Description
Sour Cream Noodle Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring layers of tender egg noodles mixed with a creamy sour cream and cottage cheese blend, seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce, and topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, this baked dish combines rich flavors with a satisfying cheesy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Noodle and Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz uncooked egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cup small curd cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup green onions, sliced
Topping
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the egg noodles until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Brown Ground Beef: While the noodles cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce with the browned beef. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently while preparing other components.
- Make Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in sliced green onions until evenly mixed.
- Combine Noodles and Cheese Mixture: Add the cooked and drained egg noodles to the sour cream mixture and gently stir to coat the noodles evenly.
- Layer Ingredients: In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half of the noodle and cheese mixture as the first layer. Top with half of the meat sauce mixture. Sprinkle evenly with half of the grated sharp cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining noodles, meat, and cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your comforting Sour Cream Noodle Bake!
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce grease and keep the casserole moist but not oily.
- For a creamier texture, substitute small curd cottage cheese with ricotta cheese.
- You can add a pinch of smoked paprika or garlic powder to the meat sauce for extra flavor.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a tangy melt; mild cheddar can be used for a subtler flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
