Poor Man's Casserole Proves That Cheap, Simple Ingredients Can Be Decadent And Delicious

When it comes to comfort food, few dishes deliver like a classic casserole — bubbling, cheesy, and filling enough to feed a crowd without breaking the bank. That's the idea behind poor man's casserole — an easy lasagna bake that blends egg noodles, ground beef, cream cheese, and tomato sauce that's topped with, you guessed it, cheese. It's hearty and endlessly flexible, and one of those meals that hits the spot every time. You may know it by this moniker: poor-man-husband casserole, another old-fashioned name for a delicious dinner that's been around for generations.

Poor man's casserole is a throwback to the Great Depression, where casseroles not only helped families make it through the week, but churches and synagogues served them frequently. Those Depression-era potlucks (and soup kitchens) were a source of comfort and connection, inspiring community and company (like Campbell's) cookbooks. They featured variation upon variation of a poor man's meal — a casserole of cut-up hot dogs cooked with onions and potatoes. Eventually, ground beef joined the party, and canned goods — especially condensed soups — were bound together with eggs and cheese. By the 1950s, cream cheese found a forever home in casseroles. And just like that, creamy egg noodle lasagna came to be. Create your own version with these easy ground beef casserole recipes and use whatever noodles you like. 

Just because a poor man's casserole is cheap doesn't mean it can't be exciting. The beauty of this dish is its flexibility — a basic formula that can be transformed with a few simple tweaks. Start with the starchy base: pasta (especially broken pasta) works beautifully, but consider tater tots, too. They provide extra crunch, and they're the star of the show in cowboy casserole, another beefy delight. It's a spicier version of hot dish, the classic casserole Midwesterners love. Bind everything together with a sauce, like a homemade béchamel, can elevate any lasagna casserole while keeping costs low.

Finish it all by combining shredded cheese with crushed crackers, melted butter, and as much dried Ranch dressing powder as you like. This makes an unforgettable crumbly casserole topping that works on broccoli casserole, too. Add egg noodles and cream cheese, and this iconic broccoli side dish is now a full-on meal.

Lastly, look to your refrigerator. Leftover vegetables, especially celery, carrots, onions, peppers, and tomatoes, are great options. Cook them first to release their extra moisture and to give your casserole creations even more color and flavor. Bake it all at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it's golden, brown, and delicious.