Beef Lombardi Casserole (Printable)
Hearty beef Lombardi casserole with tomatoes, noodles and a creamy cheese topping for family dinners.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauces & Liquids
04 - 1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
05 - 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
07 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Pasta
10 - 8 ounces egg noodles
→ Dairy
11 - 1 cup sour cream
12 - 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
# Steps:
01 - Set oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and allow to preheat.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until well browned, breaking it up with a spatula. Drain off excess fat.
03 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until onions are softened.
04 - Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - While sauce simmers, cook egg noodles in a large saucepan of boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
06 - In a mixing bowl, blend sour cream and cottage cheese until evenly mixed.
07 - Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Layer half the cooked noodles on the bottom, followed by half the sour cream–cottage cheese mixture, then half the beef mixture. Repeat the layers with remaining ingredients.
08 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top layer.
09 - Place casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until the surface is golden and bubbling.
10 - Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before portioning.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- This is a comfort dish you can assemble ahead or bake on busy nights, and nobody will suspect it was effortless.
- Every spoonful layers creamy cheese, tender noodles, zesty beef, and savory sauce—no one at my table is ever disappointed.
02 -
- Baking straight from the fridge without bringing to room temperature can make the cheese brown before the inside is hot—learned that after one cold-centered dinner.
- Adding the noodle layer while they're still steaming hot helps everything meld together with no dry spots.
03 -
- Layer ingredients carefully for tidy slices—scooping too soon leads to tasty, but messy, servings.
- Swapping half the cheddar for sharp provolone brings an unexpectedly bold twist I now rely on for wow factor.