Hamburger Casserole 

(serves 6; estimated cost: $18, or $3 per serving)

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef 

• 2 (15-ounce) cans of tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste 

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste 

• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 

• 1 (8 ounces) package of egg noodles 

• 1 cup sour cream 

• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 

• 1 large white onion, finely diced 

• ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste 

Steps

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.

2. Mix tomato sauce, sugar, garlic salt, and salt into the ground beef; simmer until flavors blend, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover the skillet.

3. While the sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook egg noodles in boiling water, and drain when done cooking.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

5. Mix sour cream, cream cheese, and onion in a bowl.

6. Layer 1/2 of the egg noodles into the prepared casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the sour cream mixture, then 1/2 of the ground beef mixture. Repeat layers once more. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over top.

7. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.