Jackie Kennedy’s Casserole Marie Blanche
First lady Jackie Kennedy is reported to have served this easy, delicious Casserole, Marie Blanche, during her time in the White House.
🍽️ Recipe Name: Jackie Kennedy’s Casserole Marie Blanche
⏰ Ready In: 45 minutes
⏳ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes
👥 Serves: 12
🥕Main Ingredients: Egg noodles, cottage cheese, cream cheese, chives, butter.
🍳 Special Equipment: Casserole dish
⭐ Why You’ll Love It: A rich, creamy vintage casserole recipe that is easy enough for weeknights but perfect for potlucks and holiday tables.
👇 Full measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.
After the Kennedy era, LBJ became known for a very different kind of comfort food with his famous Texas chili recipe.
History of Casserole Marie Blanche
My Mom made this easy, tasty side dish at least once or twice a year. When I asked my Mom if she still had the recipe, she couldn’t find it.
I knew the basic recipe but could never find a reference for it online. It finally appeared in 2018.
In my research, I’ve found many stories. Mrs. Smith is the contributor on one site. Mrs. Fowler and family on another.
Most attribute it to Jacqueline Kennedy; the majority say she served it at a private dinner in 1961 for her brother-in-law and sister, Prince and Princess Radziwill.
Who knows, but it is good. What the real story is, the world may never know.
It is basically a slimmed-down version of the French dish that is covered in a white sauce.
What you need
- egg noodles – cooked in water or broth, according to package directions
- sour cream
- cottage cheese – 1 container
- salt and white pepper or black pepper
- butter
- fresh chives – snipped
How to Make Casserole Marie Blanche
- Boil egg noodles over medium heat according to the package directions. Drain.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.
You can mix it in the casserole that you will bake it in, or add it to a large bowl to combine the noodles with the remaining ingredients. Then, pour the mixture into the casserole.
Dot the top with small pieces of butter. Bake at 350°F until the top is golden brown, and everything is bubbly! Serve immediately. This is definitely best served immediately. Leftovers tend to be a bit dry.
If you love easy, vintage casseroles like this, you’ll want to try this Spaghetti Casserole, made with leftover ham or turkey. Here’s another vintage recipe, these waffles were said to be JFK’s favorite breakfast.
Important Notes
The recipe card below has the original recipe and ingredients. Be sure to read the notes section. I’ve perfected the original recipe.
- I use only 1 pound of noodles instead of 1½ pounds.
- I increased both the cottage cheese and sour cream amounts to 2 cups each.
- Us 4% milk fat cottage cheese for the best flavor.
- The butter is generally over 1 tablespoon. Dot the top evenly with butter.
Optional ingredients and substitutions
- Sauté onion and substitute for chives
- Add broccoli, asparagus, or other green vegetables
- Sauté mushrooms and add to the mixture
- Cook noodles in chicken stock for extra flavor
- Add garlic powder or onion powder
- Sprinkle top with paprika just before serving
If you’re in the mood for something with a little more kick, this Mexican noodle casserole brings that same cozy feel with a bold, cheesy twist. If you love easy sides like this Casserole Marie Blanche, give this hashbrown casserole a try.
What Main Dishes to Serve with Casserole Marie Blanche
Other Vintage Recipes
If you enjoy recipes like this, here are a few more vintage favorites worth trying.
This vintage casserole Marie Blanche has a creamy, comforting taste
Vintage recipes are fun, aren’t they? I love finding the history of the foods we eat!
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Tools I Use to Make Casserole Marie Blanche
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Mrs. John F. Kennedy’s Casserole Marie Blanche
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound egg noodles, cooked and drained (original recipe : see important notes below!)
- 1 cup cream style cottage cheese (original recipe : see important notes below!)
- 1 cup sour cream (original recipe : see important notes below!)
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon Pepper
- 1/3 cup chive snipped or chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F Combine the cooked noodles, cottage cheese, sour cream. salt, pepper, and chives. Pour into a buttered 2 quart casserole and dot with the 1 tablespoon butter.1 ½ pound egg noodles, cooked and drained, 1 cup cream style cottage cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 1/8 teaspoon Pepper, 1/3 cup chive, 1 Tablespoon Butter
- Bake about 30 minutes, until noodles begin to brown and casserole is hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.
- See notes below for important notes. I increase the cheese and sour cream and decrease the noodles!
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Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published October 19, 2016. Updated May 11, 2024.
Made Jackie Kennedy’s casserole Marie Blanche for the first time. I was almost 11 years old when JFK began his term as President and, to this day at 74 years old, remember those three years of his presidency. I was absolutely delighted at how good the casserole turned out. It was so good. I used a 4% minimum milkfat cottage cheese and blended it until it was a nice creamy texture. I used 1 pound of egg noodles and increased the cottage cheese and sour cream to 1 1/3 cups each. I also increased the butter to about 2 tablespoons. I had it as a main dish with fresh string beans on the side. I will be making this on a regular basis. Yum!
We’re so glad that you liked it Stephen!
I’m going to try making this casserole for my girlfriend’s lunch. It sounds delicious 😋
It’s really good! Let us know how you like it, Pat.
Thank you for this lovely recipe. I am planning to make it this weekend and know it will be a perfect creamy pasta dish that will compliment whatever else we cook alongside. Thanks again for sharing and keeping my kitchen life exciting and diverse.
You are very welcome, Margarita! Be sure to read my notes in the recipe card. I deviate from the original recipe amounts a bit.
Great side dish
Thanks so much Sweeney Mary Ellen! We appreciate the rating.
I discovered I only had 1 cup of cottage cheese on hand instead of the two cups the recipe called for.I decided to substitute with 8 ounces of cream cheese and it turned out great. I also sprinkled panko crumbs on top of the bits of butter on top. This dish is a winner!
That would make it creamy. Glad you liked it, Donna!
I loved it’s creaminess
I love it too! Thank you for the comment and rating!
Hi! I was wondering if you could add cooked burger to the mixture before baking it? Having it all together instead of the meat on the side! Thanks!!
Of course. You could add beef, chicken, even cooked pork. We love this as a side dish for ham so even cubed ham would work!
Oh, great idea! I am going to try this with ground beef! I think my family will love it! Thanks!!
Ground beef is a great idea. It’s also good with ham and poultry. Thanks Angie!
I believe the “creamy” cottage cheese that the Jacki O recipe had in it may have been Quark Cheese, a German version of cottage cheese from what I was told. EarthFare (similar to Whole Foods) that use to be here in Ohio, had it. It was recommended to me as part of a cancer protocol. When I couldn’t find it, I would use cottage cheese and use my inversion blender to get it creamy. I am Hungarian and can’t wait to try this. I am making it for Easter! I am sorry some people just have to be nasty sometimes in some of the replies. Love some of the suggestions for versions also. My best to all!
Thanks so much Chris! I appreciate you! It probably had Quark. My mom made this every year for Easter. It goes quite well with ham.
5 STARS
Thanks so much Yvonne! We appreciate you!
My Slovakian grandmother who spoke no English made this when I was a child in the 50’s; it’s comfort food. The only difference is she added browned butter. The rich nutty flavors brings out the sharpness of the cottage cheese. Highly recommend that browned butter be added.
That’s an interesting take. I bet it is good!
why was my casserole gritty? i made it exactly as the recipe was written. The taste was wonderful but the texture was not smooth.
The cottage cheese has chunks in it. If you want it smooth, you can whip the cottage cheese in a food processor to make it smooth! Be sure to use my notes and use less noodles and more cottage cheese than are stated in the recipe card.
Noodles, beans, and bagged pasta have dirt or small stones, even the one claiming to be prewashed. Which is why you see ‘beans, sorted” in some recipes. You put your beans on a sheet pan and shake at an angle, so beans roll down and twigs and dirt stay up top.
I suspect it’s the same here. I put uncooked noodles in a sink of water, or large bowl so any dirt is left behind before adding to the pot. Rinsing after cooking isn’t recommend as it removes starch that give the sauce foothold instead of sliding off.
I’ve certainly had stones in beans before, but never pasta. That’s interesting.