A casserole cooked with only four ingredients would sound either too good to be true or entirely flavorless, but this one is neither. It has only four ingredients, but it tastes just like a cheeseburger while providing the coziness of a casserole. I make this on hectic weeknights because it’s so simple to put together, but unlike some other last-minute meals I’ve tried, I never hear any complaints about it once we all sit down to supper.

I was hesitant about this four-ingredient item at first because I couldn’t envision it truly delivering on flavor, but I was wrong. (To be fair, I count the two cheeses as one ingredient, so it’s actually five if you’re picky.) But all you need is some shell pasta, a couple of cans of tomato soup, a pound of mince beef, and some grated cheese (I used cheddar and mozzarella, but you can use whichever cheese you like).

Simply cook the pasta and brown the ground beef with whichever seasonings you choose (seasoned salt or Italian seasoning are excellent!). and then combine them with the cheese and tomato soup in a baking dish. You give it a good toss, then cover it with additional cheese and bake it. That’s all there is to it. That’s all. Dinner is finished. And it’s fantastic.

See, the tomato soup (particularly Campbell’s) is sweetened just enough to taste like ketchup, so when it combines with the cheese, ground beef, and carby comfort of the shells, it reminds you of a really good cheeseburger. And, I’m not sure about you, but I’m always in the mood for a cheeseburger. But I’m also almost always in the mood for pasta, so it’s a good thing this casserole combines the best of both worlds. And with only four ingredients!