This is one of those super simple recipes that my mom used to make back in the 1960s. It's one of those things that's almost impossible to screw up.
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Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Easy recipe, great for when you're running low on time and energy.
- Noodles Romanoff is especially delicious with roasts, roast chicken, ham, etc. but it's great with meatloaf, too.
- For great pasta you need salted water. Find out how much in the tips below.
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Cheesy, creamy noodles are the perfect side to any main dish.
- An easy recipe, great for when you're running low on time and energy.
- You can prepare it ahead of time and enjoy the leftovers, too.
My mom's noodles Romanoff was one of the my favorite recipes from childhood. Mom made it from scratch - sometimes I secretly wished she'd make the boxed mix from Betty Crocker like everyone else's mom.
When I found her handwritten recipe I knew I wanted to share it with y'all. Now you can enjoy it with your whole family.
Just one bite of this effortless, from-scratch version will send you back to simpler times—even if just for a few blissful moments.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
Did your mom make noodles Romanoff a touch differently? Embrace your childhood again with these variations:
- Switch up the cheese. You can use Pepper Jack, Swiss, or Colby instead of the cheddar.
- Make it a main course. Before baking, stir in cubed ham, cooked ground meat, smoked sausage, canned tuna, or shredded chicken.
- Like it tangy...? Add a little extra sour cream if you prefer.
- ...or rich? 4 ounces of cream cheese makes an extra creamy side dish!
- Sneak in some veggies. Sliced and sauteed mushrooms are tasty in noodles Romanoff. You could also try peas or frozen broccoli florets.
- Don't forget the garnish! Green onions or fresh parsley perfectly finish off the comforting dish. Sometimes, we'll add extra parmesan cheese on top, too—who doesn't want more delicious, cheesy, goodness?
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Mix the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and garlic powder together in a bowl.
- Add the onion, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese. Stir.
- Drain noodles and combine with the cheesy sour cream mixture.
- Spread into a prepared casserole dish, top with remaining cheese, and bake.
🥫 How to store leftovers
This noodles Romanoff recipe stores great in the fridge for up to four days. You'll want to keep the leftovers tightly covered with plastic wrap or in a lidded container.
For extended storage, you can freeze the noodles in a plastic container. They'll last up to three months—if you can resist them for that long!
Thaw the frozen noodles in the fridge before reheating. A few quick intervals in the microwave and you'll have a steaming hot, delicious dish once again.
Try this crockpot chicken and noodles if you're looking for a more substantial dish with ALL the comforting creamy goodness.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: To save time, prep the sour cream noodles in advance. Follow the steps, stopping just before baking it. Cover the dish with plastic or foil and refrigerate for up to two days.
- Noodles tend to soak up liquid, so the dish might get a little dry after storing it. No worries—just add a splash of liquid before reheating. Use whole milk, skim milk, leftover chicken broth, or whatever you've got!
- The best-flavored noodle dishes start with salted water! Add a good tablespoon (or more) of salt to the pasta water for the best results.
- Cook the noodles just to al dente, according to the package directions. They'll continue to soften a bit in the oven, so err on the "less done" side if you're on the fence.
- This is by no means "diet food," and that's what makes it so delicious! However, you can use low-fat versions of the dairy and cheese—if you really want to.
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce, all of the cheese, and the salted pasta water give this dish the perfect amount of salt. You don't need to add any more to the mixture.
👩🍳 FAQs
Sure thing! Though flat noodles are more traditional, the dish will still be scrumptious if you use macaroni, rotini, or whatever else you have.
Yep - you can use whatever pasta you have on hand!
Noodles Romanoff is a cheesy noodle-based side that was super popular back in the 50s and 60s. It used to come in a box by the Betty Crocker brand, but I always preferred when my mom made hers from scratch.
The creaminess of this easy egg noodle dish makes it a perfect side for so many different meals. Try it with a classic meatloaf, Salisbury steaks, or roast chicken. Scroll down for more serving suggestions!
📚 Related recipes
I love comfort food, how about you? Anything creamy, gooey, or cheesy has my undying loyalty. Here are some of my favorites from here on Restless Chipotle.
- Cream Cheese Pasta is an easy dinner favorite that hits the spot on busy nights. Plus, total time from start to finish is less than 15 minutes!
- In a fun twist between two dinner favorites, Angel Chicken Mac and Cheese delivers on heartiness, texture, and, of course, cheesy flavor.
- Combine noodles, chicken, and veggies, and what do you get? A deliciously creamy, comforting, stovetop skillet dinner that everyone loves! Try Old-Fashioned Chicken and Noodles tonight!
- Easy Potatoes Gratin are made right on top of the stove. Gooey, cheesy, and oh-so-creamy!
- Southern Corn Pudding is great as a side dish but you can also add some ham, bacon, or cooked sausage and turn it into a budget pleasing main dish. The texture is creamy and custard-like, a little hard to explain but very addictive.
- Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese is the real deal. Lots of gooey cheese, tender macaroni, and a topping of crispy crumbs.
🍽️ Serve with...
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- medium egg noodles
- cottage cheese
- sour cream
- onion
- garlic powder
- worcestershire sauce
- hot sauce optional
- Cheddar cheese
- large saucepan
📞 The last word
Noodles Romanoff was one of those dishes that I loved to see on the dinner table. I've always been a little addicted to creamy carbs!
My mom used to sprinkle chicken pieces with paprika, salt, and pepper and then broil it until it was fall apart tender with the crispiest skin you can imagine.
She'd put it on the table next to a casserole dish of these creamy noodles and a bowl of salad with Thousand Island dressing nearby.
It was a simple meal but, y'all, there's never been anything I've tasted that tasted better to me than that did!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Mom's Noodles Romanoff
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 8 ounces egg noodles, medium wide or fettuccine - any kind of flat noodles are fine.
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder, or 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed into a paste
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce, optional
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley, optional
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Butter a 2 quart casserole dish.
- Bring salted water to boil in a large saucepan.
- Add the noodles and cook until tender.
- Drain.
- Mix the sour cream, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, cottage cheese, onion, ¾ cup Cheddar cheese, and hot sauce in a large bowl.
- Combine noodles with the sour cream mixture, stirring gently.
- Spoon into the casserole dish.
- Top with ¼ cup reserved Cheddar cheese.
- Bake until heated through and gooey, about 20 minutes.
- Top with fresh parsley before serving if desired.
Notes
- To save time, prep the sour cream noodles in advance. Follow the steps, stopping just before baking it. Cover the dish with plastic or foil and refrigerate for up to two days.
- Noodles tend to soak up liquid, so the dish might get a little dry after storing it. No worries—just add a splash of liquid before reheating. Use whole milk, skim milk, leftover chicken broth, or whatever you've got!
- The best-flavored noodle dishes start with salted water! Add a good tablespoon (or more) of salt to the pasta water for the best results.
- Cook the noodles just to al dente, according to the package directions. They'll continue to soften a bit in the oven, so err on the "less done" side if you're on the fence.
- This is by no means "diet food," and that's what makes it so delicious! However, you can use low-fat versions of the dairy and cheese—if you really want to.
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce, all of the cheese, and the salted pasta water give this dish the perfect amount of salt. You don't need to add any more to the mixture.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published March 12, 2020. Last updated August 21, 2023 for editorial improvements. Recipe remains the same.
AO
I was excited about this recipe and had a love of stouffers noodles romanoff. This recipe is fairly dry - would recommend adding some cream and ,more seasoning. Or just made it incorrectly
Marye
There are a lot of factors when it comes to how creamy or dry something is, including humidity and personal taste. Definitely try adding some milk or cream - I'd start with 1/4 cup.
Deb
Thank you SO much for this recipe!! I absolutely love noodles Romanoff and cried when Betty Crocker and even Stouffer's discontinued it. I made the Betty Crocker version when I was a teenager and loved the leftovers even when cold straight from the fridge...LOL... Have never found a recipe to compare until now.
Marye
Aww I love hearing this!
Kathy Soule
Could I use frozen cooked noodles? Just heat them up and add @ the last 5 miniyrs
Marye
I don't see why not.
Vicky
Well, I'm one of the moms who served BC Noodles Romanoff! It's been years, and I wonder if I would still like them!
Sara
Noodles Romanoff was one of my favorite things in the 60’s. The spices were absolutely perfect in the boxed pasta. When they took it off the market, I was so sad. I have tried to find a recipe for the exact copy and have been looking ever since, but to no avail. I am very happy to see this recipe and will give it a try. You are the first person to mention this noodle dish. We must have had similar Mom’s. Thank you for the recipe.
Marye
I hope it's close to what you are looking for.