Poor Man’s Casserole

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook the egg noodles according to package directions just until they're al dente. Drain them and return them to the pot. Editor's Tip: Watch the egg noodles as they boil, as it's easy to overcook them. Drain the noodles as soon as they're tender but still have a little bite, which is known as al dente.

Step 2

While the noodles cook, stir the sour cream and softened cream cheese together in a large bowl. Stir this mixture into the pot with the hot, cooked noodles until the pasta is completely coated. Set the noodles aside.

Step 3

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the ground beef and diced onions. Cook them for 9 to 10 minutes or until the beef is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to the cooked beef. Stir and cook for two to three minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce. Stir and simmer the sauce for four to five minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.

Step 5

To assemble the casserole, spread a third of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top this with half of the creamy noodles, spreading them into an even layer. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar over the top. Repeat these layers. Spread the remaining meat sauce on top, then sprinkle the last 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and the grated Parmesan on top.

Step 6

Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until it's bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack or trivet. Sprinkle the optional chopped parsley over the top and serve poor man's casserole while it's hot.