Poor Man’s Casserole

            First off, I have to tell you there are many variations for this casserole. As well as many names. I grew up calling a casserole very similar to this, “Poor Man Hotdish”. It is true to the title, it is a very economical casserole. It is deeply satisfying and should be considered one of the necessary comfort foods in your recipe box.

            You will need very few ingredients for this. You probably have them all in your home now. This is actually a budget friendly meal that can be made with the simple foods we all have. There is so much flavor in this dish, it is hard to believe that you can taste each ingredient you put in.

            Let’s be very clear about this, the title says poor, you do not have to be poor to make this dish. You could be very well off and have your servants make this for you.

The basis is that it is not a spendy meal to make for your family.

Frequently Asked Questions:

            Can I use something other than cream cheese?

You certainly can exchange it for Ricotta cheese, or fall back on the basic cheeses of Mozzarella, Cheddar or Monterey Jack.

            Can I use turkey instead?

You can switch to turkey if you like to use turkey. That is a more economical meat and tastes just as good!

            How do I store this dish?

Once the dish is cooled, cover it tightly or place it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator.

            Can I freeze this dish?

Of course! I usually double the batch and freeze half for a later time. Be sure that the dish has cooled completely. Place it into a freezer safe container that is airtight. It can be kept frozen for up to 3 months.

What do you need to make Poor Man’s Casserole

            8 ounces egg noodles, cooked

            8 ounces sour cream

            8 ounces cream cheese

            2 tsp garlic, freshly minced

            Salt and pepper to taste

            1 tsp Italian seasoning

            1 tsp sugar

            2 cans of tomato sauce

            1 ½ pounds ground beef

            1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese

How to make Poor Man’s Casserole

FIRST STEP:

Preheat the oven to 350*

In a skillet, crumble and cook the ground beef

SECOND STEP:

Drain the grease from the pan

Add in the minced garlic and the Italian seasoning. Let cook on a simmer for another minute

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

Pour the tomato sauce into the skillet and add in the sugar

THIRD STEP:

Add in the salt and pepper if desired and cook for 3 to 5 minutes

In a small mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and the cream cheese until it is smooth

FOURTH STEP:

Cook the egg noodles according to package directions

After draining the noodles, place half in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish

FIFTH STEP:

Top the noodles with half of the cheese and sour cream mix

Spoon half of the meat mix and sauce over the top

a)

b)

SIXTH STEP:

Repeat steps 9 through 11 using the remaining ingredients

Sprinkle the shredded Cheddar Cheese over the top and bake for 20 to 25 minutes

Enjoy!

YAY!

YUM!