Hamburger Noodle Casserole

Challenge recipe #4! We liked this one okay. I have another similar recipe called Hamburger Noodle Bake that we like a little better. I think I will try to meld the two together. This one needed more garlic for sure, maybe some onion. The cheese mixture was very good in my opinion, but Jayme liked the other one better. This one comes from my Taste of Home Most Requested Recipes cookbook.

The Ingredients

5 cups uncooked egg noodles
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves
3 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
3 green onions, thinly sliced, divided (I skipped these)**
2/3 cup shredded cheese (I skipped)

Cook the noodles according to their directions while you brown the ground beef and garlic.

When meat is no longer pink, add the tomato sauce, salt, sugar and pepper. Heat through and add the cooked noodles. Stir to combine.

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, ricotta and sour cream together until smooth. Using whipped cream cheese really helps with this step, and you can't beat a pastry blender for this job! (If using the green onion, add half of them to this mix)

Spread half the noodle mixture in a 13 x 9 casserole dish. Cover with half the cheese mixture.

Add the remaining noodles to the top.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Tell your assistant to take a break.

After the initial time period is up, sprinkle on the shredded cheese (if using) and bake uncovered for 5 to 10 more minutes to melt cheese. (Top with remaining green onions, if using)

Serve and enjoy! We sprinkled our with Parmesan cheese and everyone liked it, but as I said, it needed something. **I know I said it could use some onion and then I didn't use the ones called for but I do not like the taste of green onions (we called them "scallions" growing up) too strong for me, and bitter. Adding some diced yellow onions with the meat and garlic is what I think would help.