When the 5:00 PM dinner panic sets in and you are staring at a pound of ground beef, it is easy to fall into a rut of making the same old spaghetti or tacos. But what if you could take that humble ground beef and turn it into a bubbling, cheesy, savory masterpiece topped with the most famous restaurant biscuits in the world? Enter the Cheddar Bay Hamburger Casserole.
This incredibly hearty dish marries the savory, comforting flavors of a classic hamburger casserole with the buttery, garlic-herb goodness of Red Lobster’s iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuits. If you are a fan of meals that stick to your ribs and leave your family asking for seconds, this cheddar bay biscuit casserole is about to become a staple in your weekly meal rotation.
Whether you are feeding picky toddlers or hungry teenagers, this easy ground beef dinner hits all the right notes. Plus, if you love simple, crowd-pleasing meals.
Why You Will Love This Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Weeknight dinners need to be three things: quick, affordable, and delicious. This ground beef biscuit casserole checks every single box. Here is why you will love it:
-
Incredible Flavor Shortcut: By using a boxed Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix, you get that complex, bakery-level garlic and herb flavor without having to measure out a dozen different spices.
-
Pantry Staple Ingredients: This recipe relies on items you probably already have in your fridge and pantry, like ground beef, sour cream, and condensed soup.
-
Picky-Eater Approved: It is essentially a deconstructed, extra-cheesy cheeseburger topped with a fluffy biscuit. Kids go absolutely crazy for it!
-
Hearty and Filling: This casserole is incredibly satisfying. Serve it alongside a light green salad or some roasted green beans, and you have a complete, well-rounded meal.
Ingredients You Will Need
To make this Cheddar Bay hamburger casserole, we are breaking the ingredients down into two main parts: the savory beef filling and the buttery biscuit topping.
For the Creamy Beef Filling
-
Ground Beef: 1 to 1 ½ pounds of lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10 works perfectly).
-
Aromatics: 1 small diced yellow onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic to build a flavorful foundation.
-
Condensed Soup: 1 can (10.5 oz) of Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken soup. This binds the filling together and creates a rich gravy.
-
Sour Cream: ½ cup of sour cream adds a beautiful tanginess that cuts through the richness of the beef and cheese.
-
Cheddar Cheese: 1 ½ cups of freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese. (Pro tip: Always grate your own cheese for casseroles! Pre-shredded cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that prevent it from melting smoothly.
-
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a savory umami kick.
For the Biscuit Topping
-
Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix: 1 standard box (11.36 oz) of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix. (Keep the seasoning packet that comes inside the box; you will use it at the end!)
-
Water & Cheese: ¾ cup of cold water and ½ cup of freshly grated cheddar cheese to mix into the biscuit dough, as directed by the box.
-
Butter: ¼ cup (half a stick) of melted butter to mix with the garlic-herb seasoning packet for brushing over the baked biscuits.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Creating this masterpiece is wonderfully straightforward. It requires just a little bit of stovetop prep before letting the oven do the rest of the work.
1. Brown the Beef and Aromatics
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add your ground beef and diced onions. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the skillet. Add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
2. Mix the Creamy Filling
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the condensed soup, sour cream, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix until the cheese begins to melt and the beef is coated in a thick, creamy sauce. Pour this beef mixture into your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it out into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
3. Prepare the Biscuit Dough
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix, cold water, and ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix, or your biscuits will become tough!
4. Assemble and Bake
Using a cookie scoop or two spoons, drop golf-ball-sized dollops of the biscuit dough evenly over the top of the beef mixture in the baking dish. You should get about 8 to 10 biscuits. Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and baked through, and the casserole edges are hot and bubbly.
5. The Garlic Butter Finish
While the casserole is in its final few minutes of baking, melt the ¼ cup of butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Stir in the garlic-herb seasoning packet that came with the biscuit mix. As soon as you pull the hot casserole out of the oven, generously brush the melted garlic herb butter over the tops of the warm biscuits. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Easy Cheddar Bay Hamburger Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated, divided
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 box (11.36 oz) Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix include seasoning packet
- 3/4 cup water cold
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese for biscuit topping
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and diced onion over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and stir in condensed soup, sour cream, and 1 cup cheddar cheese until combined.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the top.
- In a bowl, mix biscuit mix, cold water, and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese until a soft dough forms.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough evenly over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until biscuits are golden and casserole is bubbly.
- Melt butter and mix with the seasoning packet from the biscuit mix.
- Brush garlic butter over hot biscuits and serve warm.
Notes
Variations and Add-Ins
One of the best things about this Cheddar Bay Hamburger Casserole is how versatile it is. You can easily sneak in extra vegetables or swap out ingredients based on what you have in the pantry.
-
Add Veggies: Want to make it a true one-pan meal? Stir a cup of frozen corn, frozen peas, or drained green beans directly into the beef and soup mixture before baking.
-
Swap the Meat: Not a fan of ground beef? This recipe works beautifully with ground turkey or even ground chicken.
-
Spice it Up: If your family loves heat, add a diced jalapeño to the beef mixture while it browns, or swap the sharp cheddar cheese for Pepper Jack!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
To Store: Allow any leftover casserole to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer leftovers to an airtight container, or cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To Reheat: To keep the biscuits from getting soggy, the best way to reheat this casserole is in the oven. Bake at 350°F until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions for 60-90 seconds, though the biscuits will be softer.