Description
Hearty hobo casserole blends rustic comfort with simple ingredients, creating a satisfying meal that warms hearts and fills hungry bellies. Families will savor this classic one-pan wonder, packed with ground beef, potatoes, and delicious seasonings that promise pure culinary comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3–4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
Dairy and Sauce:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Extras:
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for greasing the dish)
Optional Garnish:
- Chopped parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Heat a skillet over medium flame and thoroughly brown the ground beef, breaking it into crumbly fragments.
- Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the meat, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Season the beef mixture with salt and pepper, then carefully drain any accumulated grease.
- Whisk together cream of mushroom soup, milk, and Worcestershire sauce until the mixture reaches a silky, uniform consistency.
- Create the first potato layer across the bottom of the baking dish, ensuring an even distribution and a light seasoning of salt and pepper.
- Distribute the seasoned ground beef uniformly over the potato foundation.
- Gently cascade half of the soup mixture across the meat layer, spreading it to create complete coverage.
- Arrange the remaining potato slices as a second layer, overlapping slightly for complete dish coverage.
- Pour the final portion of soup mixture over the potatoes, ensuring thorough and even distribution.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil and slide into the preheated oven.
- Bake for 45 minutes, then remove the foil and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the surface.
- Return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly crust.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onions for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize meat options by substituting ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Choose waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold for better texture and even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to the beef mixture for deeper taste dimensions.
- Make it gluten-free by using cornstarch instead of cream of mushroom soup or selecting a gluten-free cream soup alternative.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg