Poor Man's Casserole
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Poor Man's Casserole is a comforting, budget-friendly meal that proves you don't need fancy ingredients or complicated steps to make something everyone will love. It's hearty, rich, and made with pantry staples, making it perfect to throw together on busy weeknights or prepare ahead for meals throughout the week. With layers of tender ground beef, soft egg noodles, a creamy two-cheese blend, and a rich, savory tomato sauce, everything comes together to make one cozy casserole that comes out of the oven bubbly, melty, and absolutely irresistible.
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With simple ingredients you'll most likely already have on hand, this casserole is an easy choice for when you want a comforting weeknight meal without all the hassle! Whether you prepare it as a freezer meal or make it ahead for a hectic week, Poor Man's Casserole combines all the classic flavors you know and love in one hearty, satisfying dish. It's simple, delicious, and sure to have the whole family going back for seconds!
If you loved this recipe, you'll love these other comforting favorites! This Lasagna Casserole and this Sloppy Joe Bake are cozy weeknight meals that are tasty and easy to make. If you're craving something extra creamy and cheesy, this Easy Million Dollar Spaghetti is another family favorite that's sure to hit the spot!
Looking for something to serve with this hearty dish? Try these Easy Dinner Rolls or these tasty Air Fryer Parmesan Asparagus Fries to make this comforting meal even better!
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What is Poor Man's Casserole?
Poor Man's Casserole is a hearty, budget-friendly baked casserole made with ground beef, egg noodles, tomato sauce and a creamy mixture of cream cheese and sour cream. Everything is layered with plenty of shredded cheese, then baked until hot and bubbly. It's an easy, filling dinner made with simple ingredients that's especially good for feeding a family or a crowd.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Practical and easy: Made with familiar, pantry staples and easy-to-follow steps, this casserole is about as simple as it gets!
- Comfort food: This casserole combines all the cozy flavors you know and love into one delicious dish. It's rich, packed with flavor, and warm, making it a comforting meal the whole family will enjoy.
- Make-ahead friendly: This simple casserole holds up well, making it perfect for preparing ahead and enjoying throughout the week. It also freezes well for an easy meal on busy days.
- Make it your own: There's really no way to mess up this casserole, so feel free to add in what you like and make it just right for you and whoever's enjoying it!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this cheesy ground beef and noodle casserole!
- Wide egg noodles: A pantry staple pasta that cooks quickly and holds up well as the base of this casserole.
- Ground beef: Tender, savory, and makes this casserole hearty and filling. Use your preferred lean-to-fat ratio depending on how much richness you want.
- Garlic: Brings a flavorful kick to the beef. Use fresh garlic or minced garlic depending on your preference.
- Garlic powder: Enhances the garlic flavor throughout the dish.
- Onion powder: Adds another layer of savory onion flavor.
- Italian seasoning: Adds an herby flavor that complements the tomato sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a deep, savory richness to the dish.
- Tomato sauce: Forms the flavorful base of the creamy sauce.
- Granulated sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness that balances out the acidity of the tomato sauce.
- Cream cheese: Gives the sauce a smooth, creamy texture. Use room temperature, softened cream cheese to prevent lumps.
- Sour cream: A tangy addition to the sauce that makes it even creamier.
- Colby Jack cheese: A mellow, buttery cheese that melts beautifully into the casserole.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Brings a bold, sharp punch to the casserole and melts wonderfully.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a savory, salty kick of flavor to the casserole and gives it a delicious, cheesy finish.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Protein swaps: You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage in place of or in addition to the ground beef.
- Noodle variations: Not a fan of egg noodles or don't have any on hand? No problem! You can easily swap them for another short pasta such as elbow macaroni, rotini, or penne.
- More cheese please!: Feel free to throw in some pepper jack, monterey jack, or mozzarella cheese for even more cheesy goodness!
- Pasta sauce: For an added boost of seasoning and spice, use a pre-seasoned pasta sauce instead of plain tomato sauce.
- Veggie add-ins: Looking for an easy excuse to incorporate some veggies? Go ahead and fold in frozen peas or carrots, diced zucchini or squash, or chopped kale or spinach in with your noodles for some extra nutrition.
How to Make Poor Man's Casserole
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, preheat oven to 350°F, lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish, set aside and follow the steps below for this ground beef casserole.
- Step 1: Prepare the egg noodles according to package directions, stopping when they are just al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and diced onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking the meat apart as it browns, until the beef is cooked through and the onion is tender.
- Step 3: Add minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds, just until the garlic and seasonings become fragrant.
- Step 4: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and a pinch of sugar. Allow the mixture to simmer.
- Step 5: Place softened cream cheese and sour cream in a large mixing bowl and combine until smooth and evenly combined.
- Step 6: Stir the drained noodles into the cream cheese mixture until coated. Spread half in the baking dish.
- Step 7: Top with half of the meat sauce.
- Step 8: Sprinkle the meat layer with some of the Colby Jack and cheddar. Then repeat layers and finish with the Parmesan cheese.
Helpful Tips
- Don't overcook the noodles: Cook the egg noodles just until al dente so they don't become mushy while the casserole bakes.
- Soften the cream cheese: Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing it with the sour cream. This helps create a smooth, creamy coating for the noodles.
- Drain excess grease: If your ground beef releases a lot of grease, drain it before adding the seasonings and tomato sauce so the casserole doesn't turn out oily.
- Don't skip the simmer: Letting the meat sauce simmer for a few minutes gives the seasonings time to blend and helps thicken the sauce slightly.
- Layer everything evenly: Spread the noodles, meat sauce and cheese all the way to the edges so every serving gets a little bit of each layer.
- Let it rest before serving: Allow the casserole to sit for 5-10 minutes after baking. This gives the layers time to settle and makes it easier to scoop and serve.
Recipe FAQs
The name of this recipe comes from the simple, inexpensive ingredients and convenient preparation. It's a satisfying comfort meal without the fuss!
Yes. A jarred marinara or pasta sauce will work, but because it's already seasoned, you may want to reduce some of the added herbs and salt.
Absolutely. Ground turkey works well. Since it's leaner than beef, you may want to add a small amount of olive oil to the skillet if it begins to stick.
Bake it covered for the first portion of the cooking time so it heats evenly without drying out. Removing the foil near the end lets the cheese melt completely and gives the top a better finish.
Yes, absolutely! This casserole stores, freezes, and reheats extremely well, making it perfect for meal-prepping or preparing in advance for busy weeknights! Just assemble the casserole ahead of time and cover and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. Keep in mind that it may need 10-15 extra minutes of baking time if it's going into the oven cold.
A simple green salad, steamed broccoli, green beans or garlic bread all work well because the casserole itself is already rich and filling.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store the casserole, let it cool completely and then cover it tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing Instructions
Poor Man's Casserole freezes well for up to 2-3 months. For best results, freeze it unbaked right after assembling. If already baked, let it cool completely before covering tightly and freezing. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
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Poor Man's Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounces wide egg noodles
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 29-ounce jar tomato sauce or pasta sauce
- Pinch of granulated sugar
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese (divided)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Cook egg noodles according to package directions just until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the noodles are cooking, add ground beef and diced onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is tender, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring until fragrant.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and a pinch of sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to come together.
- In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add the drained egg noodles and stir until evenly coated.
- Spread half of the creamy noodles into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon half of the meat sauce over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1 cup Colby Jack and ½ cup cheddar cheese.
- Add the remaining creamy noodles, followed by the remaining meat sauce.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup Colby Jack, ½ cup cheddar and the Parmesan cheese.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese is completely melted.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don't overcook the noodles: Cook the egg noodles just until al dente so they don't become mushy while the casserole bakes.
- Soften the cream cheese: Let the cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing it with the sour cream. This helps create a smooth, creamy coating for the noodles.
- Drain excess grease: If your ground beef releases a lot of grease, drain it before adding the seasonings and tomato sauce so the casserole doesn't turn out oily.
- Don't skip the simmer: Letting the meat sauce simmer for a few minutes gives the seasonings time to blend and helps thicken the sauce slightly.
- Layer everything evenly: Spread the noodles, meat sauce and cheese all the way to the edges so every serving gets a little bit of each layer.
- Let it rest before serving: Allow the casserole to sit for 5-10 minutes after baking. This gives the layers time to settle and makes it easier to scoop and serve.