1-2: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish it’s all about setting the stage for success! The whole process takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes, with 15 minutes of prep, making it ideal for busy nights.

3-5: First, cook 8 ounces of egg noodles in salted boiling water until al dente, which takes 5-6 minutes remember to drain them well. In a separate bowl, mix 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 cup of cottage cheese, ½ cup of sour cream, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter for a creamy layer. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet, then brown 1 ½ pounds of ground beef with ½ cup diced onion and ½ medium diced green bell pepper until the meat is no longer pink, and drain the fat.

6-8: Next, stir in 1 (14.5 oz) can of drained diced tomatoes, ¾ cup of condensed tomato soup, and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce into the meat mixture. Now for the fun part: layer half the noodles, half the cheese mixture, and half the meat mixture in your baking dish, then repeat the layers and top with 1 cup of shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until everything is heated through and the cheese melts beautifully. Let it rest for a bit and garnish with fresh herbs if you like!