Description
Sour Cream Beef Noodle Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and hearty dinner recipe featuring layers of tender egg noodles, seasoned ground beef, and a rich sour cream and cottage cheese mixture. This comforting casserole is perfect for an easy weeknight meal, meal prep, or feeding a crowd with delicious, family-friendly flavors.
Ingredients
Meat and 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 and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Dairy
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Beef and Sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Prepare Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning into the beef mixture. Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook Noodles: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions until tender. Drain and set aside.
- Combine Dairy Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese. Add the cooked egg noodles, season with salt and pepper, and stir gently to evenly combine all ingredients.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread half of the egg noodle and dairy mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the meat sauce evenly over the noodles. Repeat layering with the remaining egg noodles mixture and meat sauce.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the assembled casserole. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and the cheddar cheese is melted and golden.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving. This helps to set the layers and makes it easier to serve.
Notes
- You can substitute cottage cheese with ricotta cheese for a different texture.
- To add extra vegetables, consider mixing in chopped bell peppers or mushrooms with the beef.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a lower-fat version, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Make sure not to overcook the noodles during boiling as they’ll cook further in the oven.
