Beef Lombardi Casserole (Printable)
Layered beef and egg noodles with tomato sauce and creamy cheese topping, baked until golden—perfect for family dinners.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauces & Liquids
04 - 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
05 - 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Pasta
10 - 8 ounces egg noodles
→ Dairy
11 - 1 cup sour cream
12 - 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
# How-To Steps:
01 - Set oven to 350°F and allow to fully preheat before baking.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until thoroughly browned. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef; sauté until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Incorporate diced tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Simmer for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - While sauce simmers, cook egg noodles in a large saucepan of boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
06 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese until smooth.
07 - Lightly grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Layer half the noodles, followed by half the sour cream-cottage cheese mixture, then half the beef mixture. Repeat the layering sequence.
08 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the layered casserole.
09 - Place casserole uncovered in preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden and bubbling.
10 - Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes prior to serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It feels like a hug in a casserole dish, and nobody can resist that creamy, cheesy layer.
- Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day, making tomorrow’s lunch something to look forward to.
02 -
- Layering matters more than you think—swap the order and it loses its creamy-cheesy magic.
- Letting the casserole rest before slicing really does keep it from falling apart on your plate.
03 -
- Don’t skip draining the beef or you’ll end up with a soupy casserole.
- Letting it rest after baking is the not-so-secret move for clean slices and the best texture.