Poor Man’s Casserole

Poor man’s casserole got its name because it’s made with inexpensive ingredients—specifically refrigerator and pantry staples that you likely already have on hand. And yet, this dish is one of the tastiest ground beef recipes my family has tried. Seriously, we kept going back for more!

I’d describe this casserole as casual lasagna. It’s made with similar ingredients like noodles, tomato sauce and ground beef. But instead of making neat, intentional layers like you would in a regular lasagna recipe, you toss egg noodles with cream cheese and sour cream and then layer them roughly with seasoned tomato meat sauce and plenty of cheese. The casserole comes out of the oven just as bubbling and melty, but without all the work!

Add poor man’s casserole to your collection of tried-and-true 13×9 casseroles—and make an extra one as a potential freezer casserole for meals down the road.

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Ingredients for Poor Man’s Casserole

• Ground beef: For this and every other ground beef casserole, learn how to brown ground beef so it’s flavorful and tender. This includes letting the pan get hot before adding the raw meat.
• Tomato sauce: Make this casserole quickly with store-bought canned tomato sauce. For a more rustic texture, use homemade tomato sauce you’ve prepped ahead.
• Egg noodles: Look for packages of quick-cooking, extra-wide egg noodles to layer with the meat sauce.
• Sour cream: The noodles are coated in creamy sauce that’s part tangy sour cream.
• Cream cheese: Cream cheese teams up with sour cream to coat the noodles. Remember to soften the cream cheese ahead of time (you can do it quickly in a microwave oven if you forgot).
• Onions: Diced onions are cooked with the ground beef. You can chop a fresh onion or use convenient, frozen diced onions.
• Garlic: Freshly minced cloves of garlic give the meat sauce plenty of flavor.
• Seasonings: Some salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes and an Italian seasoning blend are all you need for poor man’s casserole. Nothing too complicated here!
• Shredded cheddar cheese: A blend of cheddar and Jack cheeses also works well here. Grate your own cheese (as opposed to buying bags of shredded cheese) and it will melt more smoothly on top of the casserole.
• Parmesan: A little Parm on top adds a deliciously savory and nutty flavor to the casserole. You can use shaker Parmesan or grate it yourself.
• Parsley: If you have it, a sprinkle of fresh, chopped parsley looks lovely as a finishing touch on the baked dish.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the noodles

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and cook the egg noodles according to package directions just until they’re al dente. Drain them and return them to the pot.

Editor’s Tip: Watch the egg noodles as they boil, as it’s easy to overcook them. Drain the noodles as soon as they’re tender but still have a little bite, which is known as al dente.

Step 2: Make the noodles creamy

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While the noodles cook, stir the sour cream and softened cream cheese together in a large bowl. Stir this mixture into the pot with the hot, cooked noodles until the pasta is completely coated. Set the noodles aside.

Step 3: Cook the beef

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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add the ground beef and diced onions. Cook them for 9 to 10 minutes or until the beef is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.

Step 4: Add the sauce ingredients

Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to the cooked beef. Stir and cook for two to three minutes until the mixture is fragrant. Pour in the tomato sauce. Stir and simmer the sauce for four to five minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.

Step 5: Assemble the casserole

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To assemble the casserole, spread a third of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top this with half of the creamy noodles, spreading them into an even layer. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar over the top. Repeat these layers.

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Spread the remaining meat sauce on top, then sprinkle the last 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and the grated Parmesan on top.

Step 6: Bake the casserole

Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until it’s bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack or trivet. Sprinkle the optional chopped parsley over the top and serve poor man’s casserole while it’s hot.

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Poor Man’s Casserole Variations

• Make it with ground turkey: Make a lighter version of the casserole by substituting ground turkey for the ground beef. If you go this route, add a little oil to the pan when cooking the meat.
• Use spaghetti sauce: For a more flavorful casserole, use your favorite jarred pasta sauce brand instead of the plain tomato sauce.
• Add sausage: Give this poor man’s casserole more lasagna flavor by making it with half ground beef and half Italian sausage. Brown the two meats together in the skillet.

How to Store Poor Man’s Casserole

This recipe makes a lot of servings, which means you might get lucky and have leftovers to tuck away for the next day! Allow the casserole to cool, then cover the pan tightly with storage wrap or transfer it to several small food storage containers. Store the leftover casserole in the fridge.

How long does poor man’s casserole last?

Keep the leftover poor man’s casserole chilled in the fridge for up to four days.

Can you freeze poor man’s casserole?

Yes, poor man’s casserole freezes very well. It’s one of our many freezer meal recipes that’s worth doubling so you can stash one in the freezer for another night. Bake the casserole in a disposable aluminum pan and cover it tightly, or transfer the baked casserole to freezer-proof storage containers. Store the casserole in the freezer for two to three months.

How do you reheat poor man’s casserole?

If the poor man’s casserole is frozen, allow it to defrost in the fridge for several hours or overnight. You can reheat the casserole in a 350° oven. Cover the pan with foil and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes or until it’s warmed through. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave in 45- to 60-second bursts until it’s completely reheated.

Poor Man’s Casserole Tips

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How do you make poor man’s casserole in a slow cooker?

To make poor man’s casserole in the slow cooker, the noodles and meat sauce should first be prepared on the stovetop. This ensures that they’ll have the best texture and flavor. Once they’re ready, layer the meat sauce, creamy noodles and cheeses inside a large, lightly greased slow cooker in the order listed in the recipe directions. Cover the slow cooker and cook the casserole on low for three to four hours. The cheese should be melted, and the casserole should be hot all the way through.

What can you serve with poor man’s casserole?

You can keep the sides simple since poor man’s casserole is so rich and filling. Garlic knots or slices of buttered, homemade bread are delicious. For vegetables, serve the casserole with an Italian chopped salad, slow-cooker spaghetti squash or green beans with garlic.