Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 8 oz pasta (egg noodles, elbow macaroni, or similar), cooked and drained
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion until meat is no longer pink and onion is softened. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning (if using), salt, and pepper; cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the tomato sauce to the beef mixture. Then stir in the sour cream and softened cream cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Let simmer for 3–5 minutes over low heat.
- Lightly grease a 9×13‑inch baking dish. Spread the cooked pasta evenly across the bottom.
- Pour the beef–sauce mixture over the pasta and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and mozzarella evenly on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving so it sets slightly and is easier to scoop.
Notes
- You can swap the pasta shape — egg noodles, elbow macaroni, penne, or rotini all work fine.
- Feel free to add vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, or peas for extra nutrition and flavor — sauté with the onion before adding the beef.
- For a lighter version, use reduced‑fat sour cream or less cheese; for dairy‑free, try a non‑dairy cream alternative and omit or replace cheese.
- You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate covered; bake when ready (add ~5–10 min to bake time if baking from chilled).
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course / Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Comfort Food
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 dish)
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 630mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
