Description
Hearty Beef Lombardi Casserole blends robust Texan and Mexican culinary traditions into one comforting dish. Pasta, ground beef, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 12 oz (340 g) egg noodles or penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese for smoother texture)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a large skillet, thoroughly draining excess grease while breaking down meat chunks into uniform pieces.
- Flavor Development: Sauté onions and garlic until translucent, then introduce tomato sauce, paste, and diced tomatoes. Integrate Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and pepper, allowing the sauce to simmer and meld flavors intensely.
- Pasta Integration: Cook pasta to al dente perfection, then combine with sour cream, ricotta, and half the mozzarella cheese, ensuring even coating and distribution of creamy elements.
- Mixture Consolidation: Gently fold beef sauce into cheese-coated pasta, creating a harmonious blend that promises consistent flavor throughout the dish.
- Assembly Technique: Preheat oven to 375F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Transfer the combined mixture, spreading evenly to create a smooth, uniform layer.
- Final Embellishment: Generously top the casserole with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, covering the entire surface to create a golden, bubbling crust.
- Baking and Serving: Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese turns molten and bronzed. Rest briefly after removing from oven to allow flavors to settle. Optionally garnish with fresh parsley and serve alongside a crisp green salad or warm garlic bread for a complete dining experience.
Notes
Manage Meat Grease: Thoroughly drain browned ground beef to prevent excess oil from making the casserole soggy and heavy.
Pasta Texture Mastery: Cook pasta al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven, preventing mushy, overcooked noodles that lose their pleasant bite.
Cheese Distribution Strategy: Blend cheeses evenly throughout the dish to ensure consistent flavor and prevent clumping or dry pockets in the casserole.
Flavor Enhancement Trick: Add a pinch of sugar to the tomato sauce to balance acidity and deepen the overall taste profile of the beef mixture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg