Description
Comfort meets classic nostalgia in this company casserole, blending hearty ingredients with creamy richness. Hearty layers of savory protein, tender vegetables, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese
- 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Noodles and Vegetables:
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 1 (15 ounces) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped green onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped green peppers
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Boil egg noodles following package instructions, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully eliminating excess grease.
- Infuse the browned beef with tomato sauce, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 10 minutes.
- Create a creamy base by whisking cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese until completely smooth and well-integrated.
- Gently fold the cooked noodles into the cheese mixture, ensuring each noodle is evenly coated.
- Prepare a greased baking dish by creating strategic layers: first spread half the noodle-cheese mixture, then add the meat sauce, and finally top with remaining noodles.
- Garnish the casserole surface with chopped green onions and diced green peppers, then drizzle melted butter across the top for added richness.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, watching for a bubbly texture and light golden-brown coloration.
Notes
- Customize protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative.
- Enhance cheese mixture’s creaminess by using room temperature cream cheese, ensuring smoother blending and more consistent texture.
- Boost vegetable content by adding diced zucchini or spinach to the meat sauce for extra nutrition and color contrast.
- Prevent dry casserole by covering with foil during initial baking, then removing for last 10 minutes to achieve golden-brown top.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 403 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg