Description
This Hobo Casserole Ground Beef is a hearty, nostalgic comfort food meal that brings together layers of seasoned meat, tender potatoes, and gooey cheese in one pan. It is a simple “dump and bake” dinner where the oven does all the hard work, resulting in a bubbling, creamy dish that feels like a warm hug. With a savory creamy sauce and a crispy fried onion topping, this satisfying casserole is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 medium yellow potatoes
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese, freshly grated
- 1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10 ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup French’s fried onions
Instructions
Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Layer the Beef
Lightly grease a 10-inch cast iron skillet (or deep baking dish). Add the lean ground beef to the bottom, breaking it up and spreading it out evenly. Season the raw meat generously with salt and pepper.
Layer Potatoes and Cheese
Peel the yellow potatoes and slice them into thin, even rounds (about 1/4 inch thick). Layer the slices over the ground beef. Sprinkle the freshly grated Colby Jack cheese evenly on top of the potatoes.
Make the Sauce
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, milk, all-purpose seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and combined.
Top the Casserole
Pour the soup mixture over the cheese layer, using the back of a spoon to smooth it out so it covers the dish evenly.
Bake
Cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil. Place it in the oven (place a baking sheet on the rack underneath to catch any potential drips). Bake for 90 minutes.
Broil
Remove the skillet from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Sprinkle the French’s fried onions evenly over the top. Place the skillet under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the onions are golden brown.
Serve
Garnish with green onions or parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
Raw Beef Method: Yes, the beef goes in raw! The long cooking time (90 minutes) ensures the beef cooks thoroughly while its juices flavor the potatoes, and the foil traps the steam to keep everything moist.
Uniform Slicing: For the best texture, slice your potatoes evenly. A mandoline slicer is a great tool for this. If the slices are too thick, they may not be tender after 90 minutes.
Drip Protection: This casserole is bubbly! Always place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack directly below your skillet to save yourself from scrubbing burnt cheese off the bottom of your oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 515
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: hobo casserole, ground beef potato casserole, easy dump dinner, cast iron recipes, comfort food, hamburger casserole, weeknight family meals