The Family Will Love This Delicious Hamburger Noodle Hotdish

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Hearty, yummy, and ready in 30 minutes

I'm making this hamburger noodle hotdish tonight. I love the term "hotdish." This recipe is made in one pot, so the cleanup is easy, too. It's a simple, cozy supper that reheats really well, so we will probably make at least two meals from it, and maybe a lunch for the two of us.

The word originated in the upper Midwest, particularly Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakotas, by solid old Lutherans like my relatives who immigrated here from Denmark. We need to start using this cozy word more here in Nebraska!

I'm a first-generation American, the daughter of immigrants. My folks came here in the early 1950s, about when this word came about. It is a wonderfully descriptive but non-specific term for a casserole-like comfort food meal. The word even made it into Wikipedia.

Hotdish is usually made from simple, affordable, and easily available ingredients and can be made in large, family-size portions if needed for a church potluck. Tonight, let's be honest. I am not in the mood to make supper. It happens, especially when cooking for two. It can get boring.

Why You Will Love Hamburger Noodle Hotdish

Even if you start with rock-hard frozen hamburger, as I have done, this hamburger noodle hotdish is ready fast! Defrosting one pound of hamburger only adds about eleven minutes to thaw in the microwave. Believe me, I have learned that process well! It's perfect for those days when supper sneaks up on you! Oh my, is it 5:30 again already?

When Papa was growing up, the biggest meal was served at midday, often followed by a little snooze before heading back to the field. Looking back, it was a pretty darn good plan!

Supper was served when the day's work was done. I absolutely love Alfred Eisenstaedt's wonderful old photos. He artfully captured the essence of hard-working men and women of the last century.

I kind of swoon to see these old black-and-white pictures. White bread and margarine with every meal. Notice the hot coffee with their dinner and those aluminum tumblers! Oh my stars, I can still feel the cold metal zapping against my teeth!

But I have to tell you something. I still vividly remember what it felt like in my hot, sticky kitchen on the farm before we had air conditioning. So, I'm in awe of how hard women worked to put that kind of meal on the table three times a day!!

And I'm extremely grateful today for a cool kitchen, a dishwasher, a microwave oven for defrosting, and non-stick cookware!

This Simple Meal Starts With One Pound Of Hamburger

This is super quick and easy to make in a non-stick skillet with a tight-fitting lid! I love my Pampered Chef Chop and Mix tool. It breaks up ground beef or sausage or, heck, lots of things beautifully. It's one of my favorite kitchen tools! It's been redesigned since I took this picture, and I love the new shape just as much!

Brown and season the hamburger, draining any excess grease. This recipe uses seasoned salt, pepper, instant minced onion, garlic powder, and parsley —but if your family likes it seasoned differently, feel free to do that!

Next, stir in a can of cream of mushroom soup (jokingly also called "Lutheran binder"), water, and beef-flavored Better Than Bouillon for a deep, rich flavor. Stir well.

I ALWAYS have Better Than Bouillon on hand and love every flavor they offer! This product also comes in a low-sodium version, and low-sodium condensed soup is also an option if that is a concern for you.

If you have time and prefer to make your own sauce, that's great, too!

Add The Noodles And Simmer Until Tender

I chose medium egg noodles because they cook quickly and evenly without boiling them first! I love that about this recipe. If you use thicker or wider noodles, you may need to add more water and give it a little more time to cook.

One more tip: Make it into hamburger noodle stroganoff by stirring in some sour cream.

My husband loves canned peas. It's a nostalgia thing for him. They were one of only three vegetables he would eat when I married him. He's come a long way! Sometimes, when I'm really lazy, I put the drained peas right into the hamburger noodle hotdish, just long enough to heat them through.

This recipe will make plenty for supper and plenty to reheat for lunch tomorrow. (He still has a young appetite!) One of the best things about this recipe is that it reheats beautifully. The welcomed leftovers (I call them plan-overs) are wonderful.

Before I started working from home, I'd pack a smallish serving in a wide-mouth pint jar and microwave it for lunch the next day!! Love it! I think your family will love it too!

Hamburger noodle hotdish is a complete meal, but why not whip up a batch of muffins from a box and add some cool, crisp baby carrots?

Hamburger noodle hotdish is not the prettiest food, so I suggest serving it with a nice green vegetable for a more attractive plate. I wish Papa liked broccoli, but I settled for peas again. Sigh.

We go out to eat very little, so I have some fast recipes I often fall back on. I think you'll love my One-Pot American Goulash and Easy Runza Casserole, too!

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Yield: 6 servings

Hamburger Noodle Hotdish

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Here's a speedy and simple hamburger noodle hotdish made in one pan. It's delicious comfort food in a hurry. Easy enough for weeknights.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• One pound ground beef
• 2 Tbsp instant minced onion
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 2 tsp minced garlic from a jar
• 1 1/2 cups of medium egg noodles, uncooked
• One heaping Tbsp Better Than Bouillon roasted beef base.
• 2 cups water
• One 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Seasoned salt and seasoned pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup sour cream, optional if you want more of a stroganoff flavor
• Dried parsley for color, optional

Instructions

1. Brown and season the ground beef with the instant minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Add water, bouillon paste, salt and pepper, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and mushroom soup. Stir to blend.
3. Add uncooked noodles and stir them in well.
4. Cover the skillet tightly and simmer for twenty minutes. Check every ten minutes or so, stirring and adding a little water if needed.
5. If desired, carefully fold in the sour cream and serve hot.

FAQs

What is hamburger noodle hotdish?

Hamburger noodle hotdish is an old-fashioned, filling meal made with ground beef, noodles, and a flavorful sauce. Unlike many baked hotdishes, this easy version comes together in a skillet.

Can I make hamburger noodle hotdish ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare it ahead, cover it, and refrigerate it. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a small splash of water if the noodles seem dry.

How should I store leftover hamburger noodle hotdish?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or warm the hotdish gently in a covered skillet.

This meal would be great with my wonderful zucchini muffins and a piece of pig pickin' cake for dessert!

If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps others find my recipes- because you are exactly the kind of cooks I write for!

Love GB (Betty Streff)

Real food. Real kitchen. Real easy.

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