Creamy Poor Man’s Casserole
This Creamy Poor Man’s Casserole is a layered dish made with saucy ground beef, creamy noodles, and melted cheese. A perfect budget-friendly family dinner recipe or cozy weeknight dinner recipe, it’s comfort food that’s easy to make.
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This casserole recipe has been a favorite in many homes for generations because it’s simple, uses common ingredients, and comes together quickly. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a warm, filling casserole that everyone will love.
Try serving it with my vegetable side dish recipe, like Air Fried Zucchini Bites with Garlic and Parmesan, and Roasted Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles.
How to Make Poor Man’s Casserole
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Dice the onion.
3. Boil the noodles in a large pot until al dente.
4. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with seasonings and diced onion, breaking the meat apart until no longer pink.
5. Add the tomato sauce, water, and sugar. Stir to combine.
6. In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together. Add the noodles and toss until coated.
7. In a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish, spread ⅓ of the meat sauce on the bottom. Top with half the noodles, then sprinkle half the cheese.
8. Add another third of the meat sauce, then the rest of the noodles. Spread the remaining meat sauce on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
9. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve and Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Cook the noodles just until al dente. They will finish cooking in the oven with the sauce, so overcooked noodles can become mushy.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened before mixing. This helps it blend smoothly with the sour cream and coat the noodles evenly.
- Drain any excess fat after cooking the beef if you want a less greasy casserole.
- Follow the layering instructions carefully—this keeps the casserole creamy and ensures every bite has a good balance of noodles, beef, and cheese.
- You can assemble the casserole a few hours ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to bake. Add 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
- You can use a mix of cheeses or swap Colby Jack for cheddar if you prefer a sharper flavor.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking. This helps it set slightly and makes it easier to serve.
Creamy Poor’s Man Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Tony’s seasoning
- 1 tsp minced onion
- 1 small onion diced
- 29 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 16 oz sour cream
- 16 oz wide egg noodles
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Dice the onion.
- Boil the noodles in a large pot until al dente.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with seasonings and diced onion, breaking the meat apart until no longer pink.
- Add the tomato sauce, water, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together. Add the noodles and toss until coated.
- In a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish, spread ⅓ of the meat sauce on the bottom. Top with half the noodles, then sprinkle half the cheese.
- Add another third of the meat sauce, then the rest of the noodles. Spread the remaining meat sauce on top and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
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