Beef Lombardi Casserole (Printable Version)
A hearty bake of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, egg noodles and creamy cheddar, perfect for family meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauces & Liquids
04 - 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
05 - 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Pasta
10 - 8 ounces egg noodles
→ Dairy
11 - 1 cup sour cream
12 - 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 350°F and allow to fully preheat.
02 - Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until fully browned; drain off excess fat.
03 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to skillet; sauté until onions are translucent and fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.
04 - Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer mixture for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Cook egg noodles in a large saucepan according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
06 - In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese until uniform.
07 - Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Layer half of the cooked egg noodles in the bottom, followed by half the sour cream-cottage cheese mixture, then half the beef mixture. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
08 - Evenly distribute shredded cheddar cheese over the top layer.
09 - Place casserole dish uncovered in preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the surface is golden and bubbling.
10 - Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before portioning.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- You get all the nostalgic flavors of lasagna without the fuss or the layers sticking together.
- It goes from weeknight simplicity to potluck hero with almost no effort at all.
02 -
- If you rush the cooling time, the casserole will fall apart into a cheesy puddle—wait the full ten minutes.
- Undercooking noodles is better than overcooking; they'll soften up during baking.
03 -
- Letting the tomato paste sizzle in the pan for a minute before adding liquids deepens the flavor.
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest melting and less oiliness on top.