Description
Hearty Poor Man’s Husband Casserole brings together ground beef, potatoes, and cheese in a deliciously satisfying dish your family will devour. Baked until golden and bubbling, this no-fuss dinner solves your weeknight meal dilemma with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Pasta and Tomato Base:
- 8 oz pasta
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and coat a medium casserole dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook 8 oz of pasta in boiling water for 8-9 minutes until tender. Drain completely and set aside.
- Heat a skillet to medium and brown 1 lb ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles. Add 1 chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves, sautéing until vegetables soften.
- Drain excess fat from the meat mixture. Pour in 15 oz tomato sauce and optional 15 oz diced tomatoes. Season with 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer the meat sauce for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Whisk 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup cottage cheese in a separate bowl until smooth.
- Layer half the cooked pasta across the bottom of your prepared dish.
- Spread half the meat sauce evenly over the pasta layer.
- Dollop your sour cream mixture across the meat sauce, creating an even layer.
- Add remaining pasta on top, followed by remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese across the entire casserole surface.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Rest the casserole 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the casserole from becoming too oily.
- For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils to maintain protein content.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella or pepper jack to customize the flavor profile.
- Prepare this casserole ahead of time by assembling and refrigerating, then bake when ready to serve for an easy weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 496 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 484 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg