Description
Comfort meets classic cuisine in this hearty Creamy Beef Noodle Casserole, blending rich ground beef, tender egg noodles, and velvety cheese sauce. Warm family memories flow through each comforting bite you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small sweet onion, small diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Dairy and Sauce Components:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) egg noodles
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) small curd cottage cheese
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) sour cream
- 8 ounces (227 grams) shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by heating the oven to 350°F and coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with non-stick spray.
- Transform ground beef in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, fragmenting the meat while integrating diced onions until the protein browns and vegetables soften, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Infuse the skillet with minced garlic, stirring briefly until aromatic and releasing its distinctive essence.
- Introduce tomato sauce and foundational seasonings, allowing the mixture to simmer gently on reduced heat, developing rich flavors through occasional stirring for quarter of an hour.
- Simultaneously orchestrate the egg noodles’ preparation, boiling and draining according to package guidance.
- Craft a creamy binding by whisking cottage cheese, sour cream, and complementary spices – salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder – until uniformly blended.
- Envelop the freshly cooked noodles within the dairy mixture, ensuring complete and luxurious coverage.
- Construct the casserole in strategic layers: spread half the noodle foundation, cascade with meat sauce, then generously sprinkle shredded cheese.
- Replicate the layering sequence, building depth and complexity with remaining ingredients.
- Transfer the assembled dish into the preheated oven, allowing the cheese to melt and ingredients to harmonize for approximately 20 minutes.
- Extract the bubbling, golden casserole and serve immediately for optimal temperature and texture enjoyment.
Notes
- Maximize flavor by thoroughly browning ground beef and caramelizing onions for deeper taste complexity.
- Create a silky smooth base by gently mixing cottage cheese and sour cream with delicate seasonings.
- Prevent dry casserole by ensuring noodles are well-coated with creamy cheese mixture before layering.
- Layer ingredients strategically to distribute meat sauce and cheese evenly for balanced bites.
- Allow casserole to rest briefly after baking to help layers set and enhance overall texture.
- Elevate dish with optional fresh herbs like parsley or chives sprinkled on top for added freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg