Looking for a casserole to feed a crowd? This long-time family favorite with hamburger, egg noodles, cottage cheese, and sour cream makes enough to feed the hungriest of crews. And since I don’t believe in spending hours in the kitchen, it’s easy to make too.
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Jump to RecipeMy Aunt Linda was a wonderful cook. Everything in her kitchen was made from scratch including the bread she used for my uncle’s sandwiches. I don’t think she even knew what a box dinner was and she would have preferred to be tarred and feathered rather than empty contents out of a box to mix with hamburger meat.
Without a doubt she was one of the best cooks I’ve ever known. Fortunately, she was generous when it came to sharing her recipes and secrets with family and friends.
She shared this recipe with my mom back when I was a kid (we won’t go into how long ago that was!). My mom was a “casserole queen” because she didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen either. There were too many books to read , card games to win, and piano pieces to master.
As a working mom, I used to make this casserole frequently because it made enough leftovers to take to work or for another dinner. I often made this dish on a Sunday evening so that I didn’t have to face that dreaded, “What’s for dinner?” question at the end of a long day. It reheats nicely in the oven or in the microwave.
How To Make Carry Along Casserole
First, gather ingredients. No o ne wants to discover they’re out of something in the middle of cooking.
Start your pasta cooking while you brown your hamburger meat (and I put 1/2 of the onion in with this as well). Drain any extra fat or grease.
Combine ingredients that make up the yummy sauce.
Then add the sauce mix to the meat. Combine well.
Alternate layers of the cooked pasta with the meat/sauce mixture. I always try to end with the meat mixture on top but you do you.
Carry Along Casserole Recipe
Below is the original recipe as given to my mother. However, I’ve made some tweaks to the recipe that I’ll indicate below the recipe to indicate what I actually do when I make it.
Carry Along Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce pkg egg noodles
- 2 Tablespoons butter (or margarine)
- 4 pounds hamburger meat
- 4 cups tomato sauce
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup onion chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives sliced
Instructions
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Cook and drain egg noodles.
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In skillet, melt butter and brown hamburger meat. Drain fat.
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To drained hamburger add: tomato sauce, flour, 2 t. salt – simmer 10 minutes.
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Mix cottage cheese, sour cream, 1 t. salt, onion, and olives.
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Place half of noodles in casserole dish (sprayed with non-stick cooking spray). Spread cottage cheese mixture on top of noodles. Add rest of noodles and then cover with meat mixture.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes till casserole is hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Tweaks I’ve Made To The Recipe
Okay, here’s what I do differently and why:
- I use a full pound of pasta – and it doesn’t have to be egg noodles if you don’t have them. I felt like that for the amount of meat it needed more pasta. Plus, adding more pasta makes the casserole go farther which makes it cost less per serving.
- I go ahead and use a full onion instead of one-half of one. We like onions and I hate having a half-onion in the refrigerator because I’m afraid I won’t remember to use it. This solves that problem.
- I do add more salt and pepper than the recipe calls for. We like a little more seasoning (the casserole is pretty mild otherwise) so we don’t skimp on the S&P.
- I go ahead and use a full 15 oz can of black olives instead of just 1/4 cup. Again, it stretches the casserole and keeps me from having to remember something open in the refrigerator.
Food Really IS Love!
It’s interesting how we are often associated with particular dishes we cooked even after we’re gone. I guess it’s because cooking and feeding people is a way of showing others that we love them.
I remember at my Aunt Linda’s funeral that the subject of her cooking came up. Everyone in the group had a story to tell about about their favorite dishes – apparently she was also well known for her muffins. Even though it was a sad event, not one person talked about her cooking without a smile crossing their faces.
If food equals love then being remembered as a great cook certainly isn’t a bad legacy.
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I’m a retired educator, mom of three adult children, cancer warrior, sandwich generation member, and lover of life!
I help older women create & live a life they love through radical self acceptance, unapologetic goal pursuit, and relishing the joys of home.
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I have fixed this for years!! We love it! I love how it taste so much better the next day.
Don’t you just love a big casserole that lets you have leftovers?
This looks really good and something that my very picky family might actually eat!!
Thanks so much for visiting!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Hi Debbie! It’s good to see you again. Nearly any recipe of my Aunt Linda’s is a winner – she was an amazing cook. I was merely fortunate enough to have inherited some of her recipes. Have a great week!