Description
Hearty beef noodle casserole melds rich flavors from tender ground beef and creamy sauce. Comfort meets convenience in this simple, satisfying midweek meal you can prepare quickly and enjoy with family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.25 lbs (567 grams) lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz (340 grams) egg noodles, uncooked
- 16 oz (453 grams) canned tomato sauce
- 15 oz (425 grams) canned diced tomatoes, drained (petite cut preferred)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- 2 tsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps chopped parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat: Warm the oven to 400°F (200°C), creating an ideal environment for culinary transformation.
- Noodle Preparation: Cook egg noodles in salted boiling water until tender, following package instructions, then drain completely.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking into crumbly texture while releasing rich flavors.
- Aromatic Infusion: Incorporate onions and garlic into the beef, sautéing until vegetables soften and ingredients meld harmoniously.
- Sauce Development: Pour tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and Italian seasoning into the skillet, stirring to create a robust, flavorful mixture.
- Combine Components: Gently fold cooked noodles into the beef mixture, ensuring every strand is thoroughly coated with savory sauce.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the mixture to a spray-coated 9″x13″ baking dish, spreading evenly and crowning with a generous layer of cheddar cheese.
- Bake and Finish: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking 10-15 minutes until cheese melts into a golden, bubbling surface.
- Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and present immediately to waiting guests.
Notes
- Optimize Noodle Cooking: Slightly undercook noodles by 1-2 minutes to prevent mushiness during baking, ensuring perfect texture in the final casserole.
- Drain Meat Thoroughly: Remove excess fat from browned beef to prevent a greasy, heavy dish and maintain a light, clean flavor profile.
- Cheese Melting Trick: Let casserole rest 5 minutes after baking to allow cheese to set and become creamy, preventing immediate runny cheese.
- Customize Flavor Boost: Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella or pepper jack to add unexpected depth and personal flair to the classic recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 445
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg