Beef Lombardi Cheesy Casserole (Printer-Friendly)

Tender beef, pasta, and creamy cheese layers create a rich, comforting casserole ideal for cozy dinners.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ Beef Layer

01 - 450 g ground beef
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 400 g canned diced tomatoes
05 - 170 g tomato paste
06 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
07 - 0.5 teaspoon paprika
08 - 0.5 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Creamy Layer

10 - 240 ml sour cream
11 - 240 ml cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
12 - 60 g shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 25 g grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

14 - 340 g egg noodles or penne pasta, cooked and drained

→ Topping

15 - 100 g shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, and cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
02 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
03 - Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, paprika, sugar (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes to develop flavor.
04 - In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, cottage cheese or ricotta, shredded cheddar, and Parmesan. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
05 - Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease a 23 x 33 cm baking dish.
06 - Arrange half of the cooked pasta in the baking dish. Spread half of the beef mixture over the pasta, followed by half of the creamy cheese mixture. Repeat with remaining pasta, beef, and cheese mixture.
07 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over assembled layers.
08 - Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 10–15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling.
09 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - Assemble in advance and refrigerate up to one day. Add 10 minutes to baking time if cold.
02 - For freezing, prepare and assemble but do not bake. Freeze up to 3 months, thaw overnight, and bake as directed.
03 - Enhance the dish with sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach for extra vegetables.

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