Cheesy Beef and Noodle Casserole (Printable)
Hearty ground beef and egg noodles baked with creamy mushroom sauce and melted cheddar cheese for ultimate comfort food.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Cook egg noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and red bell pepper if using; sauté 3–4 minutes until softened.
04 - Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula. Drain excess fat.
05 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste, drained tomatoes, peas if using, Italian herbs, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook 3–4 more minutes to combine flavors.
06 - Remove the skillet from heat and mix in sour cream and cream of mushroom soup until fully incorporated.
07 - Fold in half of the shredded cheddar cheese and the cooked noodles.
08 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the remaining cheddar cheese.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The kind of dinner that has everyone reaching across the table for seconds without saying a word
- Everything cooks in one pan before hitting the oven, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum comfort
- Freezes beautifully so you can make two and tuck one away for those nights when cooking feels impossible
02 -
- Drain those diced tomatoes thoroughly or your casserole will be soupy instead of creamy
- The noodles continue cooking in the oven, so undercook them by a minute or two in the boiling water
- Sour cream can curdle if added to a super hot pan, which is why you pull it off the heat first
03 -
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying the pre shredded kind, it melts so much better
- Letting the casserole rest for those five minutes seems unnecessary but it makes serving so much easier