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 fiancé 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:
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
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.
Add your Rotini pasta to the water. Cook until pasta is Al dente (slightly firm but not crunchy).
While your pasta is boiling, mix your diced tomatoes, mushroom soup and seasoning salt in a large bowl.
Next, add your delicious shredded cheese.
Set aside.
In a frying pan, brown your ground beef.
When fully cooked, remove from heat and drain access liquid.
Add your drained ground beef to your cheese mixture.
Mix well.
Drain your pasta and add it to the large bowl with the ground beef mixture.
Finally, stir in your frozen peas.
Place your pasta mixture in a large greased casserole dish (I used a 2 quart dish).
Place your french fried onions in a plastic bag and crush into crumbs.
Sprinkle on top of your casserole.
Yummy!
Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes.
Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
Serve this delectable casserole in bowls and dig in!
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
- 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
- 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.
- Add your Rotini pasta to the water. Cook until pasta is Al dente (slightly firm but not crunchy).
- While your pasta is boiling, mix your diced tomatoes, mushroom soup and seasoning salt in a large bowl. Add your shredded cheese. Set aside.
- In a frying pan, brown your ground beef. When fully cooked, remove from heat and drain access liquid.
- Add your drained ground beef to your cheese mixture. Mix well.
- Drain your pasta and add it to the large bowl with the ground beef mixture.Stir in your frozen peas.
- Place your pasta mixture in a large greased casserole dish (I used a 2 quart dish).
- Place your french fried onions in a plastic bag and crush into crumbs. Sprinkle on top of your casserole.
- Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve this delectable casserole in bowls and dig in!
13 Comments on Hearty Casserole (AKA: The Best Casserole in the Entire World)
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Lesia
January 23, 2013 at 7:47 PM (12 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
Claudia's Cookbook
January 24, 2013 at 1:29 AM (12 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!
Sabrina
November 21, 2013 at 2:15 PM (11 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
Claudia's Cookbook
November 23, 2013 at 8:46 PM (11 years ago)Hi Sabrina – I’m totally jealous of your year-round warm weather 🙂 I hope you and your bible study group enjoyed the Hearty Casserole!
Sabrina
January 16, 2014 at 3:34 PM (11 years ago)Wonderful!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!
Linda Kirton
March 27, 2014 at 6:58 PM (11 years ago)I am for sure going to try this casserole! Thanks Jaime, I needed a new casserole recipe!
Claudia's Cookbook
March 28, 2014 at 11:14 AM (11 years ago)You’re welcome Linda! It’s really delicious 🙂
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!
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! 🙂 Claudia and I still have a few more Ukrainian recipes up our sleeves that we need to post soon.
Myra
May 8, 2015 at 3:10 AM (10 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!
Claudia's Cookbook
May 19, 2015 at 5:01 PM (10 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.
Julia
January 28, 2021 at 11:07 AM (4 years ago)I am making this tonight. Do you add water to the condensed soup?
Lori
July 6, 2024 at 2:24 PM (5 months ago)Like to try ypur recipes but I need to print them as I do for recipes on other sites.
Yours done have a option to print.
So dissapointed and would nake it frustrating to read off my phone or computer in another room.