Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

If you enjoy bacon on a cheeseburger, you’ll love this bacon cheeseburger casserole recipe! In addition to the beef, bacon and cheese, it has onions, garlic and a deliciously saucy coating that makes every mouthful oh-so-delicious. It’s also easy to make. This just may be one of those dishes that pleases everyone.

Ingredients for Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole 

• Ground beef: The beef makes this a burger-inspired casserole, but it’s easier to manage than flipping patties on the grill. Use lean ground beef to cut calories and saturated fat.
• Onions: Onions add flavor and a little texture to the meat layer in this dish. If not everyone loves onions, omit them for this portion of the dish and offer them as an optional topping.
• Garlic: Garlic makes everything taste more amazing. It adds umami to the meat layer of the casserole. Yum.
• Bacon: Crumbled crispy bacon adds crunch and flavor to this delicious casserole. The crispier the bacon, the better!
• Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese tastes delicious on burgers and in a cheeseburger-themed casserole. Feel free to shred the cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
• Eggs: Eggs are one of the components in a sauce or coating for all the ingredients in this dish. The eggs help coat everything while keeping the liquids from running to the bottom of the baking dish.
• Tomato paste: Tomato paste is like the ketchup component in this dish.
• Heavy whipping cream: Heavy whipping cream makes the sauce or coating extra creamy and decadent.
• Worcestershire sauce: This sauce that no one pronounces correctly adds loads of flavor to the dish. Shh…it’s like a secret ingredient.
• Optional toppings: Dill pickle slices, thinly sliced green onions, slices of red onion and halved cherry tomatoes (or tomatoes fresh from your garden, sliced fresh) are all great toppings to serve tableside with the casserole.

Directions 

Step 1: Brown the ground beef

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook the beef with the chopped onions and minced garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is tender, or about 10 to 12 minutes. Break up the beef into crumbles while cooking the meat, then drain the grease from the skillet when you’re finished cooking.

Step 2: Assemble the casserole

Transfer the cooked meat mixture to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle bacon and 1 cup of the Cheddar cheese on top. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, tomato paste, heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour the liquid over the foods in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of cheddar cheese on top.

Step 3: Bake the casserole

Bake, uncovered until the casserole has set and is golden brown about 30 to 35 minutes. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with burger toppings as desired.

Recipe Variations

• Caramelize the onions: Instead of cooking the onions with the beef, caramelize them, then place them atop or near the beef layer in the casserole. Here’s our recipe for caramelized onions.
• Make turkey burger casserole: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey for a nice, lean meat substitution. The texture remains the same and the flavor difference isn’t very noticeable with all the add-ins in this dish.
• Add sliced mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms are delicious on a burger and just as tasty in a bacon cheeseburger casserole! Saute the mushrooms alongside the beef in the skillet.
• Layer different cheeses: There’s no need to stick with Cheddar cheese in this easy bacon cheeseburger casserole recipe. Shred some Swiss cheese for an inner layer (bacon and Swiss make great company on any burger-related dish), or use a cheese blend on top. Pepper jack, Asiago or a sharp Cheddar add an extra tangy treat atop the casserole.

How to Store Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

Store bacon cheeseburger casserole by tightly covering the casserole dish when it is cool and placing it in the fridge where it will keep for about four days. It’s also a good choice for portion-sized microwaveable containers; just grab one out of the refrigerator, reheat and eat!

Can you freeze bacon cheeseburger casserole?

Yes, bacon cheeseburger casserole can be frozen. Cover the casserole dish tightly with two layers of foil, then a layer or two of plastic wrap. For easier portion management, save in portion-sized airtight freezer containers, then just thaw as needed. Thaw the frozen casserole in the refrigerator the night before you plan to eat it, then cover in plastic wrap and one layer of foil and reheat the dish at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes or until it’s heated through.

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole Tips

Can I make this without the bacon? 

Absolutely. Omitting the bacon also eliminates some of the calories, saturated fat and sodium.

What can I make that’s similar?

A railroad pie recipe, or ground beef and cornbread casserole has similar ingredients, along with ranch-style pinto beans and some spicy tomatoes, all topped with cornbread. Delicious!

What can I serve with bacon cheeseburger casserole?

Serve this dish with baked or mashed potatoes, French fries or onion rings.  Serve it atop or alongside egg noodles or rice. A salad is a great idea as well, as it’s nice to have some fresh, raw veggies and crunch to go along with this hearty dish.