Description
Hearty hobo casserole brings comfort straight from classic American kitchens, blending savory ground beef with simple, satisfying ingredients. Warm layers of potato, meat, and cheese promise a delicious meal that will quickly become your family’s new favorite dinner staple.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Optional: Garlic powder
- Optional: Paprika
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 375°F (190°C), ensuring an optimal cooking temperature for the casserole.
- Transform ground beef and diced onions in a skillet, sautéing until the meat achieves a rich, caramelized brown color and excess fat is eliminated.
- Craft a creamy binding sauce by whisking cream of mushroom soup with milk, creating a smooth and cohesive liquid component.
- Construct the initial foundation of the casserole by arranging a strategic layer of sliced potatoes across the bottom of a greased baking dish.
- Distribute the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly over the potato base, ensuring comprehensive coverage and balanced flavor distribution.
- Generously sprinkle a portion of shredded cheese across the beef layer, adding a preliminary hint of dairy richness.
- Replicate the layering process by adding another set of potato slices, followed by the remaining ground beef and a secondary cheese application.
- Delicately cascade the prepared soup mixture over the assembled layers, using a spatula to guarantee uniform coverage and moisture integration.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil, protecting the ingredients during the primary baking phase and promoting even cooking.
- Bake the covered casserole for 50-60 minutes, allowing potatoes to tenderize and flavors to meld harmoniously.
- Unveil the casserole by removing the foil and crowning it with the remaining cheese, creating a golden, molten surface.
- Return the uncovered dish to the oven for a final 10-minute transformation, enabling the cheese to melt into an irresistible, bubbling crust.
- Allow the casserole a brief resting period, permitting flavors to stabilize and ensuring clean, appetizing serving portions.
Notes
- Customize the protein by substituting ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- Use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes to boost nutritional value and add a subtle sweetness to the dish.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding minced garlic, dried herbs like thyme or rosemary, or a dash of Worcestershire sauce during beef cooking.
- Make it gluten-free by using cornstarch or gluten-free cream of mushroom soup to replace traditional cream soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg