Go Back

Poor Man's Husband Casserole

Poor man's husband casserole is a budget-friendly baked dinner layered with spaghetti, seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce, and a creamy cheese layer. It bakes until bubbly with a golden mozzarella crust and sets with a short rest for easy scooping.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground beef and tomato sauce
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion small, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 pepper to taste
Cream cheese layer and casserole assembly
  • 8 oz spaghetti cooked
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 0.25 cup green onions sliced
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 9x13 baking dish

Method
 

Prep and bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef with the diced onion, then drain the fat.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Pour in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Mix the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and sliced green onions until smooth.
  6. Layer the cooked spaghetti in the greased baking dish and spread the cream cheese mixture over the noodles.
  7. Top with the beef sauce.
  8. Scatter the shredded mozzarella over the top.
  9. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

To get clean slices, let the casserole rest the full 5 minutes so the cheese layer firms up. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3–4 days; reheat in the oven or microwave until hot. Freezing is not recommended for the best texture. For a lighter option, use low-fat cream cheese and sour cream while keeping the same layering method.