will work well here. I’m partial to Prego, and especially enjoy the roasted garlic sauce.
How to Make Company Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the pasta. Salt the water, bring to a boil, then add pasta. Cook at the lower end of the cooking time on the package directions, so it’s just al dente. Drain, then return the pasta to the pot and stir in sour cream. Set aside.
- Cook the beef. Meanwhile, heat a swirl of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onions and cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned and onions are softened, about 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease, then season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in the cream cheese, cottage cheese, and spaghetti sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until cream cheese is melted and mixture is heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place the noodles in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Top with ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Refrigerate or bake. At this point, you can put a lid on the casserole and freeze or refrigerate until ready to bake. Otherwise, place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and edges are bubbling.
Make Ahead, Storage, and Freezer Instructions
To Make Company Casserole Ahead of Time
Follow the instructions through step 5, then tightly cover the casserole dish and refrigerate for up to two days. Bake, covered with foil, for the first 20 minutes, then remove the foil for another 15-20 minutes.
To Freeze Company Casserole
Follow the instructions through step 5, then cool completely, and double wrap with saran wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or bake from frozen.
To bake a frozen casserole, cover it with foil, and place it in the oven while the oven preheats. Add about 20 minutes to the baking time, uncovering the casserole for the last 15 minutes.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
This casserole makes great leftovers! Honestly, I could eat it cold!
Store any leftovers covered in the casserole dish or transfer to an airtight container. They’ll keep for four days. Reheat in the microwave, or place back in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
Variations and Substitutions
- If you’d like to add more veggies, chopped green peppers and/or mushrooms can be added to the beef mixture. You can also stir chopped spinach or frozen spinach into the sauce.
- I recommend using full fat dairy products, but you can substitute lower fat if you prefer.
- To add a little more spice, add a ½ lb. of Italian sausage to the meat mixture.
More Ground Beef Casseroles to Try
If you or your kids love ground beef and pasta casseroles, definitely give this Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Casserole and this classic Johnny Marzetti a try.
Hamburger Potato Casserole and Green Bean Tater Tot Casserole are both great options for make ahead, freezer friendly casseroles.
If you want to enjoy some Tex-Mex flavors, try this Tortilla Lasagna, Walking Taco Casserole, Taco Tater Tot Casserole, and Mexican Cornbread Casserole with Ground Beef.
Company Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 6 ounces cream cheese (cut into cubes)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 24 oz jar your favorite spaghetti sauce
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the pasta. Salt the water, bring to a boil, then add pasta. Cook at the lower end of the cooking time on the package directions, so it’s just al dente. Drain, then return the pasta to the pot and stir in sour cream. Set aside.
- Cook the beef. Meanwhile, heat a swirl of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onions and cook, stirring often, until the beef is browned and onions are softened, about 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease, then season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in the cream cheese, cottage cheese, and spaghetti sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until cream cheese is melted and mixture is heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place the noodles in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Top with ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Refrigerate or bake. At this point, you can put a lid on the casserole and freeze or refrigerate until ready to bake. Otherwise, place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and edges are bubbling.