Bacon Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese Casserole (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Cheeseburger Filling
01 -
1 lb lean ground beef
02 -
1 cup yellow onion, diced
03 -
1/2 cup real bacon bits
04 -
1/4 cup mayonnaise
05 -
1/4 cup ketchup
06 -
1 tbsp yellow mustard
07 -
1/2 tsp salt
08 -
1/2 tsp black pepper
09 -
2 tsp onion powder
→ Casserole Assembly
10 -
12 slices white or whole wheat bread
11 -
1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
12 -
4 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat your oven to 400°F and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef with a small dab of butter. Cook the beef, breaking it up into small crumbles as it browns - this takes about 6-8 minutes.
02 -
Once the beef is cooked through, drain any excess grease. Add the diced onions to the pan and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions start to soften and become fragrant.
03 -
Remove the pan from heat and stir in the bacon bits, mayo, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Mix everything together until well combined - this creates that classic cheeseburger flavor throughout the filling.
04 -
Spread 6 slices of bread with half the margarine, then cut each slice in half. Place these pieces margarine-side down in your greased baking dish, creating the bottom layer. Sprinkle 2 cups of the cheese mixture over the bread.
05 -
Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the cheese layer, spreading it out to cover the bread completely. Top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese - this creates those gooey, melty layers that make this casserole so amazing.
06 -
Spread the remaining 6 slices of bread with the rest of the margarine and cut them in half. Place these pieces margarine-side up on top of the casserole. Bake for 20-24 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy.
07 -
Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before cutting - this helps it hold together better. Serve hot and watch everyone dig into this comfort food masterpiece!
# Notes:
01 -
Using lean ground beef helps prevent the casserole from becoming too greasy
02 -
Make sure to drain the beef well before adding other ingredients
03 -
You can assemble this casserole a few hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake
04 -
Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes