This is hands down the best Creamy Hamburger Noodle Casserole! Cooked egg noodles are tossed with sour cream and cream cheese, layered with a flavorful meaty tomato sauce, and topped with melty mozzarella cheese. This recipe was inspired by an old church cookbook recipe dated nearly 40 years ago. Originally titled Beef A La Deutsch, it is a classic comfort food staple!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Simmer meat sauce 20 minutes/Bake time 30 minutes 30 minutesminutes
large casserole dish (instead of a cast iron skillet)
Ingredients
1poundground beef, cooked and drained
1tablespoonminced garlic
116-oz can diced tomatoes
18-oz can tomato sauce
1teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonblack pepper
8ouncesuncooked egg noodles
1cupsour cream
4ouncescream cheese
8ouncesmozzarella cheese
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. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be.
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.
Notes
TIPS:
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.
The casserole can be made 1 day in advance. Prepare as directed, and keep covered in the refrigerator. Bake as directed.
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 another oven-safe skillet, then bake as directed.