Description

This hearty Hobo Casserole with ground beef is a comforting one-dish meal featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, sliced potatoes, creamy mushroom soup, and melted cheddar cheese, baked to golden perfection. Perfect for family dinners, it combines simple ingredients into a flavorful, satisfying casserole that’s easy to prepare and sure to please.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 lb ground beef

Vegetables

4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced

Dairy & Canned Goods

1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Spices & Herbs

1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Brown the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook until fully browned, then drain excess fat to keep the casserole from being greasy.
Sauté vegetables: In the same skillet, sauté diced onion, carrots, and celery until they become slightly softened but still retain some texture.
Layer ingredients: In the prepared baking dish, layer the sliced potatoes, followed by a layer of the cooked ground beef, then the sautéed vegetables, and spoon over some cream of mushroom soup. Repeat the layering process until all ingredients are used, finishing with a top layer of potatoes.
Add cheese and cover: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer of potatoes. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture during baking.
Bake the casserole: Place the covered casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese is golden, bubbly, and the potatoes are tender.
Rest and garnish: Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.

Notes

For even cooking, slice the potatoes uniformly thin.
Drain the fat well from the ground beef to avoid greasy casserole.
Covering the casserole while baking helps cook the potatoes through and prevents the cheese from drying out.
Feel free to substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or celery soup for a different flavor.
The casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time if baking from cold.