In the heart of American home cooking, few things evoke the feeling of “home” quite like a casserole. It’s the dish that appears at every potluck, the tray that gets dropped off at a neighbor’s house, and the star of the table during the busy holiday season.
But for the holidays, we aren’t just making a standard noodle bake. We’re making a Creamy Festive Noodle Casserole with a Holiday Twist. This isn’t your average weeknight dinner; we’ve elevated the flavors with earthy sage, bright cranberries, and a golden, buttery herb topping that shatters perfectly under your fork. It’s a dish that feels like a warm hug on a cold December night.
Recipe Card: Creamy Festive Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
🛒 Ingredients
- The Noodle Base
- 12 oz Wide egg noodles
- 2 cups Sharp white cheddar shredded (freshly grated melts best!)
- ½ cup Sour cream
- ½ cup Dried cranberries
The Creamy Sauce
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1 Small yellow onion finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- ¼ cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cups Whole milk
- 1 cup Chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp Fresh sage finely chopped
- To taste: Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- The Herbed Topping
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Butter melted
- 1 tsp Fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
🥣 Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish (or use a large oven-safe skillet).
- Boil: Cook egg noodles in salted water for 2 minutes less than the package instructions (al dente). Drain and set aside.
- Sauté: In a large pan, melt 4 tbsp butter. Sauté onion until soft (5 mins). Add garlic and sage; cook for 1 minute.
- Thicken: Whisk in flour for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and broth. Simmer until thickened (about 3–5 mins).
- Melt: Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and cheddar cheese until smooth.
- Combine: Fold in the cooked noodles and dried cranberries. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into your baking dish.
- Top: In a small bowl, mix panko, melted butter, thyme, and parmesan. Sprinkle over the noodles.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until the topping is golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.
Notes
📊 Estimated Nutrition (Per Serving)
| Calories | Total Fat | Sodium | Total Carb | Protein |
| 485 | 26g | 520mg | 42g | 18g |
💡 Baker’s Notes
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble this casserole (without the topping) up to 24 hours in advance. Add the panko topping just before sliding it into the oven.
- Protein Boost: Add 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover holiday turkey to make it a hearty main course.
- Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth to keep this dish 100% vegetarian-friendly.
Why This Casserole Works
The secret to a truly great noodle casserole is the balance of textures. Too often, they can become a singular, mushy experience. This recipe solves that with three distinct layers:
- The Base: Wide, silky egg noodles that hold onto the sauce.
- The Sauce: A velvet-smooth blend of sharp white cheddar and aromatics.
- The Twist: A pop of tartness from dried cranberries and the crunch of toasted panko mixed with fresh thyme.
It’s a “one-pan” wonder that manages to be both sophisticated enough for a holiday spread and simple enough for a tired Monday evening.
The Ingredients: Choosing Your “Festive” Flavors
- The Noodles: We use extra-wide egg noodles. Their broad surface area is designed specifically to be coated in creamy sauces.
- The Cheese: I recommend a Sharp White Cheddar. It provides a sophisticated tang that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the festive herbs.
- The Aromatics: Fresh sage and thyme. During the holidays, these scents are the backbone of American cooking—reminiscent of stuffing and roasted turkey.
- The Crunch: Instead of the traditional crushed crackers, we use Panko breadcrumbs tossed in melted butter and garlic powder for a lighter, more modern finish.
The Recipe: Creamy Festive Noodle Casserole
- Prep time: 15 mins
- Bake time: 25 mins
- Total time: 40 mins
- Servings: 6–8
Ingredients
- 12 oz Wide egg noodles
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1 Small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- ¼ cup All-purpose flour
- 2 cups Whole milk
- 1 cup Chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 cups Sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Sour cream (for that signature tang)
- ½ cup Dried cranberries (The Holiday Twist!)
- 1 tbsp Fresh sage, finely chopped
- Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
For the Topping:
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Melted butter
- 1 tsp Fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ cup Grated parmesan
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Boil the Noodles
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the egg noodles in a large pot of salted water until they are just shy of al dente (usually about 2 minutes less than the package directions). They will finish cooking in the oven, and this prevents them from getting mushy!
2. Sauté the Aromatics
In a large oven-safe skillet or saucepan, melt the 4 tbsp of butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent (about 5 mins). Stir in the garlic and fresh sage, cooking for just 1 minute until the fragrance fills your kitchen.
3. Build the Roux & Sauce
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and whisk for 1–2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Slowly pour in the milk and broth, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Make it Cheesy
Remove from heat. Stir in the sour cream and the shredded white cheddar until melted and glossy. Fold in the cooked noodles and the dried cranberries. Season generously with salt and pepper. [invalid URL removed]
5. Add the Crunch
In a small bowl, toss the panko, melted butter, thyme, and parmesan. Sprinkle this evenly over the noodle mixture.
6. Bake
Place the skillet (or transfer to a 9×13 baking dish) in the oven. Bake for 20–25 minutes until the edges are bubbly and the topping is a deep, golden brown.
Festive Noodle Casserole
| Amount | Ingredient |
| 12 oz | Wide Egg Noodles |
| 2 cups | Sharp White Cheddar |
| ½ cup | Dried Cranberries |
| 1 cup | Panko Breadcrumbs |
| 1 tbsp | Fresh Sage |
Chef’s Tip: To make this a full meal, fold in 2 cups of shredded leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken before baking!
Final Thoughts: Sharing the Joy
This Creamy Festive Noodle Casserole is more than just a recipe; it’s a celebration of the season’s best flavors. The tart cranberries against the sharp cheddar create a “holiday twist” that will have your guests asking for the secret ingredient.
It’s simple, it’s nostalgic, and it’s the perfect addition to your holiday table.