The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comforting and delicious, this Good Dinner casserole is the best recipe to keep on hand. It’ll be done in under an hour and guaranteed to fill you up! Layers of creamy cheese, rich tomato sauce and beef make this pasta dish one the whole family is going to love.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (1)

I tend to gravitate toward making food that I know will photograph well. Colorful food is pretty, and pretty photos are fun to gaze at. But what about food that doesn’t necessarily look beautiful, yet tastes great? Well, I say all types of food deserve a chance to shine! This recipe (which comes from The Big Book of Easy Suppers, by the way) was titled well because it is good! And really, tasting good is all that matters, right? Well, unless all you want to do is look at pretty photos of food.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (2)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook 12 ounces (4 cups) of egg noodles according to package directions. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, combine:

1 pound ground beef (I used venison to make it leaner, considering all the cheese that is about to come)

1 cup yellow onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Stir in 1 can (15 ounces) of tomato sauce and simmer for several minutes.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (3)

In a medium bowl, combine:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup sour cream (or plain nonfat yogurt for a healthier option)

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (4)

Place the cooked egg noodles (or, um, elbow macaroni, if you happened to grab the wrong thing at the store) in a lightly sprayed 3- to 4-quart casserole dish and toss with 2 tablespoons of butter.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (5)

Spread the cream cheese mixture over the noodles in an even layer.

Top that with the meat mixture from the skillet.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (6)

Top with 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese.

Bake, covered, in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 35 minutes.

See? It’s not beautiful. But it’s totally yummy.


The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (7)

The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (8)

Good Casserole

The title says it all! (source: The Big Book of Easy Suppers by Maryana Vollstedt)

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Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 811kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. egg noodles 4 cups, cooked according to package directions and drained
  • 2 tbsp. butter at room temperature
  • 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain nonfat yogurt
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 cup yellow onion chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • vegetable oil as needed
  • 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place noodles while still warm in a lightly sprayed or oiled 3- to 4-quart casserole and toss with butter. In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Spread mixture over the noodles.

  • In a medium skillet over medium heat, combine beef, onion and garlic and sauté, breaking up meat with a spoon, until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Add a little oil if needed. Stir in tomato sauce and simmer several minutes. Pour over the noodles and top with cheese; do not mix. Bake, covered, until bubbly, about 35 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 811kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Cholesterol: 209mg | Sodium: 839mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1633IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 405mg | Iron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (10)Megan Porta

    Hi Jackie! I am so happy to hear that you and your husband liked this recipe! It's delicious, isn't it?! Great call on the shredded Parmesan. I hope your "bad casserole" tasted great, too. 🙂
    Megan

    Reply

  2. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (11)Jackie M.

    I made this tonight and my husband was amused by its name (I told him we were having Bad Casserole tomorrow night). We both loved it though! Very fun and lasagna-ish, without all the layers and hassle. I added a little shredded Parmesan to the cheese mixture because I had a few tablespoons I needed to use soon, and that was good too. Great comfort food, and not ultra heavy! Awesome! 🙂

    Reply

  3. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (12)Megan Porta

    Hi Valeigh! You could just omit the cottage cheese or try adding a bit of greek yogurt in place of it. Let me know what you try! Good luck!
    Megan

    Reply

  4. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (14)Peggy

    We thought this casserole was rich and decadent, in the same way as lasagna is. A real hit at our house and we'll definitely make it again. So-o-o easy and made with items we have on hand.

    Reply

  5. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (15)Gini

    Can't wait to try this one. How many does it feed?

    Reply

  6. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (16)The Mom Chef: Taking on Magazines

    I did make this, have a look at my version. 🙂

    Reply

  7. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (17)Kate @ Diethood

    Wow, this looks gorgeous!! And delicious, of course! I make a lot of food that is soooo good, but does not photograph well. 🙂

    Reply

  8. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (18)Kelly

    This looks delicious, I love casseroles! Looking forward to trying this myself! 🙂

    Reply

  9. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (19)lindsey

    that looks awesome!…and super fattening, but this will definitely be on our menu soon. thanks for the cookbook recommendation, too!

    Reply

  10. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (20)The Mom Chef: Taking on Magazines

    I beg to differ. I think it's absolutely beautiful. So beautiful that i'll be making it for my family very. If I hadn't already promised them another dish, it would be tonight. Many thanks for sharing this.

    Reply

  11. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (21)Magic of Spice

    I think you did one amazing job photographing a less photographic dish…wonderful recipe as well!
    And I agree, some foods don't photograph as well as others, but it does not mean they don't deserve a spot light 🙂 Really nice!

    Reply

  12. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (22)Vicki @ Wilde in the Kitchen

    I guess its not the most beautiful food in the world, but the flavors sound dead on! Besides, I love a good casserole.

    Reply

  13. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (23)Blog is the New Black

    Looks wonderful! I hate when I have something delicious but the pics don't make it look appetizing!

    Reply

  14. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (24)Biren @ Roti n Rice

    This looks wonderfully tasty and comforting! It's been a cold weekend here in MN and this will definitely be welcomed at our house.

    Reply

  15. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (25)cooking rookie

    I think my boyfriend will love this. I'm keeping this recipe! Thank you!

    Reply

  16. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (26)Chef Dennis

    what a beautiful casserole!! grat job keeping it light with the cottage cheese and yogurt!
    I agree its best to make foods that look more appealing and photograph well, we do eat with our eyes!
    Cheers
    Dennis

    Reply

  17. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (27)Farrah

    That actually looks pretty darn tasty if you ask me! Your photography is amazing. If only I had your skills with the camera! *jealous*

    Reply

  18. The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (28)Parsley Sage

    Very nice! Easy and delicious and I think it looks great! Totally holds it on against pictures of perfect macarons and fancy gin drinks 🙂 Well done!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a good casserole dish? ›

Factors to Consider

Ceramic dishes can handle very high heat and distribute heat quite evenly. Glazed ceramic is often nonporous and naturally nonstick, making it easy to clean. There are also enameled cast-iron casserole dishes with a heavy metal interior to transmit heat and a glassy glaze to prevent sticking.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›

Why Is It Called A John Wayne Casserole? The origins of this delicious casserole can be traced back to a cookbook called “Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends.” John Wayne contributed an egg and cheese casserole recipe to that book.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

How to improve a casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

What is the most popular casserole dish size? ›

A 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish is the most versatile. Recipes that serve six to eight people will likely call for a casserole or baking dish of this size.

What is Jackie Kennedy casserole? ›

A seemingly simple, tender noodle dish with plenty of cheesy, tangy flavor, and the refreshing garden sharpness of chives, Jackie Kennedy's Special Casserole is delicate and hearty at the same time, heartwarmingly homemade yet delightfully classic.

What ethnicity is casserole? ›

The word casserole is derived from a French word that means 'saucepan'. Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

What do they call a casserole in Minnesota? ›

Casseroles were used as a means to stretch a leftover meal, which was especially important during the Great Depression and World War II. The term “hot dish” first appeared in a cookbook in 1930 by a Mankato, Minnesota church group called Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid.

What is casserole called in USA? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What is the oldest dish still eaten? ›

The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
  • Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
  • Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
  • Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
  • Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
  • Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
  • Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
  • Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
  • Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
Sep 2, 2023

Why do Americans love casserole? ›

Casseroles have long held a special place in American kitchens, offering comfort, convenience, and a warm sense of nostalgia.

Why put foil on casserole dish? ›

2. Cover dishes. Covering dishes with aluminum foil during a bake helps lock in moisture. Loosely placing or tenting a sheet of foil over a dish can prevent the top from browning while the rest of your dish continues to bake.

Is it better to bake a casserole covered or uncovered? ›

In general, you'll want to bake a casserole covered with aluminum foil for most of the cooking time. Covering the casserole helps lock in moisture and prevents it from drying out. If you don't cover the casserole or uncover it too soon, the casserole will dry out.

What thickens a casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

How to choose a casserole dish? ›

While it's prized among chefs, cast-iron is heavy and not the right choice for every home cook. As far as other materials go, Maturana recommends glass or ceramic casserole dishes. A three- to five-quart dish is great for simple bakes like cobblers, stuffing, and scalloped potatoes.

Which material is good for casserole? ›

Stainless Steel Casseroles are generally considered better than Ceramic Casseroles in terms of durability, as they are highly resistant to stains, corrosion, and rust, and will last longer with proper care. Pros: Durable and long-lasting. Resistant to corrosion, stains, and rust.

What defines a dish as a casserole? ›

A casserole is a one-dish meal that's baked and served from a sturdy baking dish that's itself known as a casserole. Casseroles can be main courses or side dishes like gratins or the famous Thanksgiving green bean casserole.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

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