#1,389: Cheeseburger Casserole

I was really, really, really sure that my family would hate this recipe.  But I still thought I'd try to pull it over on them anyway and see if anyone would eat it.  I have to admit, I was really surprised that most of my family enjoyed this.  It was SO easy to make, and I made the meat mixture ahead of time and froze.  Then when we were ready to eat it, I let it thaw in the fridge over night, cooked some elbow macaroni noodles, mixed it all together and then baked in the oven with some cheese on top.  It was so simple to get on the table after work.  
2 cups (6 ounces) uncooked rotini pasta (I used elbow macaroni)

2 teaspoons canola oil (I used olive oil)

1 1/2 cups onions, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 pound 95% lean ground beef

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

2 tablespoons ketchup (I felt it needed a lot more, so adjust to your taste/preferences)

4-5 large Roma tomatoes, deseeded and diced (I omitted)

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (I felt it needed a lot more, so adjust to your taste/preferences)

2 cups low fat cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 cup dill pickles, finely chopped (I used pickle relish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Boil the pasta in a large pot according to packaged directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the onion and saute until onions are transparent. Add the garlic and stir about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the ground beef and fully cook through until brown. If using 95% lean ground beef, there is no need to drain. But if you are using a less fat version, drain the fat and return to the stove.

Stir in the seasoned salt, ketchup and mustard until well combined. Add the chopped tomatoes and pickles. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 2 minutes or until the mixture is thickened.

Add the cooked and drained noodles to the meat and stir well. Pour into the prepared baking pan and evenly sprinkle the cheese across the top. Bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes or until cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and slightly cool before serving.