Description
Hobo Casserole brings comfort straight from Midwestern kitchens, delivering hearty layers of ground beef and potatoes that’ll warm your soul. Packed with simple ingredients and zero fuss, this classic dish turns weeknight dinners into something special your family craves.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 3 medium-sized Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Creamy and Topping Ingredients:
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10.75 oz)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- French fried onions for topping
- Sliced green onions for garnish (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm your oven to exactly 375°F to prepare for a hearty casserole.
- Grab your skillet and brown 1 lb of lean ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Add ½ cup diced yellow onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Sauté until vegetables become tender.
- Grease a casserole dish and arrange half of your 3 thinly sliced Russet potatoes across the bottom.
- Spread the seasoned beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the potato layer.
- In a separate bowl, blend 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup with 1 cup of sour cream. Season this sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the creamy sauce across the entire casserole surface, ensuring even coverage.
- Layer your remaining potato slices on top of the sauce.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for exactly 45 minutes at 375°F.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and a handful of French fried onions over the top.
- Return the uncovered dish to the oven for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese melts completely.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving, optionally garnishing with chopped green onions or fresh parsley.
Notes
- Always brown the ground beef thoroughly to develop deep flavor and prevent excess moisture in your casserole.
- Choose waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold for better texture and even cooking throughout the dish.
- Drain excess fat after cooking the beef to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy and heavy.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey and use low-fat cream of mushroom soup and reduced-fat cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 to 10
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg