Description
Beef Lombardi is a comforting American cheesy pasta casserole featuring layers of egg noodles, a flavorful ground beef and tomato sauce, creamy sour cream and cottage cheese mixture, and topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or a convenient freezer meal, this dish combines savory, tangy, and cheesy flavors baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cups cooked egg noodles
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook the beef and onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make the meat sauce: Add the diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for 10 minutes to blend flavors.
- Prepare the cheese mixture: In a bowl, combine the sour cream, cottage cheese, and sliced green onions evenly.
- Assemble the casserole: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half of the cooked egg noodles, then half of the sour cream mixture, followed by half of the meat sauce. Repeat these layers for a second time.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until the dish is bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden.
- Rest before serving: Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes after baking to set before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen before baking to save time on serving day.
- Swap out cheddar cheese for Monterey Jack or mozzarella for a different flavor profile.
- Add sautéed bell peppers or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra vegetables and texture.
