Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 17

It’s been extremely cold here in Winnipeg over the past 4 days. Like, seriously cold. I’m talking -40 degrees celsius cold! We had our car not start and require boosting twice in two days. We might now be on a first name basis with Dr. Hook Towing (thanks guys!). I completely admire people who can continue to eat healthy when it’s freezing outside. I totally crave comfort food, such as soups, chilli and this amazing casserole. Okay, so I not only crave comfort food when the weather is terrible. I also crave it when I am sick – like last week when I hurt my back and managed to eat my body weight in chicken fingers and fries. Don’t judge me – you’ve totally done this too.

I completely fell in love with this casserole a couple years ago when my fiancรฉ made it for me on one random weekend. It’s the best casserole in the entire world. At least, in my humble opinion it is. I convinced him to make it again, only this time for the purposes of teaching me (and my loyal blog followers) the secret to its deliciousness. Needless to say, I soon realized this recipe is extremely simple, which is perfect on days when all you want to do is hide under the covers and hibernate.

You will need:

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole

2 cups Rotini pasta
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp seasoning salt
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes (I use Rotel)
1 cup frozen peas
1 can french fried onions

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 1

Fill a large pot with water.

Season with enough salt so the water tastes like the ocean (in a good way!)

Bring water to a boil.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 4

Add your Rotini pasta to the water. Cook until pasta is Al dente (slightly firm but not crunchy).

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 2

While your pasta is boiling, mix your diced tomatoes, mushroom soup and seasoning salt  in a large bowl.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 3

Next, add your delicious shredded cheese.

Set aside.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 6

In a frying pan, brown your ground beef.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 11

When fully cooked, remove from heat and drain access liquid.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 10

Add your drained ground beef to your cheese mixture.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 9

Mix well.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 8

Drain your pasta and add it to the large bowl with the ground beef mixture.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 7

Finally, stir in your frozen peas.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 12

Place your pasta mixture in a large greased casserole dish (I used a 2 quart dish).

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 5

Place your french fried onions in a plastic bag and crush into crumbs.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 13

Sprinkle on top of your casserole.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 14

Yummy!

Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 15

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.

Serve this delectable casserole in bowls and dig in!

Claudia's Cookbook - Hearty Casserole 16

This is serious comfort food.

Soft pasta, sweet peas and tomatoes, topped with crunchy fried onions. You honestly cannot go wrong!

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from: Christy Jordan’s Southern Plate

Hearty Casserole (AKA: The Best Casserole in the Entire World)
Serves 4
Delicious and hearty, this truly is the definition of comfort food.
Write a review
Print
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
50 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
40 min
Total Time
50 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 cups Rotini pasta
  2. 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  3. 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  4. 3/4 tsp seasoning salt
  5. 1 lb. lean ground beef
  6. 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes (I use Rotel)
  7. 1 cup frozen peas
  8. 1 can french fried onions
Instructions
  1. Fill a large pot with water. Season with enough salt so the water tastes like the ocean (in a good way!) Bring water to a boil.
  2. Add your Rotini pasta to the water. Cook until pasta is Al dente (slightly firm but not crunchy).
  3. While your pasta is boiling, mix your diced tomatoes, mushroom soup and seasoning salt in a large bowl. Add your shredded cheese. Set aside.
  4. In a frying pan, brown your ground beef. When fully cooked, remove from heat and drain access liquid.
  5. Add your drained ground beef to your cheese mixture. Mix well.
  6. Drain your pasta and add it to the large bowl with the ground beef mixture.Stir in your frozen peas.
  7. Place your pasta mixture in a large greased casserole dish (I used a 2 quart dish).
  8. Place your french fried onions in a plastic bag and crush into crumbs. Sprinkle on top of your casserole.
  9. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes.
  10. Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
  11. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
  12. Serve this delectable casserole in bowls and dig in!
Adapted from Christy Jordan's Southern Plate
Claudia's Cookbook http://www.claudiascookbook.com/

12 Comments on Hearty Casserole (AKA: The Best Casserole in the Entire World)

  1. Lesia
    January 23, 2013 at 7:47 PM (11 years ago)

    I am walking to the freezer to pull out the hamburger…thank you!! this is perfect for my kids after a cold snowy day here in Calgary.

    P.S. Please try and post more often…your recipes are perfect!!
    P.S.S. We still make your monster cookies in the muffin top pans weekly….lol

    Reply
    • Claudia's Cookbook
      January 24, 2013 at 1:29 AM (11 years ago)

      You are so sweet Lesia! It’s comments like yours that motivates me to blog. So thank you! Let me know how your family likes the casserole! Hope you are keeping warm out West!

      Reply
  2. Sabrina
    November 21, 2013 at 2:15 PM (10 years ago)

    I live far south in U.S.A… Doesn’t get too cold here, but tomorrow I am going to a casserole bible study!! This sounds delish! This is for sure what I’m bringing!!! Thanks!!! Sabrina

    Reply
    • Claudia's Cookbook
      November 23, 2013 at 8:46 PM (10 years ago)

      Hi Sabrina – I’m totally jealous of your year-round warm weather ๐Ÿ™‚ I hope you and your bible study group enjoyed the Hearty Casserole!

      Reply
      • Sabrina
        January 16, 2014 at 3:34 PM (10 years ago)

        Wonderful!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!

        Reply
  3. Linda Kirton
    March 27, 2014 at 6:58 PM (10 years ago)

    I am for sure going to try this casserole! Thanks Jaime, I needed a new casserole recipe!

    Reply
    • Claudia's Cookbook
      March 28, 2014 at 11:14 AM (10 years ago)

      You’re welcome Linda! It’s really delicious ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Ann Stoymenoff
    September 10, 2014 at 11:42 AM (10 years ago)

    Hello Claudia…I came across your site quite by accident one day recently. I must say, I’ve already tried a few recipes. Delish! I even have my neighbor hooked on your site. My own mother was of Ukrainian heritage, she has since passed on, but I must say I miss the Ukrainian food and all that wonderful cooking. My neighbor and I are going to get together soon and make some Perogies and Cabbage Rolls. Thanks for posting these recipes. Simply awesome!

    Reply
    • Claudia's Cookbook
      September 11, 2014 at 2:29 PM (10 years ago)

      Hi Ann! Yay, thank you so much for sharing! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy the site. Please do let me know how you and your neighbour like the recipes that you try! ๐Ÿ™‚ Claudia and I still have a few more Ukrainian recipes up our sleeves that we need to post soon.

      Reply
  5. Myra
    May 8, 2015 at 3:10 AM (9 years ago)

    Hi..looks like a great recipe to try. I am from Winnipeg too and was wondering where you found Rotel tomatoes as I havent had any luck finding any. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Claudia's Cookbook
      May 19, 2015 at 5:01 PM (9 years ago)

      Hi Myra, I actually stock up when I go to the US and buy cans of Rotel there. I haven’t found it in Canada but Hunt’s brand diced petite tomatoes works in a pinch as well.

      Reply
  6. Julia
    January 28, 2021 at 11:07 AM (3 years ago)

    I am making this tonight. Do you add water to the condensed soup?

    Reply

Leave a reply to Sabrina Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment *






This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.