Cheesy Beef And Noodle Casserole (Printable Version)
Hearty pasta bake with ground beef, tender noodles, and bubbly cheddar topping ready in 55 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
05 - 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper (optional)
→ Pasta
06 - 12 oz egg noodles
→ Dairy
07 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
08 - 1 cup sour cream
→ Sauces & Canned Goods
09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
10 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
13 - 1/2 tsp paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Other
15 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly in a colander and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and red bell pepper if using; sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula as it cooks. Drain excess fat from the pan.
05 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add tomato paste, drained diced tomatoes, frozen peas if using, Italian herbs, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Remove skillet from heat. Mix in sour cream and cream of mushroom soup until fully incorporated and smooth.
07 - Add half of the shredded cheddar cheese and the cooked drained noodles to the beef mixture. Fold gently until evenly combined.
08 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese in an even layer.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown, and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy mushroom sauce creates that velvety texture everyone craves in comfort food
- It reheats beautifully so you can make it ahead for busy weeks
02 -
- Draining the tomatoes prevents the casserole from becoming watery
- Letting it rest for five minutes makes serving so much easier
03 -
- Grating your own cheese melts better than pre-shredded bags
- Room temperature sour cream incorporates more smoothly