Poor Man’s Casserole
Poor Man’s Casserole is comfort food at its finest: budget-friendly, filling, and loaded with flavor. This old-school favorite layers hearty ground beef in a tangy tomato sauce with creamy noodles and melted cheese to create a satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry crowd. It’s a no-fuss recipe that doesn’t sacrifice taste or texture, and it’s been a go-to in many households for generations.
If you’re looking to stretch your ingredients while still putting a warm, delicious meal on the table, this casserole checks all the boxes. Simple, rich, and cozy.
Before You Get Started
Make sure your cream cheese is softened—it will mix much easier with the sour cream and coat the noodles more smoothly. You’ll also want to cook the egg noodles until just al dente, so they don’t get mushy when baked. And don’t skip that 5-minute rest at the end—it helps the casserole set and makes serving cleaner.
What You Need To Make Poor Man’s Casserole
You can find all the ingredient amounts listed clearly in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll be using:
- Ground beef, diced onion, and seasonings for a flavorful meat base
- Tomato sauce, water, and a touch of sugar to build the rich sauce
- Egg noodles tossed in a creamy mix of cream cheese and sour cream
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese to melt on top
Basic pantry spices and kitchen tools like a large skillet, pot, and casserole dish will also come in handy.
How To Make Poor Man’s Casserole
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and dice your onion.
Boil the noodles in salted water until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
In a skillet, cook the ground beef, diced onion, and seasonings until browned and no longer pink. Stir in tomato sauce, water, and sugar and let it simmer for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese with sour cream. Add the cooked noodles and stir to coat well.
Grease your 9×13 inch casserole dish and layer in this order:
- One third of the meat sauce
- Half of the creamy noodles
- Half the shredded cheese
- Another third of the meat sauce
- Remaining noodles
- Final layer of meat sauce and cheese
Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. You can fully assemble the casserole and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. Just allow for extra baking time if it’s cold when it goes in the oven.
Can I freeze Poor Man’s Casserole?
Absolutely. Let it cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven.
What noodles work best?
Wide egg noodles are traditional, but any pasta with some surface texture (like rotini or penne) would also work great.
Can I add veggies?
Yes. You can mix in diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or even spinach for added nutrition and flavor.
Poor Man’s Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Tony’s seasoning
- 1 tsp minced onion
- 1 small onion diced
- 29 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- ½ tsp sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 16 oz sour cream
- 16 oz wide egg noodles
- 8 oz colby jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Dice the onion.
- Boil the noodles in a large pot until al dente.
- In a large skillet, add the ground beef, seasonings, and onion, then cook, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until no longer pink.
- Add in the tomato sauce, water, and sugar, stir.
- In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together. Add the noodles and toss to coat.
- Add ⅓ of the meaty sauce mixture to the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish. Top with half the noodles, then sprinkle half the cheese over the top.
- Add another third of the meaty sauce over the top, then the rest of the noodles. Spread the rest of the meaty sauce over the top and sprinkle the rest of the cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.