Creamy Beef and Noodle Casserole - seasoned ground beef and tender noodles in a flavorful Italian tomato sauce that's baked until hot and bubbly! This is an easy recipe, a hearty ground beef casserole and a meal the whole family will love!
Next time try the Ultimate Chicken Noodle Casserole!
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Why you'll love this recipe
Why make this recipe (beyond the fact it's delicious?).
✔️ It's affordable and easy to make.
✔️ It uses easy ingredients and pantry staples that you have on hand
✔️ AND it freezes great! If you're making make-ahead-meals, double the recipe and freeze the second meal.
The egg noodle beef casserole is super kid friendly for even your picky eaters! It's an easy recipe and this comfort food will quickly become one of your family favorites!
Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients you'll need for the beef egg noodle casserole dish. For the exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the blog.
- wide egg noodles - egg noodles, but just about any type noodles works! Rotini, penne even elbow macaroni - use what you have on hand.
- ground beef - I use 85% mix - it's less expensive and frankly has more flavor. Just drain the excess fat, if desired.
- large onion - sweet yellow or white onion
- Italian style diced tomatoes - fire roasted tomatoes would also be great. You can use plain diced tomatoes but I like the extra flavor from the seasoned tomatoes. In a pinch I've also used Campbell's tomato soup.
- shredded cheese - I used Colby Jack, but shredded cheddar cheese or grated parmesan cheese would also be delicious as well!
Instructions
Making the ground beef noodle casserole is super easy, just follow these easy step-by-step instructions!
- Preheat the oven. Cook the egg noodles and drain well, set aside.
- Now it's time to make the sauce. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef, breaking up the meat with a spatula. Cook beef for about 5 minutes.
- Next add the diced onions and seasonings to the pan - cook until onion has softened and beef is completely cooked.
- Now add the tomato sauce and canned tomatoes to the meat mixture or mix everything together in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the noodles back to the pan with the beef and toss. Add 2 cups of cheese, mix again.
- Pour the meat mixture into a greased 9"x13" baking dish, top with the remaining cheese. Bake this beef casserole recipe until cheese is melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Video
Click on the image to watch this fun video and see me make this recipe from start to finish with extra tips! (Video opens in a new tab).
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FAQ's
Absolutely! Prepare the recipe; boil the noodles and brown the meat, mixing with the seasonings and sauce. Mix everything together, just hold off on sprinkling the cheese on top - just like stated above. Cover and refrigerate. You can make it ahead up to 2 days. Sprinkle with cheese prior to baking.
You bet! This meal is freezer friendly. Prepare as directed add the cheese to the casserole and mix, pour into the prepared baking pan. Do not top with shredded cheese. Seal well and freeze. Top with cheese prior to baking.
Not really, you can substitute whatever noodles you have on-hand.
Things to know
- Be sure to cook the pasta for the egg noodle casserole al dente. If you overcook them, they will get mushy after baking.
- Ground chicken or turkey are both great substitutions to lighten up this meal.
- Add a pinch of chili powder or red pepper flakes for a little heat. No garlic powder, substitute with garlic salt and omit the regular salt in the recipe.
- Use pre-shredded cheese to pull this meal together quickly and you can really use any cheese you prefer.
Variations
- Add 2 cups of frozen corn or a package of frozen peas and carrots when you're mixing all of the ingredients together - then you won't even need to cook a veggie to go with this yummy beef and noodle casserole!
- A can of drained kidney beans and diced green pepper will stretch this meal out a little further and be a delicious addition to the cheesy beef noodle bake!
- Lighten it up by sub'ing ground turkey or chicken in place of beef.
- Toss in a packet of taco seasoning when you're browning the beef for a whole new flavor! Use a Mexican cheese blend and wa-la - great casserole dish!
- No tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes? Use canned spaghetti sauce instead!
- For a pop of green garnish with thinly sliced green onions.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup will make this more of a stroganoff!
Storage
Store leftover hamburger casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Leftovers are terrific the next day!
Seal well and freeze in an airtight container. They will last up to three months frozen.
Serving suggestions
Keep it simple and enjoy the hamburger noodle casserole with some dinner rolls and steamed green beans or steamed brussels sprouts.
And if you're hungry for dessert, how about some Apple Spice Cake? Mmmmm!!!
Related recipes
Oh my goodness I have some easy dinner recipes on the blog! Here are more of of my favorite casserole recipes!
If you like this ground beef noodle casserole, then you'll be sure to love this recipe for Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole - all the flavor with none of the fuss!
Butternut Squash Ravioli is amazing and so flavorful! It's fancy enough for company but easy enough for an everyday meal - it's delicious and a hearty meal. Tuna Noodle Casserole is another classic easy dish that everyone loves!
This recipe for Velveeta Chili Mac is so hearty and delicious I think you'll really like it as well.
When you make this please comment below and let me know what you think! I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover - so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Beef and Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces egg noodles uncooked
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces can Italian style diced tomatoes do not drain
- 2 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook egg noodles to aldente (cook one minutes less than package directions indicate). Drain well.
- Place the empty pot the noodles were cooked in back on the stove over medium-high heat. (No need to dirty two pots!) Add the olive oil.
- Add the ground beef to the large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula. Remove excess grease if desirerd.
- Next add the onion and seasoning to the pan - salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, until onion has softened and beef is completely cooked.
- Now add the tomato sauce, canned tomatoes and Italian to the beef mixture and stir to combine.
- Mix the noodles into the pan with the beef and sauce, toss to combine. Add 2 cups of cheddar cheese, mix again.
- Pour the meat sauce mixture into a 9"x13" baking pan that's been coated in cooking spray. Top with the remaining cup cheddar cheese.
- Bake the ground beef and egg noodle casserole for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted, enjoy!
Notes
- Add 2 cups of frozen corn or a package of frozen peas and carrots when you're mixing all of the ingredients together - then you won't even need to cook a veggie to go with this yummy beef and noodle casserole!
- A can of drained kidney beans and diced green pepper will stretch this meal out a little further and be a delicious addition to the cheesy beef noodle bake!
- Lighten it up by sub'ing ground turkey or chicken in place of beef.
- Toss in a packet of taco seasoning when you're browning the beef for a whole new flavor! Use a Mexican cheese blend and wa-la - great casserole dish!
- No tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes? Use canned spaghetti sauce instead!
- For a pop of green garnish with thinly sliced green onions.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup will make this more of a stroganoff!
Lois
I made this delicious casserole and it is a favorite at our house. We love it.
Bowl Me Over
Fantastic! I love this one too, it's easy to make and so creamy and cheesy - thanks Lois!
Nikki Lee
I made this for the family and everyone loved it! It's filling and flavorful!
MICHAELA KENKEL
Made this last week for dinner - loved the ease of it and everyone loved the taste! Made great lunches with the leftovers, too!
Bowl Me Over
How funny, I'm all about the leftovers too - glad this was enjoyed by your family!
Bowl Me Over
I'm all about the easy, I'm so happy your family enjoyed this meal!!
Linda
I've been cooking for 59+ years...so here's a little tip!
After I cook my noodles I my onion and ground beef in that same pan, no need to use a fry pan! That method has never failed me. I don't like to dirty any more dishes than necessary!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks for the tip Linda - that's terrific! Who wants to do more dishes in the kitchen? Not me, that's for sure!
Kathleen
Made this tonight for dinner, it finally cooled off! We loved it! And we have leftovers and I'm excited that they freeze well!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, I'm so glad you enjoyed this meal - thanks Kathleen!!!
Bowl Me Over
Fantastic - glad it was enjoyed by all!
Michelle
This is a great easy casserole -- delicious too!! Thanks for sharing it with us...I am always on the lookout for easy dinners. 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Fantastic, easy meals are the BEST!!
Bowl Me Over
Great, I hope you really enjoy it!
michele
I just made this to leave with my husband when I head to my sisters for a week---- I did sneak a few bites and its CRAZY delicious! Thanks for this! He's going to LOVE this!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful! I'm glad it was a hit - thanks Michele!
Angela Rodriguez
Would love to try it, but I have to cook for more then 6 people. Would it be ok to use 1 pound ground meat and double the amount of noodles? Or double both the amount of groundmeat and noodles?
Bowl Me Over
Hey Angela - I'm so glad you're going to try this recipe! Actually if you click on the number of serving and slide the bar over, it will change the amount of ingredients so you don't have to calculate anything! It does the work for you! If you're doubling the recipe I'd bake it in two casserole dishes if possible. Enjoy the casserole!