Ground Beef Casserole with Egg Noodles

This Ground Beef Casserole with Egg Noodles is the ultimate comfort food. Creamy, cheesy and packed with flavor in every bite. With seasoned beef, tender egg noodles and a rich tomato sauce, this hearty dish is perfect for busy weeknights, freezer meals or sharing with a friend in need. No sides required, just pure casserole bliss!

Original post: May 2019 | Updated: April 2025

Why This Recipe Works

• Great dish to freeze and use at a later date. Perfect option to bring to a family who needs a night off from cooking.
• Seasoned beef, tender egg noodles and creamy cheeses all swimming together in a flavorful tomato sauce = heaven.
• Beef casseroles are hearty, filling and no sides are needed. Total comfort food in a pan. 
• This ground beef noodle casserole will quickly become one of your favorite recipes. 

I had high hopes for this Ground Beef and Egg Noodle Casserole recipe. Beef, noodles, and creamy cheeses all swimming together in the same dish? That’s my version of heaven. Well, folks, my hopes were realized and this recipe proved to be even more delicious than I’d imagined.

It became one of those easy recipe dishes that I ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it was gone. Savory, cheesy, hearty, it is total comfort in a pan – and I couldn’t resist adding some green chiles for a little touch of spice.

This cheesy beef noodle casserole will quickly become a family favorite. It’s hearty and filling, done in under an hour, and no sides are needed – except maybe some garlic bread! Everything’s in one dish!

It’s also a great recipe to freeze and use at a later date, making it the perfect option to bring to a family who needs a night off from cooking.

Recipe Ingredients

This simple and delicious recipe uses basic, common ingredients to create the perfect casserole.

Egg noodles – Or similarly sized noodles. 

Sour cream – Use any variety.

Cream cheese – Use full fat.

Diced green chilies – This adds such a delicious little punch to this casserole, but if you prefer to keep it on the mild side simply omit this ingredient.

Ground beef – Feel free to replace the beef with ground chicken, turkey or even pork.

Rotel or diced tomatoes – Replace one of the cans of diced tomatoes with an equal amount of tomato sauce for a creamier dish.

Tomato paste – Adds deep robust flavor to the meat mixture.

Italian seasoning – Adds an Italian punch to the recipe.

Seasoned salt – Simplify seasonings by adding seasoning salt! So delicious.

Cheeses – If you are wanting to simplify the cheese situation feel free to use either Mozzarella or cheddar cheese instead of using both. 

How To Make Ground Beef Casserole with Egg Noodles

​Follow these simple instructions for the perfect cheesy hamburger noodle casserole.

Step 1

Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. 

Cook egg noodles 2 minutes shy of al dente according to package directions. 

Drain and put in the prepared baking dish. 

Step 2

Add sour cream, cream cheese and chiles (if using) to the noodles. Stir gently until combined. 

Spread evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain and return to pan. 

Add tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and seasoned salt to the cooked beef. Cook meat sauce for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Pour the ground beef mixture evenly over the noodle mixture in the baking dish.

Step 4

Top with an even layer of sharp cheddar cheese, then Parmesan cheese and then Mozzarella cheese, in that order. 

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. 

Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. 

Recipe Notes

• 15 minutes before serving, whip up a batch of garlic bread or cheese bread to serve alongside the dish.
• Use diced tomatoes instead of Rotel and omit the green chiles if you don’t want the spice.
• You can add some diced onions when you cook the meat if your picky eaters allow.
• Use appropriately sized pasta or macaroni noodles in lieu of egg noodles.
• You can use ground turkey or chicken as a sub for the ground beef.
• Top with chopped chives or green onions as garnish.

Do You Cover A Casserole When Baking?

There is no hard and fast rule for whether or not a casserole should be covered with foil during baking. All recipes differ: some call for uncovered, some covered, and some start covered and have you remove the foil near the end of bake time. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to cover your casserole dish.

• Covering a dish during the baking process traps in moisture and keeps ingredients from getting crispy or burnt.
• If the dish contains exposed noodles or bread or something that may burn or dry out easily, then it should be covered for a majority of the cook time.
• If the recipe contains uncooked rice, pasta or grains, it is important to cover the pan in order to trap steam inside, helping it to cook more quickly and evenly.
• Leaving a dish uncovered during baking will ensure that the top layer gets browned and it also aids in reducing liquids inside the dish. If all of the ingredients in the dish are pre-cooked, baking uncovered is usually recommended.

What To Serve With Ground Beef Casserole

This creamy beef noodle casserole is amazing on its own, but it also goes so well with so many options! I like it best with a simple side salad and fresh rolls or garlic bread. I’ve listed a few ideas here, but check out my Sides Category for other Great Side Dish Ideas!

• Homemade Garlic Bread
• Soft Dinner Rolls
• Classic Chopped Salad
• Roasted Broccoli
• Baked Asparagus
• Brown Sugar Applesauce

How to Store Leftover Casserole

Allow the casserole to cool completely before storage. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.  

How to Reheat

Reheat individual casserole serving in the microwave on a microwave safe plate. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes until heated through.

How To Freeze This Casserole

Freeze unbaked – Assemble the layers as directed in an aluminum baking pan and wrap tightly in foil. Place into resealable freezer bags and freeze for 3-4 months. 

When you are ready to enjoy the casserole, let it thaw completely (preferably in the fridge overnight) and bake as directed on the recipe.

Freeze baked – Assemble the layers and bake as directed in an aluminum baking pan. Let the casserole cool completely and wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Place into resealable freezer bags and freeze for 3-4 months. 

When you are ready to use the frozen casserole, let it thaw completely (preferably in the fridge overnight). Reheat in a 250 degree F oven uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

Affordable Dinner Ideas Using Ground Beef as a Main Ingredient

Ground beef does not need to be boring! Make dinner affordable with this delicious list of dinner ideas using ground beef. Here’s just a few ideas to get you started!

• Swedish meatballs or Parmesan meatballs
• Homemade Ground Beef Taco Meat
• Add it to pasta to create a cheeseburger pasta dish
• Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
• Add it to hollowed-out bell peppers along with rice to create stuffed peppers
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Oven Baked Beef Tacos
• Make a delicious skillet using rice, beef, cheese and beans

Ground Beef and Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipes

Simplify dinner tonight! Create an easy, affordable and delicious meal using two hearty main ingredients. I’ve listed a few suggestions, but click over for a handful of ground beef and cream of mushroom soup recipes!

• Tater tot hotdish is a family favorite and a classic Midwestern staple. This is one of those easy recipes that is great any time!
• Create a delicious casserole with ground beef as a base. Add vegetables of your choice, hash browns or other potatoes, cheese or rice.
• Beef stroganoff. Replace beef round steak with cooked ground beef to create an easy beef stroganoff! Cook the egg noodles and pour the beef mixture over top.
• Cook ground beef and cream of mushroom soup together in a saucepan until warm and serve over white or brown rice or over potatoes. Just a few simple ingredients and dinner is on the table!
• Replace pork with ground beef in this breakfast bake for the most delicious way to start the day.
• Sloppy Joes. Add the creamy soup to your next batch of savory sandwiches.
• Use both ingredients in your next shepherd’s pie for a creamy ground beef dinner.
• Homemade Hamburger Helper. Add cooked pasta of your choice to soup and ground meat to create a complete meal.
• Meaty macaroni and cheese. Stir these ingredients into your next batch of creamy mac and cheese.

More Amazing Casserole Recipes

• 4 Ingredient Hash Brown Casserole
• Runza Casserole
• Potato Casserole
• One Pan Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake
• Tater Tot Hotdish

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