Description
Hearty Poor Man’s Husband Casserole delivers comfort on a plate, blending budget-friendly ingredients with soul-satisfying flavors. Layers of ground beef, pasta, and cheese create a delicious meal that brings families together without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups pasta (elbow macaroni or rotini), cooked and drained
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can tomato sauce
- 1 (10 ounces/284 grams) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 small onion, diced
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary workspace by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
- In a spacious skillet, brown ground beef alongside diced onions until meat is fully cooked and onions become translucent. Eliminate excess fat and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Introduce tomato sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and sour cream into the meat mixture, stirring thoroughly until ingredients meld and warm through completely.
- Create initial foundation by distributing half of the prepared pasta across the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Layer half of the savory beef mixture directly over the pasta, followed by a generous sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Replicate the layering process with remaining pasta, beef mixture, and additional cheddar cheese to build robust flavor dimensions.
- Crown the casserole with an even blanket of mozzarella cheese, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and ingredients to merge.
- Uncover the casserole and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Extract from oven, optionally garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve while piping hot for maximum gustatory pleasure.
Notes
- Customize Cheese Blend by mixing different varieties like sharp cheddar, monterey jack, or pepper jack for extra flavor complexity.
- Reduce Fat Content by using lean ground beef, low-fat cheese, and replacing cream of mushroom soup with a homemade lighter sauce.
- Make Gluten-Free by substituting regular pasta with gluten-free pasta and ensuring cream of mushroom soup is gluten-free certified.
- Prep Ahead by assembling the casserole earlier in the day and refrigerating, then baking when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 888 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 83 mg