Description
A hearty and creamy baked pasta casserole featuring browned ground beef cooked with onions, tomato paste, and seasoned diced tomatoes. The dish combines tender egg noodles tossed in a rich sour cream and cream cheese mixture, topped with shredded Colby Jack cheese and baked until golden and bubbly. Perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons (3 oz) tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes & chilies (like Ro-Tel), drained
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
Noodle & Cheese Mixture
- 1 (12 oz) package egg noodles
- 1 ¼ cups sour cream
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 ½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Brown Beef: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and ground beef, cooking until the beef is browned and the onions are softened, about 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Make Sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, celery salt, and drained diced tomatoes with chilies. Cook this mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid reduces slightly and the sauce thickens.
- Cook Noodles: While your sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook for only 3 minutes to ensure they remain firm. Drain the noodles, reserving 2 cups of the cooking water for later.
- Make Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the sour cream, softened cream cheese, cornstarch, and ½ cup of the reserved noodle water until smooth and creamy. Add the cooked noodles into this mixture along with the remaining reserved noodle water and gently stir to combine well.
- Assemble and Bake: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour the noodle and cheese mixture into the dish and season with salt and pepper. Evenly spread the beef and tomato mixture over the top. Sprinkle the shredded Colby Jack cheese over everything. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown.
Notes
- Reserving noodle water helps create a creamy sauce that binds the noodles and cheese together.
- Do not overcook the noodles in boiling water, as they will continue to cook in the oven.
- Feel free to use any similar shredded cheese if Colby Jack is unavailable.
- This recipe can be made ahead and baked just before serving.
