Lunch Lady Beef Casserole

Name: Lunch Lady Beef Casserole
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 4 cups medium egg noodles; 1 pound ground beef; 3/4 cup onion, chopped; 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened; 1 cup 4% cottage cheese; 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for optional topping; 1/3 cup green onions, sliced; 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

Beef Dinner Lunch

Time: 50 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

About

Sloppy joes and buttered noodles: the pinnacle of school cafeteria lunches that got us all excited. Some kind-hearted cafeteria worker must have realized this and put them together into one delicious dish! Lunch Lady Beef Casserole layers on juicy ground beef in a smoky-sweet and rich sauce that tastes like sloppy joes and tender egg noodles. In the center is a creamy, tangy cheese mix filled with crunchy, savory green onion and sharp parmesan. The result is a melty, hearty meal that can get you through the school day, the workday or just a wonderful evening with family and friends! Lunch Lady Beef Casserole is a dinnertime nostalgia trip that will leave you full and happy. What could be better?

Ingredients

4 cups medium egg noodles
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup onion, chopped
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup 4% cottage cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for optional topping
1/3 cup green onions, sliced
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 3 -Cook the egg noodles according to package directions.

Step 4 -In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef and the onion, crumbling the beef as it cooks, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 5 -Drain the grease from the skillet.

Step 6 -Add the tomato sauce, the garlic powder, the salt, and the pepper.

Step 7 -In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, the cottage cheese, the parmesan, the green onions, and the green pepper.

Step 8 -Drain the noodles.

Step 9 -Place 1/2 of the noodles in the prepared baking dish.

Step 10 -Top with 1/2 of the meat mixture and 1/2 of the cheese mixture.

Step 11 -Repeat the layers.

Step 12 -Sprinkle the top with the extra parmesan cheese.

Step 13 -Cover and bake until heated through, about 30-35 minutes.

Step 14 -Serve hot.

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