Description
This Poor Man Husband Casserole is a budget-friendly, hearty dish that combines savory ground beef, creamy layers of cream cheese and sour cream, and tender egg noodles, all topped with melty cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this casserole delivers rich flavors and comforting textures in just 35 minutes. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, it’s a crowd-pleaser that satisfies without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 2 cans (30 ounces) tomato sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Dish and Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse, and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine.
- Create the Sauce: Stir sugar into the meat mixture, then add tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes to concentrate flavors.
- Prepare the Creamy Element: In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
- Assemble the First Layer: Spread half the cooked noodles in the baking dish. Top with half the cream cheese mixture and half the meat sauce.
- Complete the Layers: Repeat layering with remaining noodles, cream mixture, and meat sauce.
- Add the Cheese Topping: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Poor Man Husband Casserole:
- Use What You Have: Substitute pasta, ground meat, or cheese based on what’s in your pantry—this dish is incredibly versatile.
- Softened Cream Cheese: Ensure cream cheese is softened for easy mixing. Leave it out for 30 minutes before starting.
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook noodles just until al dente—they’ll finish cooking in the oven.
- Layer Strategically: Use small dollops of the cream mixture instead of spreading to avoid tearing the noodles.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes to set and make serving easier.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/6th of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: poor man husband casserole, budget-friendly casserole, ground beef casserole, easy weeknight dinner