Description
A comforting and creamy Sour Cream Noodle Bake featuring tender ground chuck simmered in tomato sauce, layered with egg noodles, savory cottage cheese, sour cream, and sharp cheddar cheese, then baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 1/4 lb. ground chuck
- 1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Noodles and Cheese Mixture
- 8 oz. egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 1/4 cups small curd cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the assembled noodle casserole.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, brown the ground chuck over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently while you prepare the noodles and cheese mixture.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the egg noodles in salted water until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Mix Cheese and Noodles: In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese thoroughly. Season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Fold this mixture into the drained noodles along with the sliced green onions, mixing gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the Bake: In a baking dish, spread half of the noodle and cheese mixture as the first layer. Spoon over half of the meat sauce evenly on top. Sprinkle half of the grated sharp cheddar cheese over the meat. Repeat the layers: add the remaining noodles, then the rest of the meat sauce, and finish with a final layer of cheddar cheese.
- Bake: Place the assembled dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this hearty dish with crusty French bread to soak up any extra sauce.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, consider seasoning the tomato sauce with additional herbs like oregano or basil.
- You can swap ground chuck for ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Adjust green onions quantity if you prefer a milder onion flavor.
- This casserole is great for leftovers and reheats well in the oven or microwave.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a more pronounced cheesy flavor, or a milder cheese if preferred.
