Description
This comforting Sour Cream Beef Noodle Casserole combines tender ground beef simmered in tomato sauce with creamy sour cream and cottage cheese mixed noodles, all topped with melted cheddar cheese. Baked to bubbly perfection, this hearty casserole is a delicious family-friendly meal ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Noodles & Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onion: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the lean ground beef together with the chopped yellow onion until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, approximately 10 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer Meat Sauce: Add the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning to the beef mixture. Reduce heat and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to taste.
- Cook Egg Noodles: Meanwhile, cook the egg noodles following the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly to remove excess water.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese. Lightly season with salt and pepper if desired, then fold in the cooked egg noodles until evenly coated.
- Assemble Casserole Layers: Spread half of the noodle and cheese mixture evenly in the greased baking dish. Spoon half of the meat sauce over the noodles. Repeat the layering with the remaining noodle mixture and meat sauce.
- Add Cheddar Topping: Evenly sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese over the top layer of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- Using low-fat sour cream and cottage cheese can reduce the calorie and fat content.
- Make sure to drain the noodles well to avoid a watery casserole.
- If preferred, substitute egg noodles with other pasta shapes like rotini or penne.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
