This is hands down the best creamy beef noodle casserole! Cooked egg noodles tossed with sour cream and cream cheese; layered with flavorful meaty tomato sauce; and melty mozzarella cheese. This recipe was inspired by an old church cookbook recipe dated nearly 40 years ago. Originally titled Beef A La Deutch. It is a classic comfort food casserole!
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Welcome to My Kitchen Serenity! I’m super excited to share with you a recipe from my childhood. My mother has an old cookbook that her church put together approximately 37 years ago. The cover is missing so I don’t know the title of this cookbook. I assume it was printed in 1982 because there’s a calendar in the back of the cookbook for 1982.
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I was skimming through the cookbook and found this beef and pasta recipe submitted by Sandy Coury (my kindergarten teacher!). Wow! I remember my mother making this recipe for us when I was a child; it was one of my favorites. I tweaked it just a tiny bit but all the glory goes to Ms. Sandy. I hope your family enjoys this easy, delicious meal as much as we do.
There are a TON of ground beef casserole recipes out there on the interwebs! But 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 these creamy egg noodles 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. But if you’re in a time crunch, let it simmer for at least 20 minutes. The mozzarella cheese adds that cheesy, melty final touch!
Ingredients
please scroll down to the recipe card for detailed ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Ground beef
Minced garlic
Canned diced tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Cooked egg noodles
Sour cream
Cream cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Green onions, optional
Salt
Pepper
Do you love pasta recipes? If so, be sure to check out my Easy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti recipe. It’s a quick and easy dinner recipe that uses rotisserie chicken, rotel tomatoes, and velveeta cheese.
For the ultimate easy lasagna, try my Easy Meat Lasagna Recipe! Easy homemade lasagna with three layers of lasagna noodles, meat sauce, and lots of creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. You’ll love this traditional Italian lasagna recipe! Easy make-ahead and freezer-friendly, too.
For an easy, creamy dinner recipe, try my Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta recipe. It’s made with chicken breasts, broccoli florets, penne pasta, and an easy homemade alfredo sauce.
Directions
Brown the ground beef in a pan, then drain off the fat. Add to the ground beef the garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper and simmer covered on low heat for 20-40 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be.
While the above is cooking, cook 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. At this point, you can add the chopped green onions to this noodle mixture. However, I prefer to add the green onions at the end, as a garnish.
To a casserole dish, add a layer of the noodle mixture, then a layer of the ground beef mixture, then a layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Making Ahead
This is a great make-ahead casserole. Make the casserole but don’t bake it. Cover it with foil and place in the refrigerator the day before you plan to eat it. When you’re ready to bake it, bake as directed. You may need to add an additional 5 to 10 minutes of baking time to make sure the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Storing in the Freezer
This beef noodle casserole freezes very well. There are two different methods:
Baked then Freeze: Make and bake the casserole as directed, let it cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Prep then Freeze: Prepare the casserole but don’t bake it. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator, then bake as directed.
Storing in the Refrigerator
Store any leftovers 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.
Optional Ingredients:
- Instead of the egg noodles (which I highly recommend!), you could use ziti, penne, or elbow noodles.
- Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey. You could leave out the meat altogether if you’re having a Meatless Monday or just don’t want the meat. Just add some fresh veggies such as sauteed sliced zucchini and/or mushrooms.
- I would NOT substitute anything else for the cream cheese and sour cream. They are the key ingredients needed for the creamy texture of the noodles.
Beef A La Deutch
Equipment
- large pot for boiling noodles
- strainer for the cooked noodles
- large pot with cover for the meat sauce
- large mixing bowl
- measuring spoons
- large casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 16-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 6 oz egg noodles, cooked
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese
- 3 each green onions, sliced
Instructions
- After cooking and draining the ground beef, add the garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper and simmer covered on low heat for 20-40 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be.
- While the above is cooking, cook 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. At this point, you can add the chopped green onions to this noodle mixture. However, I prefer to add the green onions at the end, as a garnish.
- To a casserole dish, add a layer of the noodle mixture.
- Add layer of the ground beef mixture
- Add layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat with another layer of noodle mixture, beef mixture, and cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, let me know. I’d love to hear from you!
Give some of these other great recipes a try!
Fried Green Tomatoes with Shrimp and Creole Sauce
Smothered Pork Chops with Gravy
Italian Cream Cake Cookie Bars
