Ultimate Meat Casserole Recipes That Are Deliciously Hearty

Sometimes, what you really want is classic comfort food. And is there anything more comforting than a meaty casserole hot from the oven? We get it. We love casseroles for their versatility and general yumminess. So, if you have some meat and a craving for comfort food, may we suggest one of our meaty casseroles?

Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Whipped potatoes, ground beef (or ground chicken, lamb, turkey, pork — whatever ground meat you happen to have lying around), and veggies mingle and become something so much better than the sum of their parts. Try our luscious shepherd's pie recipe. We bet you feel comforted already. 

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds ground beef
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1 (16-ounce) bag of frozen mixed vegetables
• ¼ cup of broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 2 pounds of potatoes, cut into large chunks
• ¾ cup of sour cream (do not use fat-free)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped fresh chives for garnish

Instructions

1. Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Turn the stove onto medium-high. Crumble the meat as it cooks, stirring frequently until browned.
4. When meat is cooked, drain excess fat away.
5. Return meat to the pan over low heat.
6. Add the tomato paste. Cook, stirring, for one minute to brown the tomato paste.
7. Add vegetables, broth, thyme, garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper.
8. Stir until well combined.
9. Simmer for 10 minutes.
10. Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover them with water.
11. Put on the stove on medium-high and cook, covered, until they're soft, about 20 minutes. 
12. Drain the potatoes and put them back in the pot. Add the sour cream, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. 
13. Whip with an electric mixer until smooth. 
14. Preheat oven to 350°F.
15. Spray a 10 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
16. Place meat and vegetable mixture in the dish.
17. Spread mashed potato mixture over the top evenly.
18. Bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.
19. Sprinkle with chopped chives.

Related: 11 Warming Cold-Weather Casseroles to Fuel Your Winter Menu

Creamy Pasta and Beef Casserole

We don't know about you, but we're suckers for anything creamy with macaroni, so this mac-based casserole definitely won't disappoint. This serves 8-10, so there's plenty for leftovers.

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package elbow macaroni, cooked according to package instructions and drained
• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 1 small onion (yellow or red), diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (4-ounce) can of sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1 (14½-ounce) can of diced tomatoes
• 1 (10 ½-ounce) can of cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can of creamed corn
• 2 cups of shredded cheese (your favorite - cheddar, Swiss, parmesan, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place the cooked, drained pasta in a 10 x 13 casserole dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Place the beef, onion and minced garlic in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Stir meat to crumble.
5. Cook until browned.
6. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, soup and corn.
7. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes, just until heated through.
8. Pour the meat mixture into the casserole dish.
9. Stir gently to evenly distribute pasta.
10. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top.
11. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
12. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Cheesy Tex-Mex Bake

Tex-Mex is never the wrong choice for comfort food, we promise. And our cheesy Tex-Mex bake is comfort food perfection that your family will crave. This serves 6 to 8.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14-ounce) can corn, drained
• 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (14-ounce) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and chilies
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 cups shredded pepper jack or colby jack cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large, ovenproof skillet, heat the oil on medium-high until it shimmers.
3. Add the ground beef and cook, crumbling, until browned, about five minutes.
4. Add the onions and green onion and cook until soft, about three minutes more.
5. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. 
6. Add the corn, black beans, chili powder, cumin, oregano, Ro-Tel, salt, and rice. Cook, stirring, until it begins to simmer, about five minutes.
7. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with the cheese. 
8. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until the cheese is bubbly, about 30 minutes.

Casseroles for the Win

Casseroles make meal prep easy, they're a hit with the kiddos, and they usually create leftovers. Since we're a fan of time-saving kitchen hacks like having leftovers, casseroles are a favorite for weeknight suppers. And with these tasty meaty casseroles, we think your family will agree.