Best Beef Noodle Casserole Recipe

I’ve loved pasta bakes for as long as I can remember. Ladd and the kids love them too, which means I’ve made many different versions through the years. This gloriously meaty, cheesy casserole is a little different than some other beef and noodle bakes you may have had, but I’ll tell you this, dear friends: It’s what comfort food dreams are made of.

The recipe calls for grating the onion, carrots, and garlic, which might sound like a hassle, but it actually saves prep time by cutting out any fussy knife work. Grating the veggies allows them to really melt into the sauce as they cook which is a great way to sneak in some vegetables, especially if you’re dealing with picky eaters. For an extra serving of veggies, you can even add a 10- or 12-ounce bag of frozen vegetables when you cook the egg noodles!

In true casserole fashion, everything in this recipe is cooked in one dish, or in this case, a big Dutch oven. The beef is seared and slow-cooked, then it’s removed from the pot and the pasta is boiled in those wonderful beefy juices. Finally, everything is added back to the pot, the whole thing is sprinkled with cheese, and it’s baked. There’s just nothing better!

What cut of beef do you use for beef noodle casserole?

Instead of ground beef, which is what I typically use in beef casseroles, this recipe is made with chuck roast—the cut of beef used in pot roast. Chuck roast has wonderful marbling, and when cooked slowly, it becomes meltingly tender.

Help! I can’t find fontina cheese.

If your grocery store doesn’t stock fontina, or you simply want to go a different route, use mozzarella. Mozzarella is a bit milder than fontina, but it will still melt beautifully and taste great on top of this casserole.

How long does beef noodle casserole last in the fridge?

This casserole will stay good for up to three days. Once it has cooled, transfer the dish to an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. To reheat, nuke smaller portions in the microwave, or transfer larger portions to a bake dish, cover with foil, and place in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed through.