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Old-Fashioned Hamburger Casserole

Homemade Cheesy Old-Fashioned Hamburger Casserole 

 Label it, Old-Fashion and I'm all in. Sometimes I just want comfort! 

This one I saved this from Insanely Good Recipes

Please visit there for all the step-by-step photos etc. 


 

  • Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef so it’s still flavorful but not greasy. 
  • Granulated Sugar – A little bit of sweetness gives the beef an even deeper flavor.
  • Salt and Garlic Salt – Where there’s sugar, there should always be salt. It counterbalances the sweetness, resulting in a perfect balance of flavors.
  • Tomato Sauce – It’s added to the beef for that spaghetti-like goodness. 
  • Egg Noodles – They absorb the red and white sauces beautifully. Two layers make this casserole super hearty and satisfying. 
  • Sour Cream, Cream Cheese, and White Onion – Together, they make up the white sauce layer of the casserole. It’s rich with umami goodness, with a hint of tartness to balance it out.
  • Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Savory casseroles are never complete without bubbly cheese on top! Rich, salty, and ooey-gooey sharp cheddar is perfect for the job.

 

 

Cook the beef – This step will take around 30 minutes. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef until browned and crumbly.

Before adding the tomato sauce, be sure to drain the grease. Otherwise, your beef-tomato mixture will be way too runny.

Simmer the beef – Stir in the sugar, salt, garlic salt, and tomato sauce. If you want more spices and herbs, now’s the time to mix them in. 

Lower the heat to medium-low and cook the mixture for 20 minutes. There’s no need to stir at this point.

Do not be tempted to turn off the heat right away! This step is crucial to ensure that the beef and tomato sauce absorb the sugar and salt. 

Once simmering, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Cook the noodles – In the interest of saving time, cook the noodles while the beef is simmering. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil.

Add the egg noodles and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Don’t overcook the noodles because they’ll continue to cook in the oven. 

Drain the liquid with a colander and let the noodles cool.

Prepare the white sauce – While the beef and pasta are cooling, combine the sour cream, cream cheese, and diced onion. 

Assemble the casserole – But first, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom.

Arrange half of the noodles evenly into the bottom of the dish. Cover it with sour cream, followed by half of the beef. 

Repeat the layering with the remaining ingredients. Top generously with cheddar cheese.

Bake the casserole – For 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

Serve and enjoy!


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