Description
This Creamy Ground Beef Noodle Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring wide egg noodles, savory ground beef in marinara sauce, and a rich mixture of cottage cheese and sour cream, all topped with melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, this dish combines creamy textures with cheesy goodness for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- 24 ounce jar Marinara Sauce (e.g. RAO’s brand)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided in half
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, divided in half
Creamy Mixture
- 1¼ cup 4% small curd cottage cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced green onions
Topping
- 3 cups shredded cheese (1½ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, 1½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Noodles: Bring water to a low boil in a 5 to 6 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the wide egg noodles and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: While noodles cook, heat a 10 to 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, chopped sweet yellow onion, and minced garlic. Cook, stirring often, until beef is no longer pink. Drain excess oil.
- Simmer Meat Sauce: Return the beef and onion mixture to the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Stir in the marinara sauce along with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper. Cook just until the mixture begins to simmer, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Creamy Mixture: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the small curd cottage cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, remaining ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper. Stir until fully combined.
- Combine Noodles and Creamy Mixture: Add the cooled, cooked egg noodles to the sour cream mixture. Stir gently until noodles are evenly coated.
- Layer First Half: Spread half of the sour cream and noodle mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese evenly over the meat layer.
- Layer Second Half: Repeat with the remaining sour cream noodle mixture and meat sauce. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the meat sauce is bubbling around the edges.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool slightly before slicing to help the layers set. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Sour Cream Noodle Bake.
Notes
- For best results, use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and improve flavor.
- You can substitute the marinara sauce with your favorite pasta sauce or homemade tomato sauce.
- Allow the casserole to cool a few minutes before slicing to maintain clean pieces and better layer cohesion.
- Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the beef mixture for added texture and nutrition.
- This dish can be prepared in advance and refrigerated before baking; just increase bake time slightly if baking straight from the fridge.
Keywords: creamy ground beef noodle bake, casserole, comfort food, baked noodle dish, cheesy beef pasta bake