Description
This hearty Hobo Casserole combines savory ground beef with tender sliced potatoes, creamy mushroom soup, and melted cheddar cheese for a comforting one-dish meal. Easy to prepare and perfect for a family dinner, it’s layered and baked to golden perfection, delivering warm flavors and satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
Dairy and Soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prep Ingredients: Peel and thinly slice the russet potatoes, dice the onion, and shred the cheese if not pre-shredded, ensuring all components are ready for layering.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned. Season the meat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder during cooking for enhanced flavor.
- Drain Grease & Mix Soup: Once the beef is cooked, drain any excess grease. In a separate bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup with milk until you achieve a smooth mixture.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease your baking dish to prevent sticking and help with easy cleanup.
- Layer Ingredients: Start by layering half of the sliced potatoes evenly on the bottom of the dish, then add half the diced onions, followed by half the browned ground beef, and spread half of the soup mixture on top.
- Repeat Layers & Add Cheese: Repeat the layering process with the remaining potatoes, onions, beef, and soup mixture. Finally, sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top layer.
- Cover & Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Uncover & Finish Baking: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Rest & Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes to set before serving, allowing the flavors to meld and making it easier to slice.
Notes
- Use thinly sliced potatoes for even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Drain excess grease after browning the beef to prevent a greasy casserole.
- Substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup if desired for a different flavor.
- For added vegetables, consider adding diced bell peppers or mushrooms to the beef mixture during cooking.
- Let the casserole rest before serving to improve texture and slicing.
