Published 8/9/2023 • Updated 8/29/2023 The OG hamburger casserole comes from a box and is essentially noodles and a powdered cheese sauce with ground hamburger mixed in. While boxed food has a time and a place, we’re here to help you recreate hamburger casserole in your own home with a Fit Foodie twist. Say hello to our revamped, still hearty yet totally wholesome, hamburger casserole with a sweet potato cheese sauce. This easy and delicious hamburger casserole is made with spiced ground turkey, puréed sweet potatoes + cheese, and noodles. It bakes up in the oven to bubbly golden brown perfection – a comfort food we all love!
What You Need for Hamburger Casserole
No boxed mix here! Our version of hamburger casserole is just as comforting, but made without the additives and sodium so often found in classic hamburger casserole. It’s creamy and tastes even better than the classic! Here’s what you need for each part of this casserole recipe: Meat: Classic hamburger casserole is made with ground beef, but for this recipe we used ground turkey. The turkey mixture comes together with onion and a few cozy spices. Cheese Sauce: While there is still cheese in our homemade cheese sauce, the secret ingredient is actually sweet potatoes. They add a touch of sweetness, lots of nutrients, and the perfect bright orange color. You’ll purée the sweet potatoes and blend them together with cheese, broth, and salt. Noodles: Instead of classic white noodles, we love to use whole wheat noodles or even a chickpea pasta for a little more protein.
Hamburger Casserole Substitutions
Use this casserole recipe as a starting point for what ingredients you have on hand or what you like best.
Instead of using ground turkey, use the same amount of ground beef or ground chicken. You could even use beans or lentils to make it vegetarian. Use your favorite kind of noodle. Protein pasta (like chickpea noodles) or gluten free noodles work great in this recipe. If you don’t have time to make your own sweet potato purée, use the same amount of canned sweet potatoes or pumpkin in the sauce.
How to Store this Casserole
We don’t suggest freezing hamburger casserole because the noodles will get soggy when defrosting. But, this recipe does reheat well when stored in the fridge for leftover meals throughout the week! When completely cool, transfer leftover casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Hearty Casserole Recipes
Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Orzo Chicken Pot Pie Casserole Mexican Casserole Chicken Casserole Sweet Potato Casserole
Serving Suggestions
Hamburger casserole can totally be a meal on its own. However, if time allows, whip up a quick vegetable side to go along with it like air fryer broccoli, sautéed green beans, or air fryer asparagus for a double dose of veggies.
