Okay, folks, let’s talk about this Crock-Pot Cheeseburger Casserole I whipped up the other day. I’ve been seeing these slow-cooker recipes all over the place, and I finally decided to give one a try. Cheeseburgers are a classic, right? And a casserole? Comfort food central. So, combining the two seemed like a no-brainer.
First things first, I gathered my ingredients. I’m talking ground beef, of course – I used about a pound and a half of the lean stuff. Then, some diced onions, because what’s a burger without onions? A can of diced tomatoes, some ketchup and mustard for that classic burger flavor, and a whole bunch of shredded cheddar cheese. Oh, and I almost forgot, a bag of egg noodles. I wasn’t sure about the noodles at first, but trust me, it works.
The Prep Work
The prep is super easy, I browned the ground beef in a skillet, and drain off any extra grease. Nobody wants a greasy casserole, am I right?
While that was going, I diced up my * the beef was cooked, I tossed it in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients.
- I dumped in the diced tomatoes (undrained, you need that liquid).
- Squirted in a good amount of ketchup and mustard. Just eyeballed it, you know, until it felt right.
- Then, I threw in the onions.
- Finally, Stir the meet with those ingredients
Slow Cooking Magic
I mixed everything together really well, making sure all that beefy goodness was coated in the sauce. Then, I sprinkled in most of the shredded cheese, saving a little bit for the top later. The noodles, though? Those went in raw. I know, I know, it sounds weird, but the slow cooker does its thing, and they cook up perfectly in the sauce.
I popped the lid on, set it to low, and let it do its magic for about 6 hours. You could probably do it on high for 3-4 hours, but I like the low and slow method. It just makes everything so tender and flavorful.
The Finishing Touch
About 30 minutes before it was done, I sprinkled the rest of that cheddar cheese on top. This is key, people. You want that bubbly, melty cheese layer. Once the cheese was melted and the noodles were cooked through, it was ready to go!
Honestly, this Crock-Pot Cheeseburger Casserole was a total win. It was easy, delicious, and the whole family loved it. Even my picky eater went back for seconds. If you’re looking for a simple, comforting meal, you gotta give this one a try. It’s definitely going into my regular rotation!
