Description
Comforting sour cream beef noodle casserole delivers hearty midwestern flavors in one simple dish. Creamy noodles and seasoned ground beef create a satisfying meal perfect for family dinner nights you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
Dairy Components:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (226 grams) cottage cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) cheddar cheese, grated
Other Ingredients:
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (15 ounces/425 grams) cans tomato sauce
- 8 ounces (226 grams) egg noodles
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Brown ground beef and diced onions in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Pour tomato sauce into the meat mixture, sprinkle with Italian seasoning, and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from heat.
- Cook egg noodles in salted boiling water according to package instructions, then drain thoroughly.
- Combine sour cream and cottage cheese in a large mixing bowl, then fold in the cooked noodles. Season with salt and pepper, mixing until evenly incorporated.
- Create the first layer in the baking dish by spreading half of the creamy noodle mixture, then top with half of the meat sauce.
- Complete the layering by adding the remaining noodle mixture and covering with the remaining meat sauce.
- Generously sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the edges are bubbling and the cheese is completely melted and golden.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving to help it set and make cutting easier.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains the dish’s hearty texture.
- Add extra vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to boost nutritional value and create more complex flavor profiles.
- Use low-fat dairy options like reduced-fat sour cream and cottage cheese to make the casserole lighter without compromising creamy richness.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to meld and making meal prep easier for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg