Description
Grandma's Ground Beef Casserole is a comforting and hearty baked dish featuring wide egg noodles, savory lean ground beef cooked with onions, bell peppers, and garlic, all blended with tangy tomato soup and creamy cheese. Topped with a melty mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend, this casserole is perfect for family dinners and serves 8 people in about 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz wide egg noodles
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 21 oz condensed tomato soup (2 cans)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Topping
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole later.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside for assembling the casserole.
- Cook Noodles: Cook the wide egg noodles according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain them thoroughly.
- Layer Noodles: Spread the cooked noodles evenly in the prepared baking dish, creating the base layer for the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the lean ground beef. Crumble and cook it thoroughly until no longer pink.
- Drain Excess Grease: Once the beef is fully cooked, carefully drain the grease from the skillet to reduce fat content.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in the diced yellow onions and green bell peppers into the skillet with the beef, cooking for a couple of minutes.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet, stirring well to combine and cooking until fragrant.
- Soften Vegetables: Continue cooking until the onions and bell peppers soften, usually a few more minutes on medium heat.
- Add Tomato Soup: Reduce the heat to low and pour the condensed tomato soup into the skillet, stirring everything together evenly.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Add the softened cream cheese cubes to the mixture and stir continuously until completely melted and smooth.
- Season: Stir in the salt and pepper, distributing seasoning evenly throughout the mixture.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the ground beef mixture evenly over the noodles in the baking dish, spreading it out.
- Add Cheese Topping: Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown on top.
- Rest: Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for a few minutes to set and cool slightly before serving.
- Serve: Dish out portions and enjoy this creamy, cheesy ground beef casserole with family and friends.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can use a blend of cheeses like sharp cheddar and mozzarella.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like mushrooms or diced tomatoes to the beef mixture.
- To make it lower in fat, use lean or extra lean ground beef and low-fat cheese options.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- This casserole pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables.
