California Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole

*Parsley*'s Note:

It really does taste like a Ca. Cheeseburger! You can skip baking and just serve it staight from the skillet if your short on time. My kids really love it.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 1 lb rotini pasta (or similar shaped pasta)
• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 cup coarsely chopped onion
• 3 cups diced tomatoes (about 5-6 small tomatoes)
• 14 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2/3 cup light mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 -3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 1 1/2-2 teaspoons mustard
• 3/4-1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, DIVIDED (or shredded American cheese, divided)

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta according ton package directions; drain. Do NOT rinse.
2. While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, brown ground beef with onion. Drain fat.
3. Return beef and onion mixture to hot skillet. Over low-med heat, stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, milk, mayo, ketchup, relish, mustard, pepper, salt, garlic powder, oregano and 2 1/2 cups cheese. Stir and cook until cheese is melted. Add hot cooked pasta and gently mix together.
4. At this point either:.
5. a) sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese; heat through and serve. OR.
6. b) Pour into a 13" x 9" or larger baking dish, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese ans bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Reviews

[rickoholic83]

Yep, it tastes like a cheeseburger! I took it to school to share and everyone enjoyed it. This makes a ton and is very filling. Perfect comfort food for a cold, cloudy, rainy night. (We get those a lot in Seattle.) Thanks for sharing! ***Made for Spring PAC 2012***

[Shuzbud]

This recipe deserves more than 5 stars! My BF marks lower than most people and he gave it 6! We couldn't get sweet pickle relish in the UK so I finely diced some gherkins. Luckily, we found American mustard as English mustard wouldn't taste the same. Made the rest exactly as written. Thanks for a wonderful treat, and it's much easier on my diet than a proper California cheeseburger!

[lets.eat]

Wasn't sure if my skillet could hold all of this! Instead of fresh diced tomatoes I used canned diced/drained tomatoes and added perhaps 2 Tbsp. more sweet pickle relish. A very filling, comforting dinner.