This slow cooker 5-ingredient Amish-style Yumasetti casserole is my default dinner when I’m staring into the fridge and don’t know what to make. It’s a cozy, church-basement kind of meal that tastes like something a neighbor would bring over on a busy weeknight.
Everything goes right into the slow cooker—starting with raw ground beef and a can of cream of mushroom soup spooned over the top—so there’s hardly any prep, and it fills the house with that classic, comforting Midwestern casserole smell.
Slow cooker casserole ingredients arranged on a kitchen counter
Slow cooker casserole ingredients arranged on a kitchen counter
Serve this casserole hot, scooped straight from the slow cooker into bowls or onto plates. It’s wonderful with a simple green salad, steamed green beans, or buttered peas to add a little freshness beside the creamy, hearty noodles and beef. Warm dinner rolls or buttered toast are perfect for soaking up the extra sauce. For a homier feel, set the slow cooker on warm at the table or buffet and let everyone scoop their own, family-style.
Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Amish Yumasetti Casserole
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, raw
1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups beef broth (or water with 1 beef bouillon cube)
12 ounces uncooked egg noodles (about 6 cups dry)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
Spray the inside of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker lightly with nonstick cooking spray to help with cleanup.
Spread the raw ground beef evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker, breaking it up gently with your fingers or a spoon into an even layer. Do not pack it down tightly; leave it a bit loose so it cooks through evenly.
Ground beef spread in the bottom of a slow cooker
Ground beef spread in the bottom of a slow cooker
In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and the beef broth until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine.
Spoon the cream of mushroom soup mixture evenly over the raw ground beef in the slow cooker, just like you’re frosting the top. Make sure all of the meat is covered so it stays moist while cooking.
Creamy soup mixture being poured over ground beef in a slow cooker
Creamy soup mixture being poured over ground beef in a slow cooker
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook the beef and soup mixture on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or on LOW for 4 hours, until the ground beef is fully cooked and no pink remains. If you can, gently break up the beef once or twice during this time with a spoon, stirring it into the sauce.
Once the beef is cooked through, stir the mixture well to break up any larger clumps of meat and to combine everything into a creamy sauce.
Stir in the uncooked egg noodles, making sure they are mostly submerged in the sauce. If the noodles are not covered, add a splash more broth or water, a little at a time, just until they are barely covered.
Egg noodles stirred into the beef mixture in the slow cooker
Egg noodles stirred into the beef mixture in the slow cooker
Cover again and cook on HIGH for 25 to 40 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the noodles are tender but not mushy. Cooking time can vary by slow cooker, so start checking at 20 minutes.
Once the noodles are done, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover and let sit on LOW or WARM for about 5 to 10 minutes, just until the cheese is melted.
