Julie Clark
Updated:
Egg Noodle Lasagna Casserole (No Lasagna Sheets, Foolproof)
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Egg noodle lasagna casserole is an easy, layered lasagna that swaps out lasagna sheets for egg noodles. They get folded with cottage cheese and sour cream, then layered with a beefy sauce and mozzarella.
This casserole comes together in 55 minutes, feeds 8 and is perfect for a potluck or a company meal.
If you love the real thing, we still make our classic homemade lasagna for holidays, but this weeknight version is too easy to skip. Try our bubble up pizza casserole, too!
Can you use egg noodles for lasagna?
Yes. Egg noodles work beautifully instead of lasagna sheets. It’s what makes this a “lazy lasagna”. They hold sauce well and cook faster than lasagna noodles. Egg noodles are a little higher in protein than regular pasta. But it’s still completely a comfort food meal.
Do you have to boil the egg noodle first?
Yes, boil the egg noodles before you layer this casserole. Cook them to the package instructions (usually 7-9 minutes). Drain, then fold them with the cottage cheese and sour cream.
If you don’t cook them first, the casserole will be too dry and the noodles won’t cook well.
What makes this egg noodle lasagna different?
The difference is the base. Instead of ricotta, you toss the noodles with cottage cheese and sour cream, which bakes up a little creamy. There are no tomato chunks, just smooth spaghetti sauce. And there isn’t an overload of sauce, but if you love sauce, warm some on the side and spoon extra over the top.
Can you freeze Lasagna Noodle Casserole?
Yes! You can freeze this casserole before baking it. Wrap it in plastic wrap first, then wrap it in foil. Remove it from the freezer the day before you want to bake it and allow it to defrost in the fridge overnight.
Bake as directed, but you may need a little extra time if the casserole is really cold. Plan for up to an hour. It would also be a good idea to cover the casserole with foil for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake through.
You only need foil if the casserole has been frozen.
What to Serve with Lasagna Noodle Casserole
Pair this dinner with some Asiago cheese bread or garlic lover’s cheesy biscuits and a side salad for a complete meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between egg noodles and lasagna noodles?
Egg noodles are shorter, curlier, and made with egg, so they are richer and cook faster. Lasagna noodles are long flat sheets you layer.
What is lazy lasagna?
Lazy lasagna is any lasagna-flavored bake that skips layering flat noodles, usually by mixing pasta with the sauce and cheese instead. This egg noodle version is one of the easiest kinds.
Can I use ricotta instead of cottage cheese?
You can, but you will lose the creaminess in this recipe. Cottage cheese plus sour cream is what makes this lasagna casserole soft and rich. If you use ricotta, still add in the sour cream.
Do you put egg in this lasagna?
There is no added egg in the filling. The richness comes from the egg noodles, cottage cheese, and sour cream.
Other Italian Recipes
- Italian Chicken Skillet
- Chicken Parmesan Skillet
- One Pot Sausage Pasta
- Three Meat Ragu Sauce
- Italian Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
Lasagna Noodle Casserole
A comforting layered casserole of noodles, beef, cheese and spaghetti sauce. This well-loved Lasagna Noodle Casserole can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.
Servings 8 servings
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces egg noodles (cooked according to package directions)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions. 8 ounces egg noodles
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and onion together. Drain the fat. 1 pound lean ground beef, ¼ cup chopped onion
- Add the spices and spaghetti sauce. Mix well. ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic salt, 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- In a separate bowl, mix together the cooked noodles, sour cream and cottage cheese. 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Spray a 9×13" casserole with cooking spray. Layer ½ the noodles, ½ the meat sauce and ½ the mozzarella in the prepared dish. Repeat the layers.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until the casserole is baked through and browned. If you'd like the top to be a little extra golden brown, place the casserole under the broiler on low for 3-4 minutes or until lightly browned. Watch it closely!
Video
Notes
Sauce lovers: bake it creamy, then spoon extra warmed spaghetti sauce over each serving.
Make-ahead: assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking, or freeze unbaked (see freezing notes).
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the recipe. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
Nutrition
Serving: 287g | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1089mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 885IU | Vitamin C: 6.6mg | Calcium: 292mg | Iron: 3mg
Is this a dish that can be prepared in advance and stored in refrigerated for dinner the next day?
Excellent recipe! We have made this several times and really like it. We like it better than regular lasagna. It’s become a favorite in our household.
Made this before….making again tonight…super easy and delicious!!
So easy. Great last minute recipe. My 3 boys loved it. I used Rigatoni noodles instead of egg. They had no egg noodles at Trader joes plus I’m not a big fan of egg noodles anyways. Cooked first according to package. Definitely use a 9×13 dish. Used Rao’s marinara sauce. Seasoned beef with a pinch of Italian seasoning’s,ie. Basil, oregano, dried parsley, even onion salt. I love seasoning everything 😊 Came out Delicious!!!
I’m going to try this tonight using tortellini!
this recipe was delicious! I’m working on making it a less sodium recipe for my hubby and I.
we are not big fans of the egg noodles in this dish………I substitute med. shells
Can you use Ricotta cheese instead of the cottage cheese? Would there need to be any changes?
Just found this wonderful recipe! Used bow tie pasta and only substitution was Greek yogurt for the sour cream (didn’t have any) and it turned out like one of those “restaurant-catered” premium meals with the taste of Mama’s special homemade recipe. Thank you so much!
Two things that make this recipe delicious: lasagna and casserole. This recipe is so comforting. I like that it is very creamy and so cheesy as well!
I am going to try ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese.
I love how comforting this dish is!
Looks like a great “easy” version of lasagna…and I love that you can adjust the sauciness for different tastes!
Yay! I LOVE this! I am kind of lazy about not always wanting to put lasagna together, all the layering and such, so thank you for this!! 🙂