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Square overhead shot of an Amish hamburger casserole with noodles and sour cream in a white baking dish.
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5 from 20 votes

Hamburger Casserole

This old fashioned Amish hamburger casserole layers egg noodles, seasoned ground beef, and a creamy three-cheese mixture for a cozy family dinner that's been a favorite for generations.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword easy hamburger casserole, ground beef casserole, hamburger casserole recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 586kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked wide egg noodles
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
  • 1 cup cottage cheese, at room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • ½ of a medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • ¾ cup condensed tomato soup, not diluted
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  • Cook noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until just barely al dente, about 5 to 6 minutes (1 minute less than package directions). Drain and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, stir together softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and melted butter until smooth. Set aside.
    Stirring together the sour cream and cream cheese mixture for a hamburger casserole.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook until meat is no longer pink and onion is translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
  • Stir diced tomatoes, tomato soup, and Worcestershire sauce into the beef mixture.
    Preparing the ground beef mixture for a hamburger casserole in a cast iron skillet.
  • Layer half of the noodles in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cream cheese mixture, then half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
    Process shot showing how to assemble the ingredients for a hamburger casserole recipe.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.
  • Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and edges are bubbly.
  • Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
    Horizontal overhead shot of a hamburger casserole with noodles and sour cream in a white baking dish.

Notes

  • Cook noodles al dente: Pull them 1 minute early since they'll continue cooking in the oven.
  • Drain the beef well: Excess grease makes the casserole greasy and can cause layers to separate.
  • Room temperature dairy: Softened cream cheese and room-temp sour cream blend smoothly without lumps.
  • Don't overbake: Everything is already cooked, so you just need to heat it through until bubbly. Overbaking dries it out.
  • Make ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Add 5 to 10 minutes to baking time.
  • Not freezer-friendly: The sour cream mixture tends to separate when thawed.
  • Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat covered at 300°F for 20 minutes.
  • Pasta swap: Macaroni, penne, or farfalle work in place of egg noodles. Use 8 ounces.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of recipe | Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 599mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 978IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 3mg