Let’s count down the layers of the 8 Layer Casserole! First a layer of melty, sharp cheese (always a good start). Tender, buttery egg noodles follow the cheese. Then a layer of meaty, rich, and herby sauce for extra savoriness. After that, leafy spinach and a creamy, tangy cream cheese sauce. Finally, more layers of meat sauce and noodles! How could anyone resist the layered flavors of 8 Layer Casserole? It just can’t be imagined!
Ingredients
- 1 pound homestyle egg noodles, frozen
- 2 pounds of ground beef
- 2 (15-ounce) cans of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon onion, dried and minced
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk, 2%
- 2 (10-ounce) packages of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 cup Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, optional, minced
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –Cook the egg noodles according to the package directions.
Step 4 –In a large skillet, cook the beef, crumbling it as it cooks, over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 5 –Drain the fat from the skillet.
Step 6 –Add the tomato sauce, onion, sugar, Italian seasoning, basil, parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
Step 7 –Bring the mixture to a boil.
Step 8 –Reduce the heat to low.
Step 9 –Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 10 –In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and milk.
Step 11 –Place 1/2 of the cooked noodles in the prepared baking dish.
Step 12 –Top the noodles in the baking dish with an even layer of 3 cups of the meat mixture.
Step 13 –Layer on the cream cheese mixture.
Step 14 –Add the spinach in an even layer.
Step 15 –Add in the remaining meat mixture.
Step 16 –Top the meat mixture with the remaining noodles.
Step 17 –Sprinkle the Colby-Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses over the top of the casserole.
Step 18 –Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, about 40-45 minutes.
Step 19 –Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes outside the oven.
Step 20 –Serve topped with fresh parsley.
