Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 8 oz egg noodles or elbow macaroni
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook noodles in salted water until just al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned and onion is soft; drain excess grease.
- Stir in garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper; simmer 10 minutes to meld flavors.
- In a bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese until smooth.
- Spread half the cooked noodles in baking dish; layer with half the sour cream mixture, half the meat sauce, and half the cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
- Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
- Cover dish with foil and bake 20 minutes; uncover and bake 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving; garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Add chopped spinach or mushrooms to sauce for extra veggies.
- Use Monterey Jack or Colby cheese instead of cheddar for milder flavor.
- Stir red pepper flakes into meat sauce for a spicy kick.
- Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 4 days.
- Reheat covered in 350°F oven or microwave individual portions.
- Freeze casserole up to 3 months; thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, sautéing
- Cuisine: American, Italian-American
- Diet: Low Fat
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
