Bitter Cream Noodle Bake – Princess Pinky Lady

I can’t resist this bitter cream noodle bake recipe on chilly nights once I’m craving a comfy pasta dish. Creamy noodles, savory seasoned beef, and a tacky bitter cream layer come collectively to make a hearty meal that’s fast sufficient for busy weeknights however nonetheless particular sufficient to share. With easy elements and simple steps, it’s turn into my favourite type of consolation meals.

Spoon lifts a cheesy scoop from sour cream noodle bake.Spoon lifts a cheesy scoop from sour cream noodle bake.

The very best a part of this noodle bake is the best way it’s all layered beneath a blanket of melted cheese that virtually begs you to dig in. This recipe was made well-known and impressed by the Pioneer Girl’s noodle bake. The noodles get completely cozy with the creamy combination, the meat sauce bubbles simply sufficient to odor wonderful, and the gooey cheese on high makes every scoop really feel further satisfying. It’s the type of dish that my household devours with out hesitation, normally earlier than I may even seize a second serving to.

Why I Love This Recipe

This simple pasta recipe checks all of the containers for a comforting, simple weeknight meal.

  • Made with easy elements and fast to prep for busy nights
  • Child pleasant and choosy eater permitted
  • Straightforward to customise with completely different cheeses, meats, or added greens
  • Appears like a nostalgic and comfy dinner the entire household enjoys
  • Good for making forward or meal prepping for the week

For one more cozy and satisfying dinner concept, strive my Rooster Pot Pie Casserole or my French Onion Rice, each of which make easy, scrumptious weeknight meals.

Elements Notes

Sour cream noodle bake in a glass dish, topped with melted cheese with a spoonSour cream noodle bake in a glass dish, topped with melted cheese with a spoon

Noodles

  • Broad egg noodles: Will be substituted with any vast pasta form if wanted

Meat sauce

  • Lean floor beef: Will be substituted with floor turkey, pork, or hen
  • Candy yellow onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Marinara sauce (akin to RAO’s): A spicy tomato sauce could also be used for extra warmth
  • Kosher salt
  • Contemporary cracked black pepper

Bitter Cream Layer

  • Small curd cottage cheese: Ricotta could also be used for a smoother texture
  • Bitter cream: Use the total fats stuff for the richest style
  • Sliced inexperienced onions
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Monterey Jack cheese

See the recipe card for full data on elements and portions.

Recipe Variations

  • Use mozzarella or a cheese mix for a milder taste
  • Add diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for further texture
  • Add a sprinkle of paprika or Italian seasoning for a taste enhance
  • Combine in pepper Jack cheese to offer the noodle bake a mild kick
  • Prime with crispy fried onions throughout the previous few minutes of baking

Fork scoops cheesy sour cream noodle bake from a glass dish.Fork scoops cheesy sour cream noodle bake from a glass dish.

The way to Make Bitter Cream Noodle Bake

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Prepare dinner noodles: Boil the egg noodles till al dente, then drain and rinse with chilly water.
  3. Prepare dinner beef: Brown the bottom beef with the onion and garlic in a big skillet over medium-high warmth, drain any extra oil, then stir within the marinara, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer briefly.
  4. Make bitter cream combination: Mix the cottage cheese, bitter cream, inexperienced onions, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Stir within the cooled noodles till evenly coated.
    mix the cooked noodles with sour cream mixture. mix the cooked noodles with sour cream mixture.
  5. Assemble: Unfold half of the noodles into the baking dish, then layer with half the meat combination and a couple of cups of cheddar.
    layer the ingredients in casserole dish. layer the ingredients in casserole dish.
  6. Repeat: Add the remaining beef and noodle combination, then high with the remaining cheddar.
  7. Bake: Bake uncovered for half-hour till the cheese is melted and the dish is effervescent. Let it relaxation a couple of minutes earlier than serving.
    baked sour cream noodle bake in casserole dish. baked sour cream noodle bake in casserole dish.

Recipe Ideas

  • Use full fats bitter cream for the richest, creamiest texture
  • Keep away from overcooking the noodles to forestall them from turning too delicate after baking
  • Let the meat sauce simmer for a couple of minutes to develop deeper taste
  • Rinse the cooked noodles to maintain them from changing into gummy
  • Enable the bake to relaxation earlier than serving so the layers keep intact
  • If the meat combination turns into too thick, add 2 to three tablespoons of water to loosen it
  • Freshly shredded cheese melts extra easily than pre-shredded cheese

Sour cream noodle bake in a glass dish, topped with melted cheese with green onions laid beside itSour cream noodle bake in a glass dish, topped with melted cheese with green onions laid beside it

Often Requested Questions

Why do my layers slide aside when serving?

This normally occurs when the noodle bake is served instantly from the oven. Letting it relaxation for 8 to 10 minutes helps the cheese set and retains the layers intact.

My cottage cheese doesn’t soften. Is that standard?

Completely regular. Cottage cheese softens and blends into the noodles for creaminess, nevertheless it received’t totally soften like cheddar or Monterey Jack.

Can I take advantage of a unique type of pasta?

Egg noodles give the most effective texture for this casserole, however you possibly can swap in a brief pasta like rotini or penne if wanted. Simply cook dinner it al dente in response to package deal instructions and use the identical quantity by weight.

My sauce tastes thick. What did I do fallacious?

Nothing. If the meat combination cooks down just a little too far, add 2 to three tablespoons of water to loosen it. This helps the layers keep saucy as an alternative of dense.

Why is my cheese not melting properly?

Pre shredded cheese usually melts in a different way due to added anti caking brokers. Freshly shredded cheese melts smoother and creamier.

Make Forward & Storage Directions

  • Make Forward: Assemble the total dish as much as 24 hours upfront, cowl tightly, and refrigerate. Add a number of further minutes to the baking time since it will likely be chilly.
  • Retailer: Maintain leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
  • Reheat: Heat particular person servings within the microwave or reheat the complete dish within the oven till sizzling.
  • Freeze: Freeze the cooled noodle bake for as much as 2 months. Wrap tightly in foil, thaw in a single day within the fridge, and reheat earlier than serving.
Hand lifts a scoop of sour cream noodle bake from the glass dish, cheese stretches long.Hand lifts a scoop of sour cream noodle bake from the glass dish, cheese stretches long.

Extra Straightforward Dinner Recipes to Attempt

Should you’ve tried this Bitter Cream Noodle Bake Recipe or some other recipe on my web site, please depart a star ranking and let me know the way it turned out within the feedback beneath.


  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Carry water in a 5 to six quart saucepan over medium excessive warmth to a low boil.

  • Add the egg noodles and cook dinner the noodles al dente. Drain and rinse with chilly water to cease the cooking course of.

    8 ounces vast egg noodles

  • Whereas the noodles are cooking, warmth a ten to 12 inch skillet over medium excessive warmth. Add the bottom beef, chopped candy yellow onion and minced garlic, stirring usually till the bottom beef is now not pink.

    1 pound lean floor beef, ½ cup finely chopped candy yellow onion, ½ tablespoon minced garlic

  • Drain any extra oil from the bottom beef.

  • Return the bottom beef and onion to the skillet, decrease the warmth to medium.

  • Stir within the tomato sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon contemporary cracked black pepper. Proceed to stir and cook dinner the bottom beef combination simply till the combination is simmering. Take away from the warmth.

    24 ounce jar of Marinara Sauce, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon contemporary cracked black pepper

  • Subsequent add the cottage cheese, bitter cream, sliced inexperienced onions, and the opposite ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon contemporary cracked black pepper to a medium dimension mixing bowl. Stir to utterly mix.

    1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1¼ cup 4% small curd cottage cheese, ½ cup bitter cream, ⅓ thinly sliced inexperienced onions, 1 teaspoon contemporary cracked black pepper

  • Stir within the cooked and cooled egg noodles. Stir till the noodles are evenly coated.

  • Unfold ½ of the bitter cream and egg noodle combination over the underside of the ready baking dish.

  • Spoon ½ of the bottom beef combination over the bitter cream noodle layer.

  • Sprinkle 2 cups of the shredded cheese over the bottom beef combination layer.

    3 cups shredded cheese

  • Repeat the layers with the remaining bitter cream noodles, floor beef combination and high it with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.

  • Bake uncovered for half-hour till the cheese is melted and the bottom beef combination is effervescent. Serve whereas sizzling.

Storage:
Make forward: This casserole may be put collectively a day early and saved within the fridge. Plan to bake it just a little longer because it begins chilly.
Storage: Leftovers maintain nicely in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as three days.
Reheating: Warmth single parts within the microwave or heat the total dish within the oven till heated by means of.
Freezing: As soon as cooled, wrap the casserole tightly and freeze for as much as two months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Ideas:

  • Full fats bitter cream offers the casserole a thicker, creamier chunk
  • Prepare dinner the noodles simply till tender so that they maintain up within the oven
  • Simmer the meat combination briefly to assist the flavors come collectively
  • Rinse the noodles after draining to cease them from sticking
  • Let the casserole sit for a couple of minutes earlier than slicing for neater layers
  • If the sauce tightens up, stir in a splash of water to skinny it out
  • Shred the cheese your self for smoother melting and higher protection

Energy: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 42g | Fats: 31g | Saturated Fats: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 8g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 1497mg | Potassium: 830mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1264IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 497mg | Iron: 4mg

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *