Poor Man’s Husband Casserole
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with comfort. This budget-friendly casserole is a crowd-pleaser, layering pasta, seasoned beef, and a rich cream cheese mixture under a blanket of melty cheddar. Cozy, hearty, and made with simple ingredients you likely already have!
⏱ Time & Yield
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 6–8
Ingredients:
- 8 oz egg noodles, cooked & drained
- 1½ lbs ground beef
- 2 cans (15 oz each) tomato sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse; set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain the excess grease.
- Season the beef with garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in the sugar and tomato sauce, then simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- In a separate bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with sour cream until smooth and creamy.
- Layer the casserole:
- Spread half of the noodles in the baking dish.
- Top with half of the cream mixture, then half of the meat sauce.
- Repeat the layers one more time with the remaining ingredients.
- Top it all off with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
Pro Tip:
Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving—this helps the layers set for easier slicing.
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