Grandma’s Hamburger Casserole
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter. 🥣
- Boil the Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions until just al dente (usually about 6–7 minutes). Drain and set aside. 🌾
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the meat is completely browned and the onions are soft, breaking the beef apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease. 🥩
- Build the Meat Sauce: Stir the minced garlic into the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it bubble for 5 minutes. 🌶️
- Create the Creamy Layer: In a separate medium bowl, stir together the sour cream (or cream cheese), chopped green onions, and ½ cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Gently fold the cooked egg noodles into this creamy mixture until they are beautifully coated. 🥣🌪️
- Layer the Casserole: Spread the creamy noodle mixture into the bottom of your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour the rich hamburger meat sauce evenly over the top of the noodles.
- The Cheesy Blanket: Scatter the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese generously over the meat layer, making sure it covers the entire surface to form a perfect crust, just like in . 🧀🌟
- Bake to Perfection: Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling hot around the edges and the cheese is completely melted, gooey, and slightly golden. ⏳
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before scooping it out. This allows the layers to settle beautifully for perfect plating! 🍽️
