Description
Hearty Hobo Casserole blends ground beef, potatoes, and comforting flavors into a soul-satisfying midwestern classic. Generous layers of simple ingredients create a wholesome meal that delivers rustic charm straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 3 medium-sized Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 cup (226 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Optional: sliced green onions
- Optional: chopped fresh parsley
Binding and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 (10.75-ounce/305 grams) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup (227 grams) sour cream
- French fried onions for topping
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Heat a large skillet and thoroughly cook ground beef until no pink remains, carefully breaking meat into small, uniform crumbles. Drain excess fat and incorporate diced onions, green bell peppers, and garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and aromatic.
- Create a creamy sauce by whisking condensed mushroom soup with sour cream until smooth. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and optional herbs to enhance the flavor profile.
- Thinly slice potatoes using a mandoline or sharp knife, creating consistent ⅛-inch rounds. Arrange potato slices in overlapping layers across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, seasoning each layer lightly.
- Distribute the seasoned beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the potato foundation. Pour the creamy sauce across the top, ensuring complete coverage of the meat and vegetables.
- Generously scatter shredded cheddar cheese over the casserole. Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, monitoring the cheese to prevent excessive browning. If needed, tent with aluminum foil during the final cooking stage.
- Sprinkle crispy French fried onions over the melted cheese surface. Return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to achieve a golden, crunchy topping.
- Allow the casserole to rest and settle for 10 minutes after removing from the oven. Optionally garnish with freshly chopped green onions or parsley for a vibrant finish before serving.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of this comfort dish.
- Swap out regular potatoes for sweet potatoes or cauliflower to make a low-carb alternative that still delivers incredible flavor.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or gruyère to add unexpected depth and complexity to the casserole.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace condensed cream of mushroom soup with homemade cream sauce and use gluten-free fried onions as topping.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg