The first thing some people will say when they see this Easy Three-Layer Beef Casserole, because it always happens is: “this can’t really be an Amish recipe, it has cream of mushroom soup in it! Or “this can’t be an Amish recipe, it has a can of tomato soup”. But, Amish cooking, I have learned over the years, it is really very different from place to place. This Best Beef Noodle Casserole is very typical of Midwestern Amish cooking. For some reason, in the Midwest, post World War II processed foods like canned soups, boxed cake mixes, and other convenience foods really caught on in Amish kitchens. I have found this embracing of processed foods to be less of the case among the Amish in Pennsylvania. I’m not quite sure why that is. Now, Amish cooks can be very inventive in how they use these processed foods. And this casserole is one such way
The second thing people might say when they see Easy Three-Layer Beef Casserole is "Gee, this is similar to so many other casseroles posted here." Yep. I've said before these types of recipes a dime a dozen in Amish kitchens, but so, so popular and often there are just the most minor variations in them, but all the different versions are worth trying!
Easy Three-Layer Beef Casserole is a delicious, easy, hearty supper which is a layer of soupy beef base, a layer of noodles, and then more soupy beef mix all topped with cheese! I didn't count the cheese as a fourth layer, but, sure, bury it in cheese.
Also, I should say that not every Amish person would use this exact recipe version. Some Amish cooks, for instance, would never use store-bought tomato soup, they'd use their own. Ditto for the noodles. But for a quick convenience casserole, this recipe could be made using all store-bought stuff: cream of mushroom soup, canned tomato soup, bought noodles...totally up to you and the amount of the bought foods would vary from Amish kitchen to Amish Kitchen.
For the noodles, use store-bought or if you are very ambitious, just make these four-ingredient homemade noodles. That is what you see above.
For the beef, you can use a package of store-bought ground beef. But most Amish do butcher their own beef and they'd probably use "chunked beef" in this more than ground beef. So if you want to give the casserole a more authentic air, buy some chunks of stew meat and use that.
This casserole's base is a delicious beef and onion flavor. Most Amish homes would do a beef butchering once a year, or they would have a family member that does their own. The beef is usually locally sourced, not bought from the store. And this locally sourced meat is often super tender and delicious. There’s a little bit of butchery type knowledge that the Amish maintain so they know which cuts of meat are the best, you rarely see anything being wasted on steer butchering day.
The tomato soup adds super flavor throughout.
Above is the soupy-beefy mix of tomato soup, cream of mushroom and beef.
Then you bury it with cooked noodles.
Now you spoon the rest of the mixture over the top of the noodles.
Top with cheese. To me, you can never have too much cheese.
The casserole is so good, pairs well with summer corn on the cob. A few of the noodles on the very top will crisp up in the baking, but I like that. I like a little crisp on top of a casserole like this.
🥘 Easy 3-Layer Beef Casserole
- 1 lb. beef chunks or ground beef
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 can tomato soup
- 1 lb. egg noodles
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
📋 Instructions
- Saute chopped onion in olive oil.
- Add beef.
- Cook well.
- Add can of tomato soup undiluted.
- Cook egg noodles according to directions on package.
- Drain well.
- Add can of cream of mushroom soup, undiluted.
🥘 More Delicious Amish Casseroles
Amish Country Casserole - A classic!
Amish Ham Casserole - Delicious!
Big Beefy Montana Casserole- A giant among casseroles!
Comfort Casserole - You can never go wrong with rice!
🖨️ Full Recipe
Easy Three-Layer Beef Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. beef chunks or ground beef
- 1 chopped onion·
- 1 can tomato soup
- 1 pound egg noodles·
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Saute chopped onion in olive oil.
- Add beef.
- Cook well.
- Add can of tomato soup undiluted.
- Cook egg noodles according to directions on package.
- Drain well.
- Add can of cream of mushroom soup, undiluted.
- Grease casserole dish.
- Place ½ of beef mixture in bottom of casserole.
- Add ½ of noodle mixture.
- Put rest of beef on noodles.
- Add remaining noodles.
- If desired, sprinkle paprika lightly over top of noodles.
- Bake in 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly.
Debbie
I've made something similar to this for about 45 years now, but it also has Velveeta cheese in it. I hated Hamburger Helper, so I would make this for my kids, and they loved it! They are in their 40s now!
Cynthia
Hi Kevin. This recipe looks very good, but the instructions are confusing. You indicate "uncooked noodles" in the description, but the recipe calls for cooked egg noodles. Then in the recipe, it sounds as if the cream of mushroom soup is added to the (cooked) noodles. That does not match the photos. Can you clarify? Thanks!
Kevin Williams
Sorry, Cynthia, there was a typo, bury with cooked noodles is what it should be, hopefully more clear now!
Terri Copley
Please clarify, you item by item recipie says cooked noodles, "Cook egg noodles according to directions on package.", However, the story instruction say uncooked, "Then you bury it with uncooked noodles."
So which should it be?
Kevin Williams
Sorry, Terri, typo! I fixed it, should be cooked noodles, bury in cooked noodles, thanks for pointing that out!
Carmen
For those interested in Amish style recipes there's a fabulous cookbook - "Mennonite Community Cookbook" by Mary Emma Showalter. My mother-in-law gave me a copy over 30 years ago and I have used it like crazy. If you can get your hands on a copy you won't regret it.
Kevin Williams
That cookbook is a classic, Carmen, good recipes!
Sue LaPointe
Sorry to be so dense but I am confused by the way the instructions are listed. The mushroom soup and the tomato soup are both mixed in with the ground beef correct?
Kevin Williams
Correct, Sue!