Description
Hearty beef noodle casserole brings comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen to modern dinner tables. Creamy layers of tender beef, egg noodles, and rich cheese sauce promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Grains:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) egg noodles
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces or 425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 ounces or 411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Elevate your oven temperature to 350F (175C) for optimal casserole baking.
- Prepare egg noodles according to package guidelines, ensuring they are perfectly al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Introduce diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until they become translucent and aromatic, approximately 5 minutes.
- Incorporate ground beef into the skillet, browning the meat completely. Carefully drain any accumulated fat to maintain a lean dish.
- Enhance the mixture with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Allow the flavors to meld by simmering for 5 minutes.
- Create a creamy base in a spacious mixing bowl by combining sour cream, cottage cheese, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Gently fold the cooked noodles and seasoned beef mixture into the cheese blend, ensuring uniform distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the combined mixture to a generously greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Generously scatter the remaining cheddar cheese across the casserole’s surface for a golden, melted topping.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown layer.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the ingredients to settle and intensify in flavor before serving.
Notes
- Customize cheese varieties by swapping cheddar with mozzarella, pepper jack, or a blend for different flavor profiles.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground beef or ground turkey, which maintains protein while cutting calories.
- Make it gluten-free by substituting egg noodles with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding hidden vegetables like grated carrots or diced bell peppers during the onion sautéing stage.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 515 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg