Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brown Ground Beef: Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain off excess grease.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Prepare Macaroni Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine cooked macaroni, sour cream, and cottage cheese.
- Layer Casserole: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half of the macaroni mixture, half of the meat sauce, and half of the cheese. Repeat layers.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.
- Serve: Let cool slightly before serving.