When dinnertime comes around, Southerners love to transform a pack of ground beef from the fridge or freezer into a warm supper that the whole family will love. So it’s no surprise that ground beef recipes are quite popular among our readers. And even less surprising is which ground beef recipe on Southernliving,com is the most popular of all time: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole.

What Is Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole?

In short, Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole will be your new favorite casserole. As the name implies, it’s a comforting recipe that combines ground beef, noodles, plenty of cheese, tomatoes, and spices into one casserole dish.

Once you’ve made your ground beef mixture and noodle mixture by following the easy steps, you’ll layer everything in your favorite 13- x 9-inch casserole dish and let it bake for about 40 minutes. And we know you’ll be tempted to eat it as soon as it comes out of the oven, but it’s best to let it sit for about 15 minutes before you and your family dig in.

Why It’s So Popular

• Crowd-pleaser: First things first: One reason this ground beef recipe is so popular is because it’s a casserole. Casseroles are the ideal weeknight dinner for feeding hungry families because they’re filling, comforting, and don’t require a ton of heavy lifting.
• Simple ingredients: Another reason this casserole is so popular is because of the simple ingredient list. In addition to the ground beef, the rest of the ingredients used for this recipe are often staples in Southern kitchens, which means you may even have all the ingredients on hand to make it without having to take a trip to the grocery store. And if you don’t have the exact ingredients, many can be easily substituted to make use of what’s already in your pantry and fridge.
• Make it ahead: Lastly, like most casseroles, this recipe can also be made ahead and stored in the freezer until you’re ready to bake and serve. Simply follow the directions and then pop it in the freezer before baking. Then when you’re ready to cook the casserole, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

What Reviewers Are Saying

If this recipe being our most popular ground beef recipe of all time hasn’t convinced you to make it just yet, read on to be convinced by the rave reviews it’s received:

• “Putting this in our recipe rotation!!”
• “Family loved they dish. They thought this was the best casserole I’ve made.”
• “Love this recipe, especially because I have plenty of leftover to eat for lunch and it reheats well!”
• “My family loved this! My reluctant meat eaters gobbled it down.”
• “I loved it. I had all the ingredients on hand which made it easy.”