Description
Poor Man Husband Casserole is a comforting, hearty baked pasta dish featuring layers of tender egg noodles, seasoned ground beef in a rich tomato sauce, creamy cream cheese and sour cream mixture, all topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for feeding a family or a crowd, this casserole combines simple ingredients into a flavorful, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces egg noodles, cooked
Meat Sauce
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 2 cans (30 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Cream Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces sour cream
Topping
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook noodles: Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions until tender but firm. Drain well and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef thoroughly. Drain off any excess fat. Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar, stirring to combine. Pour in the tomato sauce and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
- Make cream cheese mixture: In a bowl, blend the softened cream cheese with sour cream until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble casserole: In the prepared baking dish, layer half of the cooked noodles evenly. Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the noodles, then top with half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers with the remaining noodles, cream cheese mixture, and meat sauce.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer of meat sauce.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use lean ground beef and reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Make sure to drain the cooked noodles well to avoid a watery casserole.
- You can prepare this casserole a day in advance; just cover and refrigerate before baking.
- Adjust seasonings to your taste; adding a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes can add a nice kick.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
