Description
Comforting classic husbands delight casserole brings hearty Midwestern flavors to dinner tables with nostalgic charm. Cheesy layers of ground beef, noodles, and creamy sauce promise a satisfying meal that connects generations of home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (453 grams) ground beef
- 12 ounces (340 grams) egg noodles
- 24 ounces (680 grams) marinara sauce
- 2 cups sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 white onion, chopped
Additional Ingredients:
- 3 ounces (85 grams) cream cheese, softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with light cooking spray.
- Cook egg noodles in salted boiling water until tender, approximately 7-8 minutes. Thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat, seasoning with garlic salt. Drain excess fat completely.
- Pour marinara sauce into beef mixture, simmering for 10 minutes to develop rich flavors and combine ingredients.
- Create cream mixture by blending sour cream, softened cream cheese, and finely chopped onion until smooth and uniform.
- Construct initial layer of casserole by spreading half the cooked noodles across bottom of baking dish.
- Distribute beef mixture evenly over noodle base, ensuring complete coverage.
- Gently spread cream mixture on top of beef layer, creating consistent thickness.
- Complete casserole by topping with remaining noodles.
- Generously sprinkle grated cheddar cheese across entire surface.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes until cheese melts and develops golden bubbling edges.
- Remove from oven, let rest 5-7 minutes to set, then serve warm for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce overall fat content and enhance nutritional value.
- Swap traditional egg noodles with whole wheat or gluten-free alternatives for dietary accommodations.
- Use low-fat cream cheese and sour cream for a lighter version without compromising flavor intensity.
- Incorporate extra vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to boost nutritional profile and add exciting texture variations.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 462 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg