Description
A comforting and creamy sour cream noodle bake featuring tender egg noodles mixed with a savory ground beef tomato sauce, layered with cottage cheese and cheddar, then baked to bubbly perfection. This hearty casserole makes a perfect family dinner or a make-ahead meal that can be refrigerated or frozen.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces egg noodles
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the egg noodles in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and chopped onion over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and the onion is tender. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, and paprika. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Combine Cheese and Noodles: In a large bowl, mix sour cream and cottage cheese together until blended. Add the cooked noodles and stir to coat evenly with the cheese mixture.
- Assemble Casserole: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the sour cream and noodle mixture in the dish. Layer half of the meat sauce over the noodles, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining noodles, meat sauce, and cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- This casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezes well for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a more intense flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use reduced-fat dairy products.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
