I love this cheesy ground beef casserole recipe. It’s something kids and adults will both love to eat. It’s perfect comfort food on a rainy day – with a healthy twist!
Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil (I used about a tablespoon of salt).
Heat oil in pan on medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, ground beef, celery, salt and pepper and turn heat up to high. Saute until ground beef just cooked through and vegetables are soft for 4 to 5 minutes.
While beef and veg are cooking, drop macaroni into boiling water and cook for 4 minutes (pasta should still be quite firm and undercooked when you drain it). Drain and leave to add to mixture within a few minutes.
Turn heat down to medium and add cottage cheese, mushroom soup, parmesan cheese, milk, broccoli and cauliflower. Stir until all is warm and mixed together.
Add cooked pasta, mix together and pour into a baking pan.
Sprinkle with half the cheese, cover with foil and bake in middle of pre-heated 375-degree oven for 20 minutes.
casserole ready for oven
Remove from oven. Turn oven on to broil. Mix bread crumbs and remaining cheese and spread across the casserole.
Place under broiler, without the foil, for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted and panko is starting to brown.