Description
Creamy sour cream noodle bake brings hearty midwestern comfort to dinner tables. Ground beef and noodles combine with tangy cheese for a satisfying one-pan meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
- 12 ounces (340 g) egg noodles
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 can (15 oz, 425 g) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 oz, 397 g) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F, creating an ideal environment for a perfectly baked casserole.
- Prepare Skillet: Brown ground beef over medium-high heat, fragmenting meat into fine, even crumbles while eliminating excess fat.
- Season Meat: Incorporate tomato sauce, salt, and pepper into the beef, developing a robust and savory flavor profile.
- Noodle Preparation: Boil egg noodles in salted water until achieving an al dente consistency, then drain thoroughly.
- Create Creamy Base: Fold sour cream and cottage cheese into the noodles, generating a luxurious and smooth coating.
- Layer Casserole: Grease a rectangular baking dish, then strategically layer the creamy noodle mixture as the foundation.
- Meat Distribution: Spread seasoned ground beef evenly across the noodle base, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Cheese Finish: Generously blanket the meat with shredded cheddar cheese, creating a tempting golden-brown topping.
- Bake and Rest: Cook in preheated oven until cheese melts and turns bubbly, then allow casserole to settle for 5-7 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Prevent Meat Dryness: Brown ground beef quickly over medium-high heat to seal in moisture and create a rich flavor profile without overcooking.
- Noodle Texture Control: Boil egg noodles just until al dente, draining immediately to avoid mushy consistency and maintain a perfect tender bite.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese evenly and use the last few minutes of baking at a slightly higher temperature to achieve a golden, crispy cheese topping.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternative for a lighter version, and use low-fat dairy options to reduce overall calorie content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 132.5
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg