This high protein creamy ground beef noodle casserole is rich, cozy, and packed with flavor, but gets a boost from cottage cheese that makes it extra satisfying without feeling heavy.

A nostalgic, family-friendly ground beef noodle casserole that uses cottage cheese to make a genuinely high-protein dinner—without tasting like “health food.” Each serving has 18g of protein!

It’s like a homemade version of Hamburger Helper—cheap, familiar, kid-friendly and comforting, but this one is secretly high protein which makes it more healthy!

Love easy ground beef dinners? Try our Korean Ground Beef Noodles or Korean Beef Cottage Cheese Protein Bowl next.

My mom was in the depths of motherhood—five kids, a husband traveling a lot for work, and dinner was starting to feel like a burden. Then my grandma called and said, “I have this casserole recipe for you. It’s super easy and cheap to make!”

My mom needed both, and this casserole has been in our family ever since.

Over the years, we’ve figured out how to make it even better: cottage cheese makes the filling extra creamy while adding protein, without making this taste remotely like “health food.”

Ingredients You’ll Need

This high protein ground beef casserole uses simple, affordable ingredients to create a creamy, comforting dinner the whole family will love. Blended cottage cheese adds extra protein and richness while keeping the texture smooth and cheesy.

• Pasta: Tender egg noodles create the classic casserole base and soak up all the creamy, savory flavors.
• Ground Beef: Adds hearty flavor and plenty of protein, making this casserole filling and satisfying.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the flavors throughout the dish.
• Tomato Sauce: Adds moisture, richness, and a subtle tomato flavor that complements the beef perfectly.
• Garlic Salt: Adds savory flavor and helps season the casserole with minimal effort.
• Cottage Cheese: The secret ingredient! Cottage cheese adds creaminess, richness, and a boost of protein without making the casserole heavy.
• Onions: Adds flavor, texture, and a touch of sweetness.
• Cheese: Creates that irresistible cheesy topping and adds even more creamy goodness.

Don’t Like the Texture of Cottage Cheese?

Blend it!

For a completely smooth casserole, blend the cottage cheese for 20–30 seconds before mixing it with the noodles.

If you like the more traditional casserole texture, simply use small-curd cottage cheese straight from the container.

Just like our Korean beef cottage cheese recipe and our Zucchini Pasta recipe taught you- no one will know it’s cottage cheese if you blend it!

For a completely smooth casserole: blend the cottage cheese for 20–30 seconds before mixing it in.

For a more traditional noodle-bake texture: use small-curd cottage cheese straight from the container.

How to Make Ground Beef Noodle Casserole

This casserole comes together in just a few easy steps:

1. Prep: Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the noodles: Cook according to the package directions until al dente, then drain.
3. Brown the beef: Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease.
4. Make the beef sauce: Stir the salt, garlic salt and tomato sauce into the cooked beef.
5. Mix the noodles: Combine the cooked noodles, cottage cheese and diced onion.
6. Layer: Add a layer of the noodle mixture to the baking dish, followed by a layer of the beef mixture. Repeat until everything has been used.
7. Top with cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the casserole.
8. Bake: Cover and bake for about 30 minutes, removing the foil for the final 10 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted.
9. Rest: Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Beef Noodle Casserole Troubleshooting

What to Serve with Beef Noodle Casserole

I love to serve this with a side of garlic bread for sopping up that creamy sauce and then a few fresh side dishes round out the meal perfectly.

• Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
• Green Beans
• Roasted Broccoli
• Fruit Salad

Can I Make Ground Beef Noodle Casserole Ahead of Time?

Yes! That’s one of the best things about a casserole.

Earlier the Same Day

Assemble the casserole, cover it tightly and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.

The Night Before

You can assemble it the night before as well. Because the noodles will absorb some moisture while they sit, you may want to add a little extra cottage cheese to keep the casserole creamy.

When baking it straight from the refrigerator, it may also need a few additional minutes in the oven.

Can I Freeze It?

Yes.

For the best noodle texture, I recommend freezing this casserole for up to 1 month.

To freeze unbaked: Assemble the casserole without the final cheese topping. Cover tightly with plastic wrap followed by two layers of foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, bake covered, then uncover and add the cheese for the final 10 minutes.

To freeze after baking: Cool completely, wrap tightly and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat covered at 350°F until warmed through.

Pasta does soften the longer it stays frozen, which is why I prefer using frozen pasta casseroles within about a month.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or cover a larger portion with foil and warm it in a 350°F oven until heated through.

This creamy ground beef noodle casserole is one of those recipes I keep coming back to because it’s easy, inexpensive and something the whole family will actually eat. The cottage cheese gives an old-fashioned family casserole a creamy, protein-packed little upgrade without messing with everything we loved about the original.

More Favorite Casserole Recipes to Try:

• Cream Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
• Easy Pizza Casserole
• Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
• Harvest Chicken Casserole
• All our Casserole Recipes!

Watch How This Beef Noodle Casserole is Made…