The Ultimate Hamburger Noodle Casserole Recipe

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Hamburg casserole is ground beef, egg noodles, sour cream, and cottage cheese, layered with cheddar and baked until the top is golden. It’s budget friendly, it feeds six, and the leftovers freeze well. If you grew up on Hamburger Helper, this is the homemade version, with real ingredients, about 15 minutes of prep, and 25 minutes in the oven.

Ground Beef With Egg Noodles

This one is a regular for busy weeknights, and the men in my house love it. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and it’s the kind of dish where seconds (and maybe even thirds) are a sure thing.

Recipe adapted from the Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Noodle Bake recipe

Ingredients

• 1 bag (12 ounces) No Yolk egg noodles
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 tablespoons crushed garlic
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste

Directions

1. Prepare the Meat Sauce

Heat 1/8 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic and 1/2 cup of chopped onions and sauté until the onions are golden.

Add 1.5 pounds of lean ground beef (or ground turkey) and cook until browned. Drain any extra grease, then stir in 1 can (15 ounces) of tomato sauce and let it simmer while you cook the noodles.

2. Cook the Egg Noodles

Cook 1 bag (12 ounces) of No Yolk egg noodles just until al dente, since they keep cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.

3. Make the Creamy Noodle Mixture

In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup of sour cream and 1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese. Add the drained noodles and mix until every noodle is coated.

4. Layer the Casserole

Grease a glass 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half the noodle mixture on the bottom, add half the meat sauce, and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat for a second layer.

5. Season to Taste

Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. I’d recommend tasting the meat sauce before you layer so you can adjust it there.

6. Bake

Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes, until the top is golden and the cheese is melted. Let it rest a few minutes before serving so it cuts cleanly.

Creamy Hamburger Noodle Casserole

This classic hamburger casserole is easy to change up based on what’s in your fridge. Try adding:

• Diced tomatoes for extra texture and tang
• Chopped bell peppers for a little sweetness and crunch
• Mushrooms or spinach for an easy veggie boost
• Frozen peas or corn
• French fried onions on top for crunch

My favorite part is the rich, cheesy texture, and it pairs nicely with a green salad and garlic bread.

Can You Freeze Hamburger Noodle Casserole?

Yes. Let it cool to room temperature, then portion it into single servings or family-size containers. Use airtight, freezer-safe containers with as little air as possible to prevent freezer burn, and label each one with the date.

Tips and Substitutes

1. Choose lean ground beef: Less grease in the dish. If you do end up with extra, drain it before adding the tomato sauce.
2. Mix your cheeses: Cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan work well together. I personally love cheddar!
3. Add a crunchy topping: Crushed crackers, breadcrumbs, or extra cheddar before baking. I’ve also added Durkee French Fried Onions, and they’re delicious.
4. Swap in ground turkey: Same method, lighter result.

Hamburger Casserole

Hamburger noodle casserole adapted from The Pioneer Woman: egg noodles, sour cream, cottage cheese, and ground beef, layered with cheddar and baked.

Print Instructions

Supply List

• 1 bag 12 ounce No Yolk egg noodles
• 1 can (15 ounce) tomato sauce
• 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 tbsp crushed garlic
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to taste

Instructions : Step by Step

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil, garlic and onions until the onions are golden, then brown the ground beef. Drain any extra grease, add the tomato sauce and simmer.
• Cook the egg noodles just until al dente and drain.
• Mix the cottage cheese, sour cream and cooked egg noodles in a large bowl.
• Grease a glass 9×13 baking dish and layer noodle mixture, meat sauce and cheddar cheese, then repeat. I did two layers.
• Season to taste with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
• Bake 25 minutes at 375 degrees, until the top is golden and the cheese is melted. Let it rest a few minutes before serving.

Servings: 6 people

Author: Jessica Bruno

Cost: 15

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Meet Jessica

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.