There is something mighty comforting about a simple noodle bake that asks very little of the cook and still comes out hearty enough to fill every plate around the table. This Amish-style ground pork noodle bake leans on pantry basics and plain good sense, with dry fettuccine, crumbled pork, and a few creamy, savory additions baking together in one ceramic pan until supper is bubbling and tender. It is the kind of practical meal that fits right into a Midwestern kitchen, where stretching ingredients and making something satisfying from a handful of staples has always been part of the rhythm of home cooking.
This casserole is plenty rich on its own, so I like to serve it with something fresh and simple such as buttered green beans, cooked peas, or a crisp lettuce salad with a sharp vinaigrette. Warm applesauce is a lovely old-fashioned side if you want to lean into its Amish-country feel, and a slice of buttered bread or a soft dinner roll works well for catching up every bit of the creamy sauce.
Oven Baked 5-Ingredient Amish Ground Pork Noodle Bake
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground pork
8 ounces dry fettuccine noodles, broken in half
1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch ceramic roasting pan.
2. Spread the broken dry fettuccine evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. Crumble the raw ground pork over the noodles so it is distributed as evenly as possible.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, and sour cream until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the pork and noodles, pressing the noodles down gently so they are mostly covered with liquid.
4. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil, stir gently to separate the noodles and pork, then return the pan to the oven uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the noodles are tender, the pork is fully cooked, and the top is lightly browned.
5. Let the bake rest for 10 minutes before serving so the sauce can settle and thicken a bit on the plate.
Variations & Tips
Add a little onion: If you do not mind stepping past the five-ingredient idea, scatter 1/2 cup of very finely chopped onion over the noodles before adding the pork. It gives the bake a deeper savory flavor and tastes especially nice in cold weather.
Use another soup: Cream of chicken or cream of celery both work nicely here if that is what you have in the pantry. Each one gives the casserole a slightly different character, but the method stays just the same.
Break the noodles well: Fettuccine should be broken into shorter lengths so it softens evenly and is easier to serve. If the pieces are too long, they have a way of clumping together in the pan.
Check for tenderness before serving: Oven temperatures and pan depth can vary, so if the noodles are not quite soft after the full baking time, add a splash more broth, cover again, and bake another 10 minutes. This little trick keeps the casserole creamy instead of dry.
Make it a bit richer: A light sprinkling of shredded mozzarella or Swiss over the top during the last 10 minutes of baking makes a lovely browned finish. It is not traditional, but it surely is good eating.