Beef Lombardi Recipe

Beef Lombardi is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring tender ground beef in a savory tomato sauce layered with creamy egg noodles and plenty of melted Colby Jack cheese. This dish is perfect for a satisfying family dinner.

Beef Lombardi

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven and Brown Beef: Preheat your oven to 350˚F (175°C). Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and lean ground beef to the pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onion is softened. Season generously with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
2. Add Tomato Mixture: Add the tomato paste, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, celery salt, and the drained diced tomatoes & chilies to the pan with the beef mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, or until some of the liquid from the tomatoes begins to cook off and the flavors meld.
3. Cook Noodles: While the beef mixture is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the egg noodles and cook for only 3 minutes. This will ensure they are al dente and don’t become mushy during baking. Before draining, reserve 2 cups of the noodle cooking water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
4. Prepare Creamy Noodle Mixture: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, softened cream cheese, cornstarch, and 1/2 cup of the reserved noodle water until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
5. Combine Noodles and Cream: Stir the cooked egg noodles and the remaining reserved noodle water into the cream cheese mixture. Pour this noodle mixture into a greased 9″x13″ deep-sided baking dish. Spread it evenly and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6. Layer Beef and Cheese: Top the noodle mixture evenly with the beef mixture, using the back of a spoon to level it out and ensure each noodle is covered. Sprinkle the 2 1/2 cups of Colby Jack cheese generously over the top of the beef layer.
7. Bake: Bake the Beef Lombardi in the center of the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and begins to brown slightly on top.
8. Serve: Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this comforting and cheesy baked pasta dish!