Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
Pasta Layer
- 8 oz egg noodles
- 1 ladle of pasta water (about 1/2 cup)
Creamy Mixture
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, hand shredded
- Parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Prepare the meat sauce: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add ground beef, breaking it apart as it browns. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Once browned, stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Cook the noodles: While the sauce simmers, cook egg noodles in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve one ladle of pasta water before draining.
- Prepare the creamy mixture: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, and cornstarch. Gradually add the reserved pasta water, stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Combine noodles and cream: Mix the cooked noodles with the creamy mixture until well coated.
- Assemble the casserole: Layer half of the creamy noodles in the prepared casserole dish. Top with half of the meat sauce and sprinkle with a third of the shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the layers, finishing with the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and serve: Allow the casserole to sit for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Hand-shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded varieties.
- Letting the casserole rest after baking helps it set for cleaner slices.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 90mg