Description
A comforting and creamy baked noodle casserole featuring ground beef, tomato sauce, sour cream, cottage cheese, and sharp cheddar. This Sour Cream Noodle Bake combines tender egg noodles with a savory meat sauce, topped with layers of cheese and green onions for a hearty family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 1/4 lb. ground chuck
- 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Noodles & Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz. egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/4 cups small curd cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions (reduce to taste)
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole later.
- Cook Ground Chuck: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground chuck until fully cooked. Drain the excess fat. Add the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine and let it simmer gently while preparing the other ingredients.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the egg noodles until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream and small curd cottage cheese. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste and stir well. Add this mixture to the cooked noodles along with the sliced green onions and stir until evenly coated.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a baking dish, spread half of the noodle and cheese mixture. Layer half of the meat sauce over the noodles, then sprinkle half of the grated cheddar cheese on top. Repeat the layering: noodles, meat sauce, and finish with the remaining cheese.
- Bake: Place the assembled dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot, ideally accompanied by crusty French bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Drain the fat thoroughly after browning the beef for a less greasy dish.
- Adjust green onions according to your taste preference; you can add more for extra flavor and freshness.
- Using small curd cottage cheese provides a creamier texture in the cheese mixture.
- For a sharper flavor, use extra sharp cheddar cheese instead of sharp cheddar.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute egg noodles with gluten-free pasta.
