Sour Cream Noodle Bake – Easy Ground Beef Casserole

Sour Cream Noodle Bake is incredibly easy to make, and chances are you have everything you need already in your pantry to prepare this hearty dish. This comforting casserole features a creamy filling packed with ground beef, making it a family favorite that brings back memories of weeknight suppers, church socials, and Scout buffet tables. These humble dinners have survived the test of time because they’re made with basic ingredients that can easily be found in your cupboard.

sour cream noodle bake serving and a fork on a plate.

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Why This Recipe Works

This old-fashioned Sour Cream Noodle Bake is so easy to make that even a beginner cook can prepare it successfully. The recipe calls for 8 ounces of dry pasta, and you can use any type you like: bowties, wagon wheels, ziti, flat ribbon-like egg noodles, or even small macaroni elbows. The result is a delightful casserole with a cheesy, creamy filling that can satisfy the heartiest appetites.

The Ultimate Weeknight Casserole

You don’t need to compromise when it comes to midweek dinners. Stop spending a fortune on takeout or resorting to premade frozen dinners. This ultimate comfort food recipe is loaded with family-pleasing beef and cheese but takes only 20 minutes to bake in the oven. Boil the noodles in advance, and you can have a hot, nutritious meal on the table in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients to Make a Sour Cream Noodle Bake Casserole

For this casserole, you’ll need:

  • Noodles – Tender egg noodles work perfectly, but any short pasta like penne or rigatoni creates excellent results
  • Ground beef – Provides hearty protein and rich flavor that makes this a satisfying main dish
  • Butter – Adds richness for browning the beef and enhances overall flavor
  • Salt – Enhances all flavors and seasons the meat properly
  • Ground black pepper – Adds warmth and complements the beef’s savory notes
  • Garlic salt – Contributes aromatic depth and savory complexity
  • Tomato sauce – Creates the flavorful base that binds the meat mixture together
  • Cottage cheese – Small curd works best, providing protein and creamy texture without heaviness, you can use Ricotta cheese
  • Sour cream – Adds tangy richness and creates the signature creamy consistency
  • White onions – Raw onions add fresh crunch and sharp flavor that mellows during baking
  • Sharp cheddar cheese – Shredded cheese creates the golden, bubbly top that makes this casserole irresistible

Wide egg noodles are a great option to use in this dish, but you can also try your favorite short pasta, like penne or rigatoni, if you prefer. 

Small curd cottage cheese is best for this recipe. 

sour cream noodle bake ingredients.

How To Make This Casserole

To prepare the beef for this dish:

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
  2. Add the butter and ground beef to the skillet.
  3. Season the meat with salt, ground black pepper, and garlic salt. 
  4. Brown ground beef, stirring and breaking it up into crumbles as it is cooking. 
  5. Stir in the tomato sauce. 
  6. Adjust the heat to a low simmer. Cook for five minutes. 
  7. Turn off the heat and cover the skillet to keep the beef mixture warm. 
collage of preparing ground beef mixture for sour cream noodle bake.

To finish the casserole:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Cook the noodles in a large pot of water to al dente and drain the noodles.
  3. Place the sour cream, cottage cheese, and raw onions in a medium mixing bowl.
  4. Add the cooked noodles.
  5. Stir until combined.
collage of preparing cheese noodle mixture for sour cream noodle bake.
  1. Butter a 13 x 9 casserole dish.
  2. Spread half of the sour cream mixture on the bottom of the greased casserole dish.
  3. Top the noodle mixture with half of the meat sauce and half of the cheese.
  4. Repeat with the remaining noodle mixture and the final layer of grated cheddar cheese.
  5. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is crispy.
  6. Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving it with an optional garnish of extra sour cream and chopped onions.
collage of assembling and baking sour cream noodle bake.

What To Serve With It 

Some folks enjoy this casserole with a couple of slices of crusty garlic bread, but pairing it with a green vegetable like Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts or simple Garlic Green Beans ensures a more well-balanced meal. 

sour cream noodle bake and a fork on a plate.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

  • Refrigerator Storage: Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days in the refrigerator for best quality and food safety.
  • Reheating Method: Cut into single portions and place in a covered baking dish. Reheat in 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot throughout.
  • Freezing: Freeze cooked casserole in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
sour cream noodle bake on a fork in front of a serving on a plate.

More Comfort Casseroles

Favorite Pasta Recipes

Check out more of my easy casserole recipes and the best pasta recipes on CopyKat!

sour cream noodle bake serving and a fork on a plate.

Sour Cream Noodle Bake Recipe – Easy Ground Beef Casserole

Hearty ground beef casserole with noodles, sour cream, cottage cheese, and cheddar. Perfect comfort food ready in 30 minutes!
4.91 from 11 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Casserole Recipes, Ground Beef
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 421kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 8 ounces noodles cooked and drained
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking the beef apart with a spatula, until the beef has browned. Add the salt, pepper, garlic salt, and tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, onions, and noodles.
  • In a 2-quart casserole dish, create alternating layers of the noodle mixture and the meat mixture, beginning with the noodles and ending with the meat. Top with the shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 1.9mg

About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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Comments

  1. Gary Hohenstein

    4 stars
    Of course, I assume the recipe calls for 8 oz. of dry noodles, not cooked weight. Could be a bit confusing to some.

4.91 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)

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