Description
Poor Man Husband Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked dish combining tender egg noodles, seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce, creamy layers of cream cheese and sour cream, all topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole is easy to prepare and delivers rich flavors in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces egg noodles, cooked
Meat Sauce
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 2 cans (30 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Creamy Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces sour cream
Topping
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare it for layering the casserole.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the egg noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat, then season with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add sugar and tomato sauce, stir well, and let the mixture simmer gently for five minutes to blend the flavors.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream, whipping or stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy without lumps.
- Assemble Casserole Layers: In the greased baking dish, spread half of the cooked egg noodles as the base layer. Next, evenly layer half of the cream cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers one more time with the remaining noodles, cream cheese mixture, and meat sauce.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole layers to create a cheesy crust when baked.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add sautéed onions or bell peppers when browning the ground beef.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for the creamiest texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- This casserole can be frozen before baking; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
