Description
This comforting Sour Cream Noodle Bake combines ground beef, tender egg noodles, and a creamy mixture of sour cream and cottage cheese, all baked together with savory tomato sauce and melted Colby Jack cheese on top. It’s an easy, satisfying casserole perfect for family dinners or potlucks, delivering a rich and hearty flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Noodles
- 12 ounces egg noodles
Cheese Mixture
- 1 ½ cups small curd cottage cheese
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Topping
- 8 ounces shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the noodles: Cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain them well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Cook the ground beef mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the finely diced sweet onion and minced garlic until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the tomato sauce, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Make the cheese mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the small curd cottage cheese, sour cream, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
- Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, gently fold together the cooked noodles, sauteed beef and tomato sauce mixture, and the sour cream cottage cheese mixture until evenly combined.
- Assemble the bake: Transfer the combined mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese on top.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and serve: Let the noodle bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- You can substitute Colby Jack cheese with cheddar or mozzarella for a different flavor.
- For an extra creamy texture, consider blending the cottage cheese before mixing it with sour cream.
- Add chopped bell peppers or mushrooms to the ground beef mixture for extra vegetables.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
- To make the dish lower fat, use lean ground beef and low-fat sour cream and cottage cheese.
