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Recipe Card: Creamy Festive Noodle Casserole

An elevated American classic featuring sharp white cheddar, earthy sage, and a tart cranberry twist.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword Creamy noddle casserole
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 people
Author Gideon Maina

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 9x13 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.