Grandma’s Ground Beef Casserole

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook the egg noodles or short pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
1 pound egg noodles or short pasta
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are soft.
1 medium onion
1 medium green bell pepper
Stir in garlic granules, salt, and ground black pepper.
½ teaspoon garlic granules
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pour in the tomato sauce and stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer and let the sauce bubble for a couple of minutes.
2 15-oz cans tomato sauce
Stir in the softened cream cheese, making sure it’s completely incorporated into the sauce.
4 ounces cream cheese
Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish (cooking spray is fine) and place the cooked noodles on the bottom.
Pour the meat sauce on top of the pasta and spread it evenly, then sprinkle the shredded sharp Cheddar cheese on top.
1 ½ cups sharp Cheddar cheese
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven, then serve warm.