Description
This Easy Hobo Casserole is a comforting and hearty one-dish meal featuring seasoned ground beef, thawed hash browns, creamy mushroom soup, and plenty of cheddar cheese baked to bubbly perfection. Perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight dinner, it comes together with simple ingredients and requires minimal prep time.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Liquid & Dairy
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the casserole.
- Cook Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef along with the diced onion for about 6 to 8 minutes until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease to keep the casserole from becoming too oily.
- Season Meat Mixture: Season the cooked beef and onion mixture with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Mix Casserole Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the thawed hash brown potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, and 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir in the seasoned ground beef and onion mixture until everything is thoroughly mixed.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread the casserole mixture evenly inside. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top for a cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes to set before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired for a fresh touch.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or cream of celery for a different flavor.
- Add frozen mixed vegetables or green beans to the mixture to make the dish more filling and colorful.
- This recipe works well with ground turkey or sausage as alternative proteins.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
