• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  lb
  Italian sausage (mild or spicy, according to preference)

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  ▢
  
  
  10
  oz
  egg noodles (wide egg noodles work best for this casserole)

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  ▢
  
  
  1
  tbsp
  minced garlic (freshly minced offers the best flavor)

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  ▢
  
  
  14
  oz
  tomato sauce

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  ▢
  
  
  1
  tsp
  salt (adjust to your taste)

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  ▢
  
  
  1
  yellow onion,
  diced

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  tsp
  pepper (freshly ground is always best)

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  tsp
  Italian seasoning

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  cup
  Parmesan cheese (grated)

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  cup
  sour cream (full-fat for ultimate creaminess)

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1 ½
  cup
  cottage cheese ,
  or ricotta (small curd cottage cheese recommended)

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  cup
  shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild, your choice)

• Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when you’re ready to bake, leading to an evenly cooked casserole with a beautifully golden top.
• To a large pan or skillet on your stove, add the Italian sausage and the diced yellow onion. Break up the sausage with a spoon as it cooks, ensuring it browns evenly. Continue cooking until the sausage is no longer pink and the onion is softened and translucent. While the sausage is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil on another burner. Add the egg noodles to the boiling water and cook them according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Al dente noodles will finish cooking in the oven and won’t become mushy. Once the sausage is thoroughly cooked, carefully drain any excess grease from the pan using a colander or by tilting the pan and scooping it out. This step is crucial to prevent the casserole from becoming too oily. Now, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Then, add the tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to the pan with the sausage mixture. Stir everything well to combine the flavors. Let this sauce mixture simmer gently for five minutes, allowing the spices to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and drained egg noodles with the sour cream and cottage cheese (or ricotta, if using). Stir thoroughly until the noodles are evenly coated in the creamy cheese mixture. This creates the rich, tangy base for your casserole. Next, generously spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Spread half of the noodle mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Then, spoon half of the savory Italian sausage and tomato sauce mixture over the noodles. Repeat this layering process once more: add the remaining noodle mixture, followed by the rest of the sausage sauce. Finally, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer of the casserole. This cheese will melt and form a delicious, golden-brown crust during baking.
• Place the baking dish into your preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the top is beautifully golden brown and the cheese is fully melted and slightly browned. This baking time allows all the flavors to meld together and the casserole to heat through completely.

Nutrition