Description
Hearty poor man’s husband casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to family dinner tables with simple, budget-friendly ingredients. Savory layers of ground beef, creamy sauce, and pasta create a satisfying meal that fills hungry bellies without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1.5 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Noodles and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) egg noodles, cooked according to package directions
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces (226 grams) sour cream
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 2 cans (30 ounces or 840 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Activate the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Prepare pasta according to package instructions, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat until completely cooked, carefully draining excess fat.
- Season the beef with garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Incorporate sugar into the meat mixture, then pour tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes, creating a rich sauce.
- Blend sour cream and cream cheese in a separate bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Create the first layer by spreading half the pasta across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Distribute half the creamy sour cream mixture evenly over the pasta base.
- Spoon half the seasoned meat sauce across the cream layer, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining pasta, sour cream mixture, and meat sauce.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, covering the entire casserole surface.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese melts completely and develops a golden-brown crust.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and improve overall healthiness of the dish.
- Experiment with whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for dietary variations and added nutrition.
- Consider using low-fat cream cheese and sour cream to make the casserole lighter and more diet-friendly.
- Mix in additional vegetables like spinach or diced bell peppers for extra nutrients and color contrast.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 487
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 763 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg