Description
Old Fashioned Company Casserole is a comforting and hearty one-pot dish made with lean ground beef, tender egg noodles, and a blend of savory seasonings, all cooked in an Instant Pot and finished with creamy cottage cheese, sour cream, and melted mozzarella. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole combines rich flavors with ease of preparation.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
Seasonings
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Liquids and Pasta
- 2 cups beef broth
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 1 (25 oz) jar pasta sauce, divided
Dairy Toppings
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Onions: Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting. When the display reads HOT, add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula. Add the diced onion and cook together for about 5 minutes until the meat is browned and the onions are softened. Drain off any excess grease.
- Season the Mixture: Stir in the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning into the browned beef and onions to evenly distribute the flavors.
- Add Broth and Prepare for Noodles: Pour the beef broth into the pot and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits, ensuring nothing sticks and prevents burning during pressure cooking. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- Add Noodles and Sauce: Sprinkle the uncooked egg noodles evenly over the meat and broth mixture. Pour half of the pasta sauce over the noodles to create layers.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid, making sure the valve is set to sealing. Set the manual or pressure cook button to 1 minute. When cooking finishes, allow the Instant Pot to sit for an additional 10 minutes (natural release), then carefully move the valve to venting to release any remaining pressure. Remove the lid.
- Mix and Add Cheese Topping: Stir the casserole mixture well to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, sour cream, and parmesan cheese. Evenly spread this creamy mixture over the noodles. Then spread the remaining pasta sauce evenly on top.
- Bake and Melt Cheese: If you have an air fryer lid for the Instant Pot, place it on top and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top and bake for another 3 minutes until melted. If you don’t have an air fryer lid, place the stainless steel inner pot into a preheated oven at 350°F for 25 minutes, then sprinkle mozzarella on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove the casserole from the oven or air fryer lid, let sit for a few minutes, then serve warm and enjoy this classic, comforting meal.
Notes
- Using lean ground beef reduces excess grease and creates a healthier dish.
- Scraping the bottom of the Instant Pot after adding broth is essential to avoid burn warnings during pressure cooking.
- If you do not have an air fryer lid for your Instant Pot, baking in the oven using the stainless steel pot is a great alternative.
- This recipe can be customized with your favorite pasta sauce flavors or extra vegetables for variation.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and can be reheated in the microwave or oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
