Description

Beef Lombardi Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, tender egg noodles coated in a creamy sour cream and cottage cheese mixture, and topped with melted cheddar cheese. This classic casserole is perfect for family dinners and easy to prepare in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat Mixture

2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
2 cups canned tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar

Noodles and Cheese Mixture

8 ounces egg noodles
1 cup sour cream
2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup chopped green onions

Topping

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the casserole.
Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned and no longer pink inside.
Drain Fat: Carefully drain the excess fat from the skillet to keep the casserole from being greasy.
Season Beef: Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the cooked beef, stirring well to distribute the seasonings evenly.
Simmer with Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and sugar. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors and thicken the sauce.
Cook Egg Noodles: While the beef mixture simmers, boil egg noodles in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions until tender. Drain and set aside.
Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, cottage cheese, and chopped green onions, mixing thoroughly.
Combine Noodles and Cheese Mixture: Add the drained noodles to the bowl with the sour cream mixture and stir until the noodles are evenly coated.
Layer Casserole – First Layer: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread half of the noodle and cheese mixture evenly, then layer half of the beef mixture over the noodles, and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Layer Casserole – Second Layer: Repeat by layering the remaining noodle mixture, remaining beef mixture, and top with the final cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.

Notes

You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
For a spicier dish, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.
Make sure to drain fat well to avoid excess greasiness in the casserole.
The casserole can be assembled a day ahead and baked just before serving.
Use low-fat dairy products to reduce calories and fat content if desired.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Beef casserole, Lombardi casserole, baked beef noodles, comfort food, dinner casserole