Description
Hearty Amish Country Casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to dinner tables with its rich, creamy layers of pasta, ground beef, and cheesy goodness. Midwestern home cooking shines through this simple yet satisfying dish that connects generations around one warm, inviting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 12 ounces (340 grams) egg noodles
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dairy and Soup Base:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, preparing for a comforting meal preparation.
- Cook egg noodles until perfectly tender, then drain and reserve.
- Sauté ground beef or sausage with onions and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until meat browns completely and onions become translucent, carefully eliminating excess grease.
- Create a rich sauce by whisking cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, paprika, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Fold cooked noodles and seasoned meat into the creamy sauce, ensuring every morsel gets thoroughly coated.
- Transfer the combined mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, distributing evenly across the surface.
- Generously cascade shredded cheddar cheese over the entire casserole, creating a tempting golden blanket.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to heat thoroughly.
- Uncover the casserole and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden crust.
- Allow the casserole to rest briefly after removing from oven, letting ingredients settle and flavors intensify before serving. Optionally garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef or turkey to reduce fat content and make the dish healthier.
- Swap regular pasta with whole wheat noodles for added fiber and nutritional value.
- Consider using low-fat cream of mushroom soup and reduced-fat sour cream for a lighter version of the casserole.
- For gluten-free options, use gluten-free noodles and verify that all ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg