Description
Hearty Poor Man’s Husband Casserole delivers comfort in each savory bite. Midwestern classic combines ground beef, potatoes, and creamy sauce for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 8 oz (226 g) egg noodles (or any pasta)
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 14.5 oz (411 g) can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 8 oz (226 g) can tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ cup crushed crackers or breadcrumbs (optional, for crunch)
Instructions
- Noodle Preparation: Cook egg noodles in heavily salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside to cool slightly.
- Meat Foundation: Brown ground beef with onions in a skillet over medium heat, drain excess fat, then incorporate garlic, Italian seasoning, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until liquid reduces and flavors meld.
- Creamy Binding: Whisk cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, and onion powder into a smooth, velvety mixture that will provide luxurious texture to the casserole.
- Layering Technique: Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking dish. Create strategic layers starting with noodles, spread the entire cream mixture evenly, then top with remaining noodles and seasoned beef.
- Cheese Crowning: Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar across the surface, optionally adding crushed crackers or breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
- Baking Finale: Bake until cheese becomes golden and bubbly, edges crisp slightly, approximately 25-30 minutes. Rest briefly after removing from oven to allow flavors to settle before serving.
Notes
- Drain Noodles Perfectly: Pat noodles dry after draining to prevent excess moisture from making the casserole watery, ensuring a perfect texture and preventing soggy layers.
- Beef Browning Technique: Cook ground beef on high heat to achieve deep caramelization, developing rich flavor complexity and preventing meat from becoming bland or steamed.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to allow cheese to set slightly, creating easier cutting and preventing molten cheese from running everywhere when serving.
- Dietary Modification Options: Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles, use gluten-free noodles, and choose lactose-free cream cheese to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 398
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 682 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 77 mg