Description
Sour Cream Noodle Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring tender ground chuck, tangy tomato sauce, creamy sour cream and cottage cheese, and sharp cheddar melted over al dente egg noodles. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner and pairs wonderfully with crusty French bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and 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 (less to taste)
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature while you prepare the ingredients for baking.
- Cook the Meat: In a large skillet, brown the ground chuck over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain off any excess fat, then stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently while you prepare the next steps.
- Prepare Noodles: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the egg noodles until al dente, usually around 7 to 9 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Make Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream and small curd cottage cheese. Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix in the cooked noodles and the sliced green onions, stirring well to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the Bake: In a baking dish, layer half of the noodle and cheese mixture, then spoon half of the meat sauce over it. Sprinkle half of the grated sharp cheddar cheese on top. Repeat with the remaining noodles, meat sauce, and end with the remaining cheddar cheese layer.
- Bake: Place the assembled dish into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheddar cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot, ideally accompanied by crusty French bread for a complete, comforting meal.
Notes
- Sour cream noodle bake is a versatile and quick recipe perfect for weeknight dinners.
- The combination of ground chuck and egg noodles makes it filling and flavorful.
- You can adjust the amount of green onions based on your taste preferences.
- For a richer flavor, use sharp cheddar cheese and fresh cracked black pepper liberally.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated, making this dish great for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 347
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 538 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 99 mg
