This hobo casserole is a delicious comfort food meal for a crowd. It has layers of seasoned ground beef and tender potatoes in a creamy sauce with a cheesy and crunchy topping. It's one of those easy meals I'm always making for family dinner, especially during the fall and winter months.
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An Easy Hobo Casserole Recipe With Ground Beef
This hobo casserole with beef has been a go-to comfort meal in my household for as long as I can remember. It's one of those recipes that I messed around with adding a bunch of cheap ingredients I had on hand and made something that actually has an amazing flavor.
I had ground beef but didn't want to make tacos and was looking for something more filling. So I layered the ground beef with some potatoes, a condensed soup sauce, potatoes, and a whole bunch of cheese and baked it in the oven. The result was this delicious hearty hobo casserole!
My family really loves this recipe, and I love that it's fairly easy to make and comes together with ingredients I typically have stocked. So it's the perfect family dinner when you're in a pinch!
Plus, you can really use anything you want as long as you follow the base of this recipe, so feel free to get creative with what you have on hand.
Ingredients You'll Need For This Recipe
Speaking of ingredients, check out what I use to make my hearty hobo casserole with ground beef:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 lbs yellow potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup mozzarella, grated
- 1 (10oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10oz) can cream of celery soup
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup fried onions
Step-by-step Instructions
Now, the steps to make this recipe are pretty easy, especially if you've made any my other casserole recipes. So just follow my directions and you'll have a delicious dinner in no time!
Step 1: Prepare the Base
Before starting the recipe, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Then lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet or oven-safe dish with oil, add the ground beef and break it up evenly. Season the hamburger meat with salt and pepper.
Step 2: Layer the Potatoes
Peel and slice the potatoes into thin rounds. Try to cut them all to the same size so they cook evenly.
Then arrange them in layers over the seasoned beef, ensuring they’re spread evenly across the meat.
Step 3: Add the Cheese
Now sprinkle the grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the potato layer. If you want, feel free to add more cheese because more cheese is always better!
Step 4: Mix the Sauce
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, milk, all-purpose seasoning or any seasoning you have on hand, and the Worcestershire sauce. Give it all a good whish until it looks like the picture below.
Now spoon this mixture over the cheese layer, spreading it out evenly so it covers the entire surface of the casserole.
Step 5: Bake and Finish
Before baking, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the oven.
Bake it for 90 minutes, then remove the foil and sprinkle crispy fried onions on top. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the onions are golden and extra crispy. Serve the finished casserole hot and enjoy!
Expert Tips To Make The Best Hobo Casserole
- Use a mandolin for the potatoes: To get evenly sliced potatoes, use a mandolin slice. This will help the potatoes cook evenly since they'll all be the same size. It's also way easier than slicing the potatoes by hand, trust me
- Cover the casserole when baking: Covering the oven-safe dish with foil will trap the steam in and it's what cooks the potatoes so they're fork tender.
- Add a crunchy topping: The crispy fried onions add a delicious crunch to the casserole. If you don't like French's fried onions, you can also add a mixture of Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs and butter on top.
- Check for doneness: When the baking time is up, you'll want to check to see if the potatoes are fork-tender and the beef is cooked through. All dishes bake differently, so you might need to add some more time.
Hobo Casserole Recipe FAQS
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the casserole a day ahead and store it in the refrigerator covered with the aluminum foil. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge. You'll know it's done when the cheese is super melted.
Can I substitute the ground beef?
Absolutely! Ground turkey, chicken, or even a meatless alternative like black beans or a plant-based meat can work well in this recipe.
How do I store and reheat leftovers?
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Then to reheat, transfer everything back to a casserole dish and warm in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions in 30-second increments.
More Comfort Food Casseroles
- Sausage casserole
- Cheeseburger casserole
- One pan cheesy meatball casserole
- Chicken pot pie casserole
- John Wayne casserole
Hobo Casserole Recipe
This hobo casserole is a delicious comfort food meal for a crowd. It has layers of seasoned ground beef and tender potatoes in a creamy sauce with a cheesy and crunchy topping. It's one of those easy meals I'm always making for family dinner, especially during the fall and winter months.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 lbs yellow potatoes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup mozzarella, grated
- 1 10oz can cream of chicken soup
- 1 10oz can cream of celery soup
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon all purpose seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 12 cup fried onions
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a lightly greased 10” cast iron skillet, add the ground beef and break it up evenly across the surface. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Peel and slice the potatoes, then arrange them in layers over the seasoned beef.
4. Sprinkle grated cheeses evenly over the potato layer.
5. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the canned soups, milk, all-purpose seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.
6. Spoon this mixture over the cheese layer, spreading it out evenly with the back of a spoon.
7. Cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the oven. To prevent any spills, place a baking sheet on the rack below.
8. Bake for 90 minutes.
9. Once done, remove the foil and sprinkle fried onions evenly on top.
10. Broil for 2-3 minutes until golden and crispy. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 904Total Fat: 47gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 1745mgCarbohydrates: 85gFiber: 6gSugar: 9gProtein: 34g
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