Description
Craving the ultimate comfort food? This Italian Noodle Casserole combines tender pasta, savory meat sauce, and gooey melted cheese for a dinner that’ll have everyone fighting for the corner piece.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) egg noodles, medium width
- 1 lb (454g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 cups (8 oz/226g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (4 oz/113g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook egg noodles for 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
- Add diced onions to the meat and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce in the dish. Add half the noodles, top with half the remaining sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella.
- Layer remaining noodles and sauce. Mix remaining mozzarella with Parmesan and sprinkle over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 10-15 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving.