Sour Cream Noodle Bake is a cozy, layered casserole that's extreme comfort food! With each bite, you get creamy egg noodles, rich beefy sauce, and melty cheese. Close your eyes and picture this beautiful casserole:
Layer 1: cooked egg noodles tossed in a creamy blend of sour cream and cream cheese.
Layer 2: hearty layer of seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
Layer 3: a thick blanket of shredded mozzarella cheese.
This hamburger noodle casserole is old-fashioned comfort food for today's modern family. This simple recipe is easy enough for beginners, just like this Cheesy Beef Macaroni.
This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2025 with beautiful new photographs and more recipe tips.
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You'll love Sour Cream Noodle Bake because it's easy, creamy, comfort food. And I especially love it because it's got some history that's near and dear to my heart. The recipe came from an old church cookbook; we ate it so many times growing up.
My mother had the old cookbook that her church put together nearly 40 years ago. It's so well-loved that the cover is missing, so I don't know the title. I am also just assuming it was printed in 1982 because there's a calendar in the back of the cookbook for that year.
Why You'll Love Sour Cream Noodle Bake
There are a TON of beefy noodle casserole recipes out there on the ol' inter-webs. What makes this casserole extra special is the combination of cream cheese and sour cream mixed with the egg noodles.
Oh, how creamy these noodles are! I could eat them tossed with only the cream cheese and sour cream mixture (and I have taken a taste or two while making this recipe). It's just that good!
The flavorful ground beef mixture reminds me of a thick spaghetti sauce or a simplified Bolognese sauce. The longer you let it slow-simmer on the stove, the more flavorful it will become. If you're in a time crunch you can cut it short. Just promise me you'll let it simmer for at least 20 minutes.
Ingredients with Substitutions
One more thing I love about this creamy beefy noodle casserole recipe are the simple ingredients. There's not a single thing on the list that would be tough to find in any grocery store!
- Lean ground beef - If you're looking to cut back on some of the fat, you can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken instead of the beef.
- Canned tomatoes - Use the diced tomatoes; either plain or the kind that includes basil, garlic, and oregano.
- Tomato sauce - Either plain or the kind that includes basil, garlic, and oregano. Any time we can add more flavor to a casserole, the better!
- Egg noodles - Egg noodles can easily be traded out for any short noodle - ziti, penne, elbows, or rotini are what first come to mind.
- Sour cream - If you don't have sour cream, you can lighten things up by using plain greek yogurt instead. Just be sure to use full-fat (4% milk fat) yogurt if you go this route.
- Cream cheese - Other spreadable cheeses (like Boursin) can be used if need be. Just make sure not to use any low-fat stuff, as the higher water content will result in a watery bake!
- Mozzarella cheese -Mozzarella is my preference for this yummy beef pasta recipe, but other mild and melty cheeses will do the trick in a pinch! Try jack, quesadilla, colby, or even cheddar cheese if you need.
Add Veggie Sneak-ins
Grate a carrot or finely chop mushrooms and stir them into the beef mixture. They blend in easily and add moisture, sweetness, and a bit of hidden nutrition.
How to Make Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Step 1: Make the meat sauce.
Step 2: Blend hot cooked egg noodles with cream cheese and sour cream.
Step 3: Layer half of the noodles, half the meat sauce, then half the cheese in the skillet or casserole dish.
Step 4: Repeat the layers and bake for 30 minutes!
Presentation Tips
Got a special occassion or maybe you just want to do something a little different? Try these tips to jazz this casserole up a notch!
Mini Casserole Dishes: Serve individual portions in mini ramekins or oven-safe dishes for a wow factor at dinner parties.
Wrap the Handle: Tie a nice cloth napkin around the skillet handle for a touch of charm just before serving.
Serve with a Wooden Trivet: Set your skillet on a round wooden board or trivet—it enhances the rustic vibe and protects your table.
Recipe Tips
- The longer the sauce simmers, the more flavorful it will be. If you're not in a rush, opt for the full 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- I like to cut the cream cheese into small squares to help with the melting and mixing. You can also put a lid on the noodles after adding the cream cheese before you stir - this will trap the heat and help the cheese melt a little faster.
- Turn this noodle casserole recipe into a Meatless Monday option by omitting the meat entirely and substituting sautéd vegetables like zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, or mushrooms.
What to Serve with It
Serve Sour Cream Noodle Bake with your favorite side dishes. Since it's already filling, you can serve a lighter side such as collard greens or roasted carrots.
How to Make Ahead
This is a great make-ahead casserole. Assemble the casserole, but don't bake it. Cover it with foil and place it in the refrigerator the day before you plan to eat it. When you're ready to bake it, simply pop it in the oven as directed.
Note: You may need to add an additional 5 to 10 minutes of baking time to make sure the casserole is hot and bubbly depending on how cold your refrigerator is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook the egg noodles just shy of al dente—they’ll finish cooking in the oven as they soak up any liquids. Overcooked noodles can turn mushy in the casserole.
Store any leftover hamburger noodle casserole in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.
This beefy noodle casserole freezes very well. Make and bake the casserole as directed, let it cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
More Comfort Food to Try
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Recipe
Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Equipment
- large pot for boiling noodles
- strainer for the cooked noodles
- large cast iron skillet with cover
- large mixing bowl
- measuring spoons
- large casserole dish (instead of a cast iron skillet)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 16-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces uncooked egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese (save a little for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain off the fat. Add the minced garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Simmer covered on low heat for 20 minutes. Taste test the sauce and add additional salt if needed. Hint: For a more flavorful sauce, simmer the meat sauce longer - up to 40 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350F. Boil and drain the egg noodles. Place the hot egg noodles in a large bowl and add the cream cheese and sour cream. Mix well. I like to cut the cream cheese into small squares first to help with the melting and mixing.
- After the meat sauce has cooked, spoon most of it into another bowl, leaving a small layer at the bottom of the skillet.
- Add half of the noodle mixture to the skillet.
- Add half the ground beef mixture to the skillet.
- Add half mozzarella cheese to the skillet.
- Repeat with another layer of noodle mixture, beef mixture, and cheese. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
- Plate and garnish with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes to prepare and cook the ground beef. 20 minutes for the sauce to simmer. 30 minutes bake time. Hint: For a more flavorful sauce, simmer the meat sauce longer - up to 40 minutes.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Instead of a cast iron skillet, assemble the layers in a casserole dish or individual ramekins.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2024.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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