This dish is made for guests.

It’s in the name!

The ground beef is nicely seasoned and absorbs some of the marinara sauce mixture, too.

Southern Living Company Casserole in the baking dish ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Together it resembles a really easylasagna.

Ingredients

Cooking spray

1(12-oz.)pkg.

uncooked extra-wide egg noodles

1(8-oz.)pkg.

Southern Living Company Casserole ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

)sweet onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1small(7 oz.

)bell pepper, chopped (about 3/4 cup)

2largegarlic cloves, chopped (about 2 tsp.)

)jar marinara sauce

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Gather all ingredients.

Southern Living Company Casserole spraying the baking dish with cooking spray

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Preheat oven to 350F.

Lightly coat a 13- x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.

Southern Living Company Casserole cooking and draining the egg noodles

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add noodles; cook according to package directions for al dente.

Remove from heat, and drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.

Return noodles to pot; stir in cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream until fully combined.

Southern Living Company Casserole adding the rest of the ingredients to the noodles

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Gently stir in reserved cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Fold in 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese.

Transfer to prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer.

Southern Living Company Casserole spreading the noodle mixture in the prepared baking dish

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high.

Spread beef mixture in an even layer over pasta mixture, and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

Southern Living Company Casserole cooking the ground beef and vegetables

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Loosely cover baking dish using aluminum foil.

Garnish with parsley before serving.

Bake loosely covered with foil as directed, removing to melt the cheese.

Southern Living Company Casserole simmering the ground beef mixture with the tomatoes

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Avoid overbaking, which could dry out the casserole.

Southern Living Company Casserole adding the ground beef mixture to the dish and sprinkling with cheese

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Company Casserole in the baking dish ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox