Poor Man Husband Casserole
A comforting, budget-friendly casserole layering ground beef, noodles, creamy cheese, and tomato sauce—made simple and oh-so satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
- 8 oz egg noodles cooked according to package
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
Preheat & Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish.
Cook the Noodles
- Boil salted water and cook egg noodles until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
Brown the Beef
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until meat is browned and onions are softened. Drain excess grease.
Add Flavor
- Stir in garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; cook briefly until fragrant. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, then simmer for 5–7 minutes to meld the flavors.
Build the Creamy Layer
- In a separate bowl, mix sour cream and cottage cheese.
Assemble the Casserole
- Layer half of the cooked noodles in the baking dish. Spread half of the creamy mixture over noodles, followed by half of the meat-tomato mixture. Repeat the layers: noodles, creamy mix, meat sauce. Top with the remaining shredded cheddar.
Bake
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Allow the casserole to rest 5 minutes before serving to let it set.