Description
Comfort meets convenience in this classic Sour Cream Noodle Bake, blending hearty ground beef with creamy noodles and zesty cheese. Midwestern hospitality shines through each savory, cheesy layer, promising a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350F (175C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef with diced onions over medium-high heat, crumbling the meat until no pink remains and onions soften, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic. Pour in tomato sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Simultaneously, cook egg noodles according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Blend cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a mixing bowl. Gently fold cooked noodles into the creamy mixture, ensuring even coating.
- Layer the casserole by spreading half the noodle mixture across the baking dish’s bottom. Cover with half the beef sauce, then sprinkle half the Colby Jack cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.
- Transfer to preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes until thoroughly heated and cheese melts completely.
- Carefully remove from oven and serve hot, allowing the rich, comforting flavors to shine.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, leaner protein option that keeps the dish versatile and diet-friendly.
- Add extra vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to the beef mixture for increased nutrition and a colorful boost.
- Use gluten-free egg noodles to make this recipe completely gluten-free without compromising the delicious creamy texture and flavor.
- For a lower-fat version, choose low-fat cottage cheese and reduced-fat sour cream, which maintain the dish’s creamy consistency while cutting calories.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 43-45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 325 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg