Sour Cream Noodle Bake
A comforting and easy Sour Cream Noodle Bake featuring ground beef, marinara, and a creamy cheese mixture. Perfect for a weeknight meal!
Equipment
- 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- Large Pot
- Large skillet
- Medium Bowl
Ingredients
Main Components
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- 24 ounce jar of Marinara Sauce (like RAO's brand)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper divided
Creamy Layer
- 1¼ cups 4% small curd cottage cheese
- ½ cup sour cream full fat for best taste and texture
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced green onions
Cheese Topping
- 1½ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Get Ready: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook Noodles: Boil your egg noodles in a large pot of water until they're al dente (just tender, not mushy). Drain them well and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
- Brown Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the lean ground beef with the chopped onion and minced garlic. Stir often until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat for a healthier dish.
- Simmer Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the marinara sauce, half of the kosher salt (½ teaspoon), and half of the black pepper (½ teaspoon) with the beef. Let it gently simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors, then remove from heat.
- Mix Creamy Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, green onions, and the remaining salt and pepper. Stir until everything is well mixed.
- Coat Noodles: Add the cooked and cooled egg noodles to the sour cream mixture and toss gently until they are all evenly coated.
- Layer It Up - First Round: Spread half of the creamy noodle mixture evenly across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Next, spoon half of the beef sauce over the noodles, then sprinkle with 2 cups of the shredded cheese (cheddar and Monterey Jack combined).
- Layer It Up - Second Round: Repeat the layers! Add the remaining noodles, then the rest of the beef sauce, and finally top it with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the casserole uncovered for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and bubbly around the edges. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving to ensure neat slices.
Notes
This recipe has a Prep Time of 20 minutes, Cook Time of 30 minutes, and Total Time of 50 minutes. It yields 6 servings.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 594 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fats: 31g
- Protein: 42g
