Sour Cream Beef Noodle Casserole: A Hearty Comfort Dish for Beginner Cooks
Enjoy a creamy and hearty beef noodle casserole. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Ground beef (1 lb)
- Yellow onion (1/2)
- Garlic (2 cloves)
- Tomato sauce (2x 15oz cans)
- Italian seasoning (1 tsp)
- Egg noodles (8 oz)
- Sour cream (1 cup)
- Cottage cheese (1 cup)
- Cheddar cheese (1 cup)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven (The Oven Operation): Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter.
- Cook Beef and Sauce (The Meat and Sauce Method): In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant.
- Prepare Sauce (The Sauce Strategy): Stir in the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook Noodles (The Noodle Navigation): While the sauce simmers, cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.
- Combine Dairy Mixture (The Dairy Determination): In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese. Add the cooked egg noodles, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir until evenly combined.
- Layer the Casserole (The Layering Logic): Spread half of the egg noodle mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the meat sauce. Repeat the layers with the remaining egg noodles and meat sauce.
- Add Cheese and Bake (The Cheese and Baking Brilliance): Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Bake in the preheated oven until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese has melted and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes.
- Cool and Serve (The Cooling Conclusion): Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and prevents burns. Enjoy!
Notes
- Brown beef well.
- Simmer sauce.
- Don’t overcook noodles.