Beef Noodle Casserole - Tasty Easy Gourmet Dinner Recipe (2024)

This delicious beef noodle casserole is bursting with the flavor of both cream cheese and cheddar cheese to make this a gourmet casserole that will make meal time seem really special. The recipe is easy to make and can be prepared ahead and then baked later in the day to make the dinner hour hassle free.

Forget Hamburger Helper! Your family will know that this amazing recipe didn’t come out of a box when they take a taste of the amazing layers of creamy cheeses with a hint of wine and loads of hearty veggies!

Casseroles are one of the best inventions known to man. They rank right up there in the taste and ease of preparation needed. Combining all your ingredients into one baking dish that heats in the oven while you relax with a glass of wine is a busy homemaker’s delight.

A casserole may seem like a humble invention but with some creative and more gourmet ingredients, you can elevate it to a place worthy of entertaining with friends. This recipe takes a bit of extra time in the morning prep, but the end result is so, so worth it! Even so, it is an easy recipe that any beginning cook can attempt.

This beef and noodle casserole is so hearty and filling. The colorful sweet peppers and chunky mushrooms makes it a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach!

One of the things that I love most about this ground beef casserole with noodles is that you can put in some prep time early in the day to prepare it for the baking dish and then take the rest of the day off. Just pop the casserole in the oven before dinner time and you will be able to relax with your family instead of spending the time before dinner in the kitchen.

Making thisGourmet Beef Noodle Casserole

Save prep time by cooking your egg noodles in boiling water as you get the casserole started. While the noodles are cooking, spray the saute pan with cooking spray and stir inthe ground beef and cook until it is browned. I removed my meat to a plate while I cooked the veggies, so they would lightly brown and not steam from over crowding.

In the same pan, heat the oil in a large skillet and add the onions, mushrooms, garlic and peppers to the beef and heat until they are just slightly cooked and starting to get tender. Don’t overcook them, or you will lose their lovely colors and texture.

Let’s get the luscious sauce going! Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, sugar, and wine, then cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. I combined some cornstarch and water with the cooking liquid to thicken the sauce a bit at the end of the cooking time.

Now we are going to add the rich ingredients that makes this such a gourmet casserole recipe. While the meat mixture is simmering, combine the sour cream, cream cheese, fresh herbs and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and stir it into a thick mixture.

I enjoy using fresh herbs for cooking. They add so much more flavor and are really easy to grow, even indoors if you have a sunny window. See my tips for cooking with fresh herbs here.

Getting this easy beef casserole ready for the oven is as simple as layering the ingredients in a baking dish. Start with the beef mixture, then add the cooked noodles and top with the creamy rich cheese layer. Repeat as though you are making a lasagna, and top with the rest of cheddar cheese.

The cheese mixture is a bit thick. I dotted it when it was time for this layer, and used more of the cheese on the bottom layer than the top, since the very top of the casserole will have extra cheddar cheese over it.

The recipe makes enough for a large 9 x 13 inch casserole dish, but I made mine in two smaller dishes. One for now and another one for later in the week. You can also freeze one to use another time, if you wish.

The ground beef casserole with noodles comes out of the oven bubbly and hot, and all ready for the table.

Time to taste this amazing beef casserole

There is something really appealing about this beef noodle casserole. It’s hearty and filling like a normal beef casserole always is, but it is chock full of gourmet tastes that makes it different from any other pasta casserole you’re likely to prepare.

The flavor is rich and decadent. It has layers and layers of tasty beef with veggies just oozing with the gourmet cheese filling for an extra creamy taste that will delight your family. The wine flavor adds a lovely touch that makes this easy beef casserole special enough for a dinner party.

This is a crowd pleasing recipe that guests will really love. Take this beef and vegetable casserole to a pot luck and watch the dish disappear. The only thing left to do is wait for the rave reviews!

Serve this delicious gourmet ground beef egg noodle casserole with a side salad and some herbed garlic bread for a tasty week night meal that your whole family will ask for again and again.

Admin note. This recipe first appeared on the blog in November of 2013. I have updated the post with all new photos, a step by step tutorial and nutritional information. Enjoy!