This warm and comfortable Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Bake, which is created with layers of savory beef sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, and soft egg noodles mixed in a creamy sour cream combination, has just made weeknight meals a whole lot tastier than they ever were before.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A dish that may be prepared in advance and has the consistency of a “sloppy” lasagna!
• This recipe is quite similar to baked ziti (but much better) or any baked pasta dish, but it differs from other dishes in that it also contains egg noodles and cheddar cheese.
• A supper recipe that can be prepared ahead of time and is suitable for both weekday and weekend entertaining.
• A satiating and flavorful dish made with pasta that everyone adores. A true source of comfort!

Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Bake Ingredients

• Ground Beef. Ground beef is a great protein option since it is so simple to brown and drain.
• Garlic. Freshly minced cloves of garlic.
• Seasoning. Along with the regular seasonings of salt and pepper, I give the meat a big sprinkle or two of Italian spice as well.
• Tomato Sauce. This dish benefits immensely from the addition of tomato, which imparts a taste that is both tart and luscious. Depending on how saucy you want your pasta, you may use either more or less tomato sauce in this recipe.
• Sour Cream. Gives the dish a creamy texture and a sour flavor.
• Cottage Cheese. For an even greater velvety texture. Ricotta and cream cheese are two other excellent substitution options.
• Parsley. The cheese layer gets an additional taste boost in addition to a refreshing splash of green color from this ingredient. I use dried parsley, but if you like, you may use fresh parsley that has been chopped.
• Pasta. For this dish, I like to use broad egg noodles, but you may substitute them with other types of pasta, such as macaroni or shells.
• Shredded Cheese. When it comes to flavor, I prefer sharp cheddar. You may also prepare this dish using a Monterey jack or pepper jack cheese instead of the regular jack.
• Garnish. Keep some green onions, parmesan, or more chopped parsley available, if you’d want to use that as a garnish instead of the standard parsley.

How To Make Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Bake?

• Heat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 913 baking dish lightly with nonstick spray. Place aside.
• Prepare the Meat Sauce. Cook the ground beef in a large pan over medium heat. Remove any extra fat. Combine the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and Italian seasoning in a mixing bowl. 2 minutes in the oven. Add the tomato sauce and mix well. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Prepare the Cheese Sauce. Stir together the sour cream, cottage cheese, parsley, and remaining salt and pepper in a large mixing basin. Place aside.
• Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions in a large saucepan of boiling water. Drain the noodles and toss them with the cottage cheese mixture to coat.
• Assemble. Half of the noodles should be placed in your preheated pan. Add half of the beef sauce and half of the cheddar cheese on top of the pasta. Rep the noodles, beef sauce, and cheese.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling. If the top begins to brown too rapidly, tent it gently with aluminum foil.
• Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

What To Serve With Sour Cream Bake?

• Quinoa Salad
• Honey Glazed Carrots
• Rainbow Fruit Salad
• Broccoli and Lemon
• Lemon Rice
• Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Bacon
• Roasted Asparagus

Recipe Variations

It’s no secret that I have a weakness for an excellent casserole dish, and while the original version of this sour cream bake is great, you can simply adjust the ingredients to better suit your tastes.

• Various Noodles. You may use whatever type of cooked pasta that you prefer in your noodle bake. Additional wonderful alternatives are penne, ziti, elbow macaroni, and regular egg noodles.
• Different Protein. This recipe calls for lean ground beef; however, you may substitute ground chicken or ground turkey for the beef and achieve the same delicious results.
• Additional Cheeses. You may use other kinds of creamy cheese, such as ricotta or cream cheese, for the cottage cheese in this recipe. You may also use grated mozzarella in place of the layer of shredded cheddar cheese if you want.
• Add Vegetables. This simple spaghetti dish is made more healthy with the inclusion of a variety of vegetables. You might want to try including sliced carrots, onions, broccoli, bell peppers, butternut squash, or zucchini, as well as greens such as spinach and kale. To make any vegetable add-ins a little bit more tender before using them, I recommend sautéing them beforehand.
• Herbs And Various Spices. Add more herbs such as dried or fresh thyme, basil, and rosemary to this dish to ratchet up its taste’s intensity. Add some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for extra spice. Cayenne pepper is another option.

How To Store Sour Cream Bake?

• In The Fridge. This sour cream bake may be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days if it is sealed well and airtight. Either place the leftovers in a container or closely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.
• In The Freezer. This sour cream bake may be maintained frozen for up to three to four months if it is stored in an airtight container. Simply defrost it in the refrigerator overnight, then bake or reheat it as directed.
• To Make Ahead. If you want to get a head start on making your sour cream bake, you may certainly make it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator, covered, until you are ready to bake it. It is important to keep in mind that the cooking time for this casserole will most likely need to be increased by 10 to 15 minutes if it is baked after being refrigerated.
• To Reheat. Reheat any remaining sour cream bake by either microwaving it while covering it with a paper towel before placing it in the microwave (to prevent splatters!) or putting it in the oven until it is completely heated. If you discover that the noodles have become dry after being stored in the refrigerator, you may restore the moisture by reheating them with a small amount of sauce or water.

Recipe Tips

When you are preparing your sour cream bake, be sure to keep these helpful hints in mind:

• Use More Or Less Sauce As Desired. The amount of tomato sauce called for in this recipe might range anywhere from 16 to 24 ounces. Because the casseroles that I make for my family tend to have a lot of sauce, I always put in the maximum amount. Reheating food also seems to benefit from the additional moisture, in my experience. However, this is a matter of personal opinion, and you may certainly use a smaller amount if you so want.
• Cook The Pasta Until It Is Al Dente. When cooking egg noodles, you should strive for al dente or just under al dente as the desired texture. The spaghetti needs to have some bite to it, but it shouldn’t be mushy. When done in this manner, baking the noodles prevents them from becoming overdone and mushy.
• If The Cheese Is Starting To Brown. If you check on your casserole while it is in the oven and see that the top is browning more quickly than you would like, tent it gently with aluminum foil and continue to bake it.

Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Bake Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

• Calories 347
• Total Fat 14g
• Saturated Fat 7.5g
• Cholesterol 91.9mg
• Sodium 601.7mg
• Potassium 324mg
• Total Carbohydrate 26.7g
• Dietary Fiber 1.7g
• Sugars 3g
• Protein 28.1g
• Vitamin A 10.4%
• Vitamin C 7.4%
• Calcium 15.8%
• Iron 11%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source