My neighbor brought this to a potluck once and everyone asked for the recipe. I still can’t believe it only takes 4 ingredients!

This oven baked 4-ingredient Amish beef and noodle casserole is the kind of dish that shows up at church basements, funeral dinners, and small-town potlucks all over the Midwest. My neighbor brought a pan of it to a community potluck years ago, and you could hear the scraping of spoons on the glass dish before I even made it down the line. Everyone wanted to know how something so creamy and comforting could be that simple, and we all did a double-take when she said it was only four ingredients. It’s a true farmhouse-style shortcut casserole: hearty ground beef, tender egg noodles, and a cozy, creamy sauce that bakes up with those browned, bubbly edges we all fight over.

Serve this casserole piping hot, straight from the glass dish, with something fresh and simple alongside: a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or a bowl of cottage cheese and sliced tomatoes, the way a lot of farm tables used to do it. Buttered peas or green beans are especially nice with the creamy sauce, and a pan of warm dinner rolls or buttered bread is perfect for scooping up the extra gravy in the corners. For a real Midwestern-style spread, put out some pickles or pickled beets and a jar of applesauce to round out the plate.

Oven Baked 4-Ingredient Amish Beef and Noodle Casserole

Servings: 6

Ingredients

12 oz wide egg noodles, uncooked
1 1/2 lb ground beef
2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups beef broth

Directions

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