Description
Comfort meets convenience in this French Fry Casserole that delivers pure satisfaction straight from your kitchen. Crispy frozen fries get layered with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, creating a hearty dinner that brings smiles to your family’s faces.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
Supporting Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Seasoning and Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 0.5 cup sour cream
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cups frozen French fries
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Add 1 small diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the beef, cooking for 6-8 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika over the meat mixture.
- Pour 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and ½ cup sour cream into the skillet, stirring until the sauce becomes smooth.
- Allow the meat mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes, developing rich flavors.
- Transfer the entire meat mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Scatter 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese over the meat layer.
- Arrange 3 cups of frozen French fries in a single layer across the top of the cheese.
- Slide the casserole into the 375°F oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until fries turn golden and edges bubble.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the casserole lighter and suitable for different dietary needs.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle crushed potato chips or breadcrumbs over the French fries before baking.
- Choose thick-cut frozen fries for the best texture, as they’ll hold up better during baking and won’t get soggy.
- If your family prefers spice, add a dash of hot sauce or sprinkle red pepper flakes into the meat mixture for a kick.
- Prep Time: 8-11 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 510 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg