Description
Hobo Casserole is a comforting and hearty oven-baked dish featuring layers of thinly sliced Russet potatoes, savory ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and a creamy mushroom sauce topped with cheddar cheese and crispy French fried onions. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole combines simple ingredients into a delicious, warming meal.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 to 3 medium-sized Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Dairy and Canned Goods
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Toppings
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- French fried onions (for topping)
- Optional toppings: sliced green onions, chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.
- Add Vegetables: Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground beef.
- Sauté Vegetables: Cook the mixture until the vegetables are softened and fragrant. If the mixture is too dry, add ¼ to ½ cup of water to keep it moist.
- Prepare Cream Sauce: In a separate bowl, mix together the condensed cream of mushroom soup and sour cream until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Layer Potatoes: Arrange the thinly sliced potatoes in two even layers at the bottom of the greased casserole dish. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
- Add Meat Mixture: Spoon the cooked ground beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the layered potatoes.
- Pour Sauce: Distribute the cream of mushroom and sour cream mixture evenly over the meat and vegetables layer.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the entire casserole evenly.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Add French Fried Onions: Remove the foil and evenly sprinkle French fried onions on top of the casserole.
- Bake until Golden: Return the casserole to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, until the onions become golden brown and crisp.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven, let it cool for a few minutes, then garnish with sliced green onions or chopped fresh parsley if desired.
- Serve: Slice, serve warm, and enjoy this comforting hobo casserole with your family or guests.
Notes
- Thinly slicing the potatoes helps them cook evenly within the baking time.
- If you prefer, you can substitute cream of chicken soup instead of mushroom soup for a different flavor.
- Adding a bit of water to the cooked beef mixture prevents the casserole from drying out.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
