Noodle Casserole

What's For Dinner? Noodle Casserole

This is a basic recipe for Noodle Casserole that can be adapted many ways. I will list some variations a little further down.

This is another in my series of recipes dedicated to Moms who work at a paying endeavor in addition to doing Mom duty pretty much 24/7. I am past that, thank God! Not that I didn't love it when my children were around, I did.

When I was in the thick of it, I kept a notebook of recipes that were simple, quick, and easy on the budget. I know that there are a lot of gourmet cooks and "foodies" on the web. This series is not for them, Instead this is for Moms with no time, career people with no time, or anyone with no time or desire to spend any significant time in the kitchen. 

Now even though my kids are grown, Noodles are a staple in my house. Quick, and endless variations. Budget conscious, and everyone likes them. And Noodle Casserole can be varied in so many ways, you can serve it often and no one will think you are repeating. Gotta love the genius of that!

Just make sure you have some different forms of Noodles around and I even like to mix more than one kind in a recipe. Gives it more visual interest. Enjoy!

 
Ingredients

8 oz. Noodles, whichever you like best, cooked and drained
(More than one kind is okay too)
I can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup of Sour Cream
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
A little bit of Milk

8 oz. of canned Tuna
or Cooked Meat

Directions for Noodle Casserole

Quick Easy Casserole

Prepare the Noodles by boiling in some salted water to your desired tenderness.

Drain the Noodles and place in an oven going casserole dish.

Next add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Add some grated Cheese, or Paprika or Bread crumbs on top.

Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 20 minutes or so.

Serve and Enjoy!

Noodles for Noodle Casserole
Buy Noodles in Bulk to Save Money, Gas, and Time

 Barilla Thick Spaghetti Pasta, 16 Ounce (Pack of 20) Mama Thai Tom Yum Flat Rice Noodle 50g X 6pcs

& 

Soup for Noodle Casseroles
Buy Groceries Online to Save Money, Gas, and Time

 Campbell's Condensed Soup, Cream of Mushroom, 10.5 Ounce (Pack of 4) Pacific Foods Organic Cream of Mushroom Condensed Soup, 12-Ounce Carton, 12-Pack

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Noodle Casserole Variations

Easy Noodle Casserole Recipes

1. First off, you can vary the Meat.
Tuna and Ground Beef both work very well for this recipe.
Canned Chicken, Canned Salmon, Sliced Hot Dogs, Sausage, and even Chopped Bacon all work too.

2. You can also make it without Meat for Vegetarians.
As a substitute, I have used 2 cups of cooked Squash and some grated Cheese.
Or Beans of any kind and Cheese.

3. Add cooked Spinach to any variation.
4. Add cooked Tomatoes to any variation.
5. Add cooked Potatoes to any variation.
6. Add Mushrooms to any version.

7. Vary the spices for different flavors. I like to add Curry Powder for an Oriental version, or Herbs de Provence to give it a French flair. Add Chili powder and Tomatoes with Cumin and Chilies and it's Mexican. Add Garlic and Onion if you want, and for Italian, add Thyme and Basil. Add some wine and you can call it gourmet.

One of my favorite versions is with Chicken and Herbs de Provence...with a little cooked Squash, Garlic, Onion, and baked with Monterey Jack Cheese on top.

8.You can vary the soup too. I sometimes use Cream of Chicken, or Cream of Celery works for some people.( Have to confess I'm not one of them!) When I double the recipe I always use a combination, in which case my favorite is Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken. Some people love Cream of Potato on everything. I live in Ireland so you probably would not be surprised to learn that is a favorite around here. 

To make it extra rich you can add some Cream Cheese. It will take longer to cook however...and you have to stir it before serving. 

I have also made it with half Rice, half Noodles in all the variations.

You can really let your imagination run wild on this one and all you have to keep around the house are Noodles, canned ingredients of your choice, and some Sour Cream.

Yum!

Oodles of Noodles Poster
Noodles for the Noodle Casserole Recipe?

My Favorite Noodle Casserole Variations

Quick Easy Noodle Casserole Recipes

Tuna, Cream of Mushroom, Curry Powder

Chicken, Cream of Chicken, Squash, Curry Powder or White Wine

Ground Beef, Cream Of Mushroom, Potatoes, Red Wine

Ground Beef, Tomato Soup, Corn, Green Chilies

Ground Beef, Cream of Potato or Mushroom , Spinach, Herbs de Provence

 
My Best Quick Cooking Tip 
For Busy People

Make a list of 15 easy meals.
Cook a new meal every day for
15 days, and then start over.
No one will remember the last
time you made it.

More Quick Easy Recipes are here: Quick Easy Recipes

More Quick Kids Meals are here: Quick Kids Meals

You might also like:

 Amish Broccoli Salad Spinach Casserole Elegant Chicken Salad

& 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.

Mini Burgers

What's For Dinner? Mini Burgers

Everyone loves burgers, especially children, and especially these little Mini Burgers. They are very easy to make with stuff you probably have around in your kitchen. And there are lots of recipes that direct you to use special pans or buy special mini Hamburer buns. Well this recipe for Mini Burgers doesn't do that. No, it's way easier than that.

This is another in my series of recipes dedicated to Moms who work at a paying endeavor in addition to doing Mom duty pretty much 24/7. I am past that, thank God! Not that I didn't love it when my children were around, I did. 

When I was in the thick of it, I kept a notebook of recipes that were simple, quick, and easy on the budget. This is one of them.

I know that there are a lot of gourmet cooks and "foodies" on the web. I hope you aren't one of them because this series is not for them!  

Instead this is for Moms with no time, career people with no time, or anyone with no time or desire to spend any significant time in the kitchen. 

This recipe is great for everyone and is super quick. Have fun eating the Best Mini Burgers!

Image: Mini Burgers ready to eat!

Ingredients of the Best Mini Burgers

Canned Biscuits, or use a mix
or use Dinner Rolls, even easier
1 Pound of Ground Beef
Condiments

Directions for the Best Mini Burgers

Make the Biscuits, cool slightly, and split in half. Yep, that's it. No need to make Mini Burger buns when you have canned Biscuits or Biscuit Mix! If you had foresight and picked up Dinner Rolls they work too.

Form small patties out of the Ground Beef. I use an ice cream scoop and then flatten the patties.

While the Biscuits are baking, cook the Hamburger in a skillet, with Salt and Pepper. For children, that is probably enough seasoning. For adults, I like to add some minced Garlic and Onion.

Substitute Sirloin and you get Sirloin Mini Burgers. Substitute Ground Turkey and you get Turkey Mini Burgers.

When the Meat is done, assemble the Burgers by placing a Meat Patty in each Biscuit.


Serve with condiments. Mini Burgers, Oh Yeah!

Buy Biscuit Mixes Online

Biscuit Mix is good to have around for cooking emergencies.

 Pioneer Brand Buttermilk Biscuit and Baking Mix, 6 Ounce (Pack of 12) Bisquick Complete Biscuit Mix, Buttermilk, 7.5 Ounce, (Pack of 9)

& 

A Hamburger by any other name 
costs twice as much.
~Evan Esar

Mini Burger Pans

As Seen on TV

Well they took an old classic idea and ran with it and now there are Mini Burger pans and whole kits so you can have perfect Mini Burgers! Oh my, not a Bread crumb or Meat Patty out of place. Not necessary at all, but here are some helpful Mini Burger pans.

 Norpro Nonstick Cast Aluminum Mini Burgers Sliders Grill Pan with Nonstick Press Norpro Mini Burger Press

& 

My Best Quick Cooking Tip for 
Busy People

Make a list of 15 easy meals.
Cook a new meal every day for
15 days, and then start over.
No one will remember the last
time you made it.

Repeal Murphy's Law Apron

You Can Cook, You Can!

Repeal Murphy’s Law Apron by NotNormal
Browse other Repeal Aprons

More Quick Kids Meals are here: Quick Kids Meals

More Quick Easy Recipes are here: Quick Easy Recipes

You might also like:

 No Cook No Bake Cookies Easy No Bake S'mores Pie No Bake Chocolate Nut Cookies

& 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.

Chicken Surprise

What's For Dinner? Chicken Surprise

You may wonder about a recipe called Chicken Surprise. Well I made up the recipe, and the name, for this little concoction that all children seem to love. Here is the story of Chicken Surprise.

When my kids were very small they loved mashed potatoes. They loved them so much that while eating they would put the potatoes all over their other food.

One day I came home with 2 little hungry toddlers and looked in the refrigerator for inspiration. The only thing staring back at me was a bowl of left over mashed potatoes. Next I tried the pantry and all I had was soup and canned fruit. Obviously shopping was overdue...

A bell went off in my brain and I heated up the potatoes, heated up some cream of chicken soup, piled the potatoes on their plates and used the cream of chicken soup like a gravy and poured it all over them. Since you couldn't see the potatoes, I called it "Chicken Surprise."

They loved it, mostly for the name, I think.

That worked so well I put the fruit over some frozen orange juice and called it "Fruit Surprise."

After that we had lots of surprise meals, and I learned that kids will eat anything with the word "surprise" in the title. (Parents, take note)

Read on For Even More Quick Tips to this Chicken Surprise recipe.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

Cream of Chicken Soup
Mashed Potatoes

Variations: 
Use Cream of Mushroom Soup
Use Rice or Pasta
Instead of Potatoes
and/or
Melt Some Cheese in the Soup

Directions for Chicken Surprise

Use real potatoes...or if you must, use frozen. I do not advocate using boxed. There are just too many additives.

It's not hard to boil some potatoes in water, drain them, and mash. I usually add milk and butter, salt and a tiny bit of pepper. Or use a steamer to make it faster and easier.

Open the soup and make it with less liquid than the recipe calls for...to keep it a little thick, like a gravy. Heat it up.

To serve, put potatoes on plate and pour a generous amount of the soup all over them. Enjoy!

Original Recipe © 2008 by Heather Burns

Chicken Surprise Made with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Buy Cream of Chicken Soup Online

Cream of Chicken Soup is great to have around for so many things that I consider it a staple and I like to buy it in bulk. You can use it for gravy, for the base of many soups, and as a sauce.

 Campbell's Cream Of Chicken Soup, 10.75 oz, 6 pk Pacific Foods Organic Cream Of Chicken Condensed Soup, 12-Ounce Carton, 12-Pack

& 

My Best Quick Cooking Tip
For Busy People

Make a list of 15 easy meals.
Cook a new meal every day for
15 days, and then start over.
No one will remember the last
time you made it.

Repeal Murphy's Law Apron

You Can Cook, You Can!

Repeal Murphy’s Law Apron by NotNormal
Browse other Repeal Aprons

More quick kids meals and recipes are here: Quick Kids Meals

More quick easy recipes are here: Quick Easy Recipes

You might also like:

 No Cook No Bake Cookies Easy No Bake S'mores Pie No Bake Chocolate Nut Cookies

& 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.

Quick Kids' Meals

Quick, What's For Dinner?
Some Super Quick Kids' Meals

If you have kids, you need some Quick Kids Meals in your repertoire, because sometimes they want it now! So this is my an introduction to my series of recipes dedicated to Moms who work at a paying endeavor in addition to doing Mom duty pretty much 24/7.

I am past that, thank God! Not that I didn't love it when my children were around, I did. But when you are still in that stage, you need Quick Kids' Meals!

When I was in the thick of it, I kept a notebook of recipes that were simple, quick, and easy on the budget. I know that there are a lot of gourmet cooks and "foodies" on the web. These recipes are not for them. Instead this is for Moms with no time, career people with no time, or anyone with no time or desire to spend any significant time in the kitchen. If that describes you, these might just be your new favorite recipes. Enjoy!

Image: An Egg Salad Sandwich using healthy bread and leaf lettuce

Quick Cooking Tip
Make the Meal More Fun!

Use nice dishes. Even simple
food looks more elegant
served on nice dishes. It
only takes a minute and
adds pizazz.

Quick Kids' Meals

When your children are small, they really don’t care about fancy cooking, and they usually don’t care for spicy food either. So why knock yourself out? Keep it simple.

And think about it. When you are out and decide to stop for a bite to eat, what do they want? Hamburgers, hot dogs, and fast food. So why not give them the same things at home where you can feed them foods made with fresh ingredients. Add a salad, a bit of fruit, and they are getting some balance. It’s quick, and they are happy.

And really, when adults are in a hurry to eat, they grab fast food too. But you can cook the same thing at home for a lot less money, and it will be fresher too.

Also, don’t overlook breakfast foods for dinner. Eggs and Bacon taste just as good at night as they do in the morning. Ditto Pancakes and Waffles.

Quick Cooking Tip

If you are in a super hurry,
any sauce you put on Noodles
can also be put on Bread, or
Toast. Faster and easier.
No water, no pan.
Less clean up.

11 Really Quick Kids' Meals

For Emergencies (They Want Food Now)

Mini-burgers*
Noodle Casserole*
Eggs and Bacon
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Spaghetti
Hot Dogs
Pancakes or Waffles
Little Pizzas*
Tuna Sandwiches
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Chicken Surprise*

* Recipes Listed Below or Linked 

Repeal Murphy's Law Apron

You Can Cook, You Can!

Repeal Murphy’s Law Apron by NotNormal
Browse other Repeal Aprons

Recipe for Little Pizzas

Ingredients: 

English Muffins, or Bagels, or Bread

Spaghetti Sauce or Pizza Sauce 

Grated Cheese

The easy way to make little pizzas is to use English Muffins, Bagels, or even toast if that's all you have. Toast the halves of the English Muffins, Bagels or slices of Bread lightly and top with Spaghetti Sauce from a jar, or Pizza sauce from a jar, and grate Cheese on top. Bake in a 350 degree oven or a toaster oven just long enough for the Cheese to melt. Simple, quick, and good. Most kids love these. Even adults love them. Great for football parties too. Or if you have unexpected guests. Keep Spaghetti sauce around as it is a staple! Over Noodles you have Spaghetti, another quick kids meal! 

Buy Pizza Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce Online

 Prego Regular Spaghetti Sauce - 3 pk Don Pepino Pizza Sauce, 15 Ounce (Pack of 12)

& 

Keep it Healthy

Raw food has more vitamins and
minerals. Always have a side salad.
It adds to your vegetable quotient
and makes the meal seem more
substantial and elegant. And it's
easy. Just buy a packaged salad,
add dressing, and toss.
Dresses up any meal.

Microwave Ovens are Not Healthy For You!
Use a Convection Oven Instead

Twice as fast as a regular oven, and better for you...Even though you're in a hurry, you want to keep you and your loved ones healthy, right? With a Convection Oven, you get fast and healthy in one package. Don't believe me about the microwave oven? Google "microwave safety concerns."

 Cuisinart TOB-200 Rotisserie Convection Toaster Oven, Stainless Steel Oster Large Capacity Countertop 6-Slice Digital Convection Toaster Oven, Black/Polished Stainless, TSSTTVMNDG

& 

My Best Quick Cooking Tip
For Busy People

Make a list of 15 easy meals.
Cook a new meal every day for
15 days, and then start over.
No one will remember the last
time you made it.

Want More Simple Recipes?

Some Quick Easy Cookbooks

 5 Ingredient Cookbook: Easy Recipes in 5 or Less Ingredients (Quick and Easy Cooking Series) Simple & Delicious Cookbook: 242 Quick, Easy Recipes Ready in 10, 20, or 30 Minutes

& 

More Quick Easy Meals
If You Have No Idea What to Make

These days it's easy to find quick easy meals online and here's a great thing I discovered. You can put in your ingredients and ask Google to give you a recipe with those ingredients. For example, let's say I have cake mix and apples and I want a dessert using those 2 things. Go over to google and type this: "apples and cake mix recipe." You will get several to choose from. Or try potatoes and milk. Or potatoes and soup. Or hamburger and soup. Try it, you will be amazed how easy it is. 

I even taught my husband how to do this so he could still cook if we forget to go to the store and have little to choose from in the pantry. Yes, I even have it easier than before when I used to cook quick easy meals, as my husband gets hungry before I do so now he cooks. How cool is that? I told him "I don't make dinner, I make money..." and he was okay with it. Yes, I am so lucky!  

More Quick Kids Meals

Quick Easy Recipes for Kids (and adults)

Just Click the Links

Mini Burgers

Chicken Surprise

Noodle Casserole

You might also like:

 No Cook No Bake Cookies Easy No Bake S'mores Pie No Bake Chocolate Nut Cookies

& 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.