Wholesome Hamburger Hot Dish

This ground beef casserole recipe is a favorite for busy weeknights when you want to serve something warm and homemade but don't have a ton of time. You can even prepare this Wholesome Hamburger Hot Dish in advance for an even easier dinner. Made with vegetables, ground beef, cheese and ziti pasta, this meal in one recipe has a little something for everyone. When it comes to easy ground beef recipes, this one is a definite keeper. It's delicious and simple... what more could you want?

Chilling Time8 hr

Cooking Time1 hr 30 min

Cooking MethodCasserole

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced
12 ounces lean ground beef
1 1/2 cup onions, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, undrained
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
4 cups uncooked ziti
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add zucchini and saute 5 to 6 minutes until just starting to brown. Remove to a small bowl.
Add beef, onions and garlic to skillet. Cook, stirring to break up beef, until browned.
Add tomatoes, seasoning and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook about 6 minutes for flavors to blend.
Meanwhile whisk together milk and flour in a 2-quart saucepan until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking often. Boil 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat, add Cheddar cheese and whisk until melted.
Mix meat sauce and ziti in a shallow 3-quart baking dish; stir in cheese sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. Note: There is no need to boil the pasta; it absorbs liquid during chilling and becomes tender.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake, covered, for 1 1/4 hours.
Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer until bubbly and lightly browned.