Casseroles from the 1950s & 60s - Beef Noodle Casserole Recipe - Venture1105 (2024)

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This delicious beef noodle casserole will feed your entire family on the cheap! Get the complete recipe here.

This beef noodle casserolerecipe is honestly from the 1950s. I know, cause I got it from a book that isn’t in print anymore. You can find used copies ofthat cookbook on Amazon.com. (That is my affiliate link. I earn a portion of the sale at no extra cost to you).

2020 Update: There isn’t a publishing date anywhere inside the cookbook that I could find. I did some research and guessed it was published in the 1950s. Turns out, it was published in 1967. Fascinating! (I admit when I am wrong). I’ll be updating the text in this recipe to reflect this new knowledge.

I made 2 versions of the recipe. Here is the first version:

I didn’t exactly like how that picture turned out, so I rephotographed it. You can see the new pictures below.

Both times, I followed the recipe exactly – except for the olives. I can’t stand olives. I’m sorry, I had to omit them.

So what did I think of this recipe? Read on to learn where I found it, how I made it, and what I thought.

An Authentic Recipe from the 1960s

A little while ago, I purchased a cookbook at a garage sale. It was a gem of a find! In the 1960s, a bunch of US Military Officer wives compiled a collection of their favorite casseroles! There are over 200 of them inside and I am going to share one casserole with you each week! (You can buy used copies of the cookbook here on Amazon).

Can you tell I am excited?

This week’s recipe is insanely easy – Beef & Noodle Casserole.Let me know what you think! Did you make this for your family?

This is the finished product. Not the most photogenic casserole ever. But you can just see all the flavors that fill the plate! And you can see the fiber and veggies inside too.

Beef Noodle Casserole – from the 1960s

The entire recipe is at the bottom of this post. It’s incredibly simple and feeds 12 people! I’m not even exaggerating. Here is a picture of the recipe from the cookbook:

One of my favorite things about this cookbook are the bylines. It gave me a little peep into the social constructs of the 1960s. The women are not listed by their names, but by whom they are married to. I wish I knew who Mrs. G. C. Powell is, but I’m so glad she submitted this recipe. It’s delicious!

The First Step – Brown the Beef, Onion & Peppers

Not much different here. I’ve made quite a few recipes by browning garlic, onion, peppers and ground beef together. Simple! I personally enjoy adding garlic to this mixture, but I wanted to follow the recipe and see how it turned out. Honestly, I think it is missing the garlic.

The best non-stick skillet I have ever used is this GreenPan ceramic skillet. It’s super easy to clean!

Next Step – Mix All The Ingredients

Honestly, I did not use creamed corn. I used a can of corn kernels. This was at the request of my husband. I’ve made this one time before with creamed corn. When you mix it up with creamed corn it looks like a ton of liquid in the dish. Thankfully, the liquid does indeed cook out and it comes out tasting amazing! Just bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes! Done!

Creamed corn or corn kernels? This is up to you. I couldn’t tell much difference either way. The texture of whole kernels really is enjoyable, but the creamed corn isn’t bad either.

Final Thoughts – Is it Good?

Wow! Surprisingly, it came out alright! The liquid baked out and the flavors were subtle but very popular with my little children. Yes, it’s a bit bland….I might add more spices to it next time. But it’s a great recipe for lots of different palates.

Everyone ate it up!! It really does serve 12 people. If you have a crowd coming over for dinner, fix this dish. It doesn’t come out very pretty – the presentation is unexpected. But it is so filling and all the flavors are subtle. Feel free to add your favorite spices to the dish.

Tips to Make it Better

The flavors are so subtle, it needs something added to it. For the sake of this post (sharing an authentic recipe from the 60s) I didn’t make any changes. But I would personally add some garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and a lot more cheese.

You ready for the recipe? Here’s a printable version! Don’t forget to pin this post to Pinterest and share it with your friends. Thank you!

Casseroles from the 1950s & 60s - Beef Noodle Casserole Recipe - Venture1105 (10)

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

A large, easy casserole that will feed the entire family. It's from a cookbook that was published in the 1950s.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces noodles
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped fine
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 8oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 pound cheddar cheese, chopped fine or shredded
  • 1 8oz can creamed corn

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Boil noodles, drain, set aside.
  3. Brown beef, onion and green pepper, add salt and pepper
  4. In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients
  5. Pour into 2-3 quart casserole dish
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 283Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 335mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 21g

More Casserole Recipes:

  • Enchilada Pork Casserole
  • Cheesy Chili Lime Pasta Bake
  • Upside Down Chili Pie

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Casseroles from the 1950s & 60s - Beef Noodle Casserole Recipe - Venture1105 (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

Why were casseroles popular in the 1950s? ›

Casseroles provided affordable sustenance during the Depressions of the 1890s and 1930s and the shortage of food items during both World Wars. In the 1950s, the widespread use of oven-proof cookware and canned foods made casseroles a simple, quick and inexpensive way to feed the whole family.

What decade were casseroles popular? ›

Cooking in earthenware containers has always been common in most cultures, but the idea of casserole cooking as a one-dish meal became popular in the United States in the twentieth century, especially in the 1950s when new forms of lightweight metal and glass cookware appeared on the market.

What does the binder of a casserole do? ›

The binder, a liquid that holds the other ingredients together. – Fat-free milk, broth, fruit juice, soup, eggs, or a thickened Béchamel/White sauce.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

What is a 9 by 13 casserole dish? ›

The average 9x13 rectangular baking dish holds 3.5 to 4 quarts. However, the number of quarts varies based on how deep the dish is—some of our deeper recommendations hold up to 5 quarts. Recipes that cook in a 3-quart dish or Dutch oven can be cooked interchangeably in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

What was cooking like in the 1950s? ›

1950s Dinners

You'd find hearty main dishes like Salisbury steak, beef stroganoff and meat loaf on a '50s dinner menu, plus scrumptious sides. Casseroles were also popular, particularly those featuring seafood or ham.

What is the oldest traditional dish? ›

Nettle Pudding

Originating in 6000 BCE, England; it is the oldest dish of the world that's rich in nutrients. Nettle pudding is made with stinging nettles (wild leafy plant), breadcrumbs, suet, onions, and other herbs and spices.

What goes first in a casserole? ›

Meat know how

If you coat it too early, the moisture in the meat absorbs the flour and spoils the texture of the casserole. Begin by browning the meat or chicken, separately, before adding vegetables, liquids and herbs. This seals in the juices and adds flavour.

What ingredient is used as an extender in a casserole? ›

Carbohydrates/starch - add substance/body; used as an extender; add energy through carbohydrates. Undercook rice and pastas so they can continue to cook during the baking process. Vegetables - add contrast in color, texture and adds nutrition. The binder is the sauce, which holds ingredients together.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

What are the 5 components of cooking? ›

The aim is to make the 5 steps of cooking – preserving, preparing, cooking, dishing up and washing up – straightforward and consequential.

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

What are the five components of a dish? ›

Here's an introduction to balancing the five key flavours in your cooking. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami are five taste elements that build our overall perception of flavour.

What are the basics of a casserole? ›

There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole.

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