Main Dishes

Hill Country Casserole

Name: Hill Country Casserole
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp olive oil; 1 clove garlic; 1 lb. ground venison (or beef); Salt and ½ tsp pepper; 2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce; 1 (8 oz.) pkg. small egg noodles; 1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened; ½ c sour cream; 6 green onions, chopped; ½ lb. cheddar cheese, shredded

From the kitchen of John & Terri April

Ground venison connects this dish directly to the hunting traditions of NE Ohio, where deer season is a cultural event as much as a practical one. Families with German roots — like the Aprils — brought a tradition of making full use of game animals, and venison in a hearty noodle casserole is a natural expression of that. The Hill Country of the title gestures at the rolling terrain of northeastern Ohio itself.

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Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 lb. ground venison (or beef)
Salt and ½ tsp pepper
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (8 oz.) pkg. small egg noodles
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
½ c sour cream
6 green onions, chopped
½ lb. cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

Sauté garlic in oil. Add meat and brown. Add salt, pepper, and tomato sauce. Simmer 20 minutes.
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Place noodles in greased 13×9" casserole dish.
In a bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, and green onions. Put on top of noodles.
Add meat mixture and top with cheddar cheese.
Bake uncovered at 350° for about 30 minutes.

💡 Tip: Great with ground venison from a family hunt, but any ground meat works well.