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Mexican Noodle Casserole in a glass baking dish topped with melted cheese, diced tomatoes, onions, and fresh cilantro.
Linda

Mexican Noodle Casserole

A comforting, cheesy bake with bold Mexican flavors, tender egg noodles, and seasoned ground beef that comes together in under an hour.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican-American, Tex-Mex
Calories: 485

Ingredients
  

For the Noodles
  • 12 oz wide egg noodles
For the Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning about 2 tablespoons
  • 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles undrained (Rotel style)
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
For Assembly
  • 2 cups Mexican blend cheese shredded, divided
  • 2.25 oz black olives sliced, drained
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Large Pot
  • Large skillet

Method
 

Prep
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles 1 minute less than package directions until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the meat sauce
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion; cook 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until beef is browned and onion is soft. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Stir in taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with their juices, and tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream until smooth.
Assemble and bake
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, combine cooked noodles and meat sauce. Fold in 1.5 cups cheese. Spread evenly and top with remaining 0.5 cup cheese and sliced olives.
  2. Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are bubbling. Let rest 5 minutes, then sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Notes

For extra heat, use hot Rotel or add a minced jalapeno with the onion. This casserole reheats beautifully - make it a day ahead, cover and refrigerate, then bake 10 minutes longer. Serve with warm tortillas and a simple green salad to round out the meal.