Description
Hearty beef noodle casserole brings comfort right to your dinner table with rich layers of ground beef, tender noodles, and melted cheese. Creamy sauce and crispy edges promise a satisfying meal that quickly becomes a family favorite for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.25 pounds (1 ¼ lbs) lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) egg noodles, uncooked
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 16 ounces (453 grams) canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces (425 grams) canned diced tomatoes, drained (petite cut preferred)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Ignite the oven to a scorching 400°F (200°C), preparing a welcoming environment for your culinary creation.
- Submerge egg noodles into a generously salted boiling water bath, allowing them to dance and soften according to package guidance.
- Simultaneously, awaken a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high flames, introducing ground beef to sizzle and fragment under a persistent spatula.
- Usher chopped onions and fragrant garlic into the meaty landscape, letting them meld and soften while transforming the beef into a perfectly browned canvas.
- Elevate the flavor profile by cascading tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning into the skillet, stirring with purpose to create a harmonious sauce.
- Rescue the noodles from their watery realm, draining thoroughly, then integrate them into the robust beef mixture, ensuring each strand is lovingly coated.
- Transfer the symphonic combination into a cooking spray-kissed 9″x13″ baking vessel, crowning the creation with a generous blanket of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, allowing 10-15 minutes for the cheese to transform into a molten, bubbling masterpiece.
- Extract the golden-topped dish, sprinkle with verdant parsley, and serve immediately to eager diners.
Notes
- Save time by cooking noodles and beef simultaneously to streamline the meal preparation process.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier casserole version.
- Make ahead and refrigerate the casserole unbaked, then pop it in the oven when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Customize the dish by adding vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for extra nutrition and flavor variation.
- Opt for sharp cheddar cheese to enhance the overall taste and create a more robust cheesy topping.
- Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for quick weeknight meals that can be reheated easily.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg