Description
A comforting and hearty Sour Cream Noodle Bake that combines tender egg noodles with a savory ground beef tomato sauce, creamy sour cream and cottage cheese mixture, and sharp Cheddar cheese. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for a family dinner and offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Dairy
- 8 ounces dried egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/4 cups small curd cottage cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown and crumble the ground beef. Once cooked through, drain off any excess grease. Add both cans of tomato sauce, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir well and reduce heat to low. Let the mixture simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes to blend flavors.
- Cook Noodles: While the meat simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Prepare Noodle Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese until well mixed. Stir in the cooked egg noodles, sprinkle with a bit of black pepper, and fold in the sliced green onions, coating the noodles evenly with the creamy mixture.
- Assemble Casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray. Spread half of the noodle mixture evenly in the bottom of the pan. Layer half of the meat sauce on top of the noodles, then sprinkle half of the shredded Cheddar cheese over that layer. Repeat with the remaining noodles, meat sauce, and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, then serve and enjoy your delicious Sour Cream Noodle Bake!
Notes
- For best results, do not overcook the noodles; they should be al dente to avoid becoming mushy after baking.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Feel free to add vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers to the meat sauce for added flavor and nutrition.
- This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers.
