Poor Man Husband Casserole

(A Budget-Friendly Comfort Classic)

This Poor Man Husband Casserole is the ultimate hearty, budget-friendly dinner — rich, creamy, cheesy, and deeply satisfying. It’s made with simple pantry staples like ground beef, pasta, and tomato sauce, layered with a luscious sour cream and cream cheese mixture. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends, this casserole is comfort food at its best!

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Quantity	Notes
Ground beef	1 lb (450 g)	Lean or regular
Onion	1 medium, diced	Adds depth of flavor
Garlic	2 cloves, minced	Optional but recommended
Tomato sauce	2 cups (or 1 can, 15 oz)	Any basic red sauce works
Dried Italian seasoning	1 tsp	Or a mix of oregano and basil
Salt & black pepper	To taste	Adjust to preference
Egg noodles (or pasta)	12 oz (about 4 cups cooked)	Wide egg noodles are classic
Sour cream	1 cup	Adds tangy creaminess
Cream cheese	4 oz (½ block), softened	For rich texture
Shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese	2 cups, divided	For layering and topping
Butter	1 tbsp	To grease the baking dish

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven:
   Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. Cook Pasta:
   Boil noodles until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare Meat Sauce:
   • In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned.
   • Add garlic, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
   • Simmer for 5–7 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
4. Make the Creamy Layer:
   • In a bowl, mix together sour cream and cream cheese until smooth.
   • Stir in ½ cup of shredded cheese (optional for extra creaminess).
5. Assemble the Casserole:
   • Spread half of the cooked noodles in the bottom of the dish.
   • Spoon half of the meat sauce over the noodles.
   • Dollop and gently spread half of the cream mixture over the sauce.
   • Repeat the layers once more: noodles → meat sauce → cream mixture.
   • Finish with remaining shredded cheese on top.
6. Bake:
   Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
   Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly.
7. Serve:
   Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy with a side salad or garlic bread!

Tips:

• Use rotini or penne pasta if you don’t have egg noodles.
• For extra richness, sprinkle Parmesan on top before baking.
• You can prep this casserole ahead of time — refrigerate overnight and bake when ready!