Description
This Sour Cream Noodle Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring tender egg noodles combined with a savory ground beef and marinara sauce mixture, layered with creamy sour cream and cottage cheese, then topped with a blend of melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Perfect for a family dinner, this oven-baked dish is easy to prepare and delivers rich, cheesy flavors with a satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Noodles
- 8 ounces wide egg noodles
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- 24 ounce jar Marinara Sauce (RAO’s brand recommended)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (divided in half)
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper (divided in half)
Creamy Mixture
- 1¼ cup 4% small curd cottage cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced green onions
Cheese Topping
- 3 cups shredded cheese (1½ cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prepare for the bake.
- Cook Noodles: Bring water to a boil in a 5 to 6 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the egg noodles and cook until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop further cooking.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: While noodles cook, heat a 10 to 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Stir frequently until beef is no longer pink. Drain excess oil.
- Simmer Sauce: Return beef mixture to medium heat, stir in marinara sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper. Cook just until simmering, then remove from heat.
- Prepare Creamy Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, the remaining ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper. Stir until fully combined.
- Mix Noodles with Creamy Mixture: Add the cooked and cooled egg noodles to the creamy mixture and stir well to evenly coat all noodles.
- Assemble Bake – First Layer: Spread half of the sour cream noodle mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Assemble Bake – Second Layer: Spoon half of the ground beef and marinara mixture over the noodle layer.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese evenly over the ground beef layer.
- Assemble Bake – Repeat Layers: Repeat layering with the remaining sour cream noodle mixture, then the remaining ground beef mixture.
- Top with Cheese: Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese on top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is fully melted and the beef mixture is bubbly. Serve hot for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Ensure noodles are cooked al dente to avoid mushiness in the bake.
- Draining excess oil from the browned beef improves the dish’s texture and reduces greasiness.
- You can substitute marinara with your favorite pasta sauce if desired.
- Feel free to add additional vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the beef mixture for variety.
- Use a mix of cheeses that melt well for a creamy and flavorful topping.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
