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Poor Man Husband Casserole Recipe

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4.2 from 4 reviews

Poor Man Husband Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked pasta dish featuring ground beef simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, creamy cream cheese and sour cream mixture, and finished with a cheesy topping. This easy-to-make casserole combines classic flavors with simple ingredients for a satisfying family meal in just 35 minutes.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 8 ounces egg noodles, cooked according to package directions

Meat Sauce

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
  • 2 cans (30 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 2 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

Cream Mixture

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 8 ounces sour cream

Topping

  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  3. Cook Pasta: Cook the egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and set aside.
  4. Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, crumble and cook the ground beef until fully browned. Drain excess grease to keep the dish from being too oily.
  5. Season Meat: Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the cooked beef. Stir well to combine.
  6. Add Sugar: Stir in the sugar to balance the acidity of the tomato sauce and enhance flavors.
  7. Add Tomato Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
  8. Simmer Sauce: Let the meat sauce simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat to meld the flavors.
  9. Mix Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and well blended.
  10. Assemble Casserole - Layer 1: Place half of the cooked egg noodles evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  11. Layer 2 - Meat Sauce: Spoon half of the meat sauce over the noodles, spreading evenly.
  12. Layer 3 - Cream Mixture: Dollop and spread half of the cream cheese and sour cream mixture over the meat sauce layer.
  13. Layer 4 - Repeat: Repeat the layering process with the remaining noodles, meat sauce, and cream mixture.
  14. Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer of the casserole.
  15. Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  16. Serve: Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm for a delicious, comforting meal.

Notes

  • Drain and rinse the pasta to prevent it from sticking and to stop it from overcooking in the casserole.
  • You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
  • For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
  • Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for a richer texture, or low-fat options for a lighter dish.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/poor-man-husband-casserole-recipe/