Description
Hearty hobo casserole brings rustic comfort to dinner tables with its simple, satisfying blend of ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables. Layers of savory ingredients create a one-dish meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings, promising warmth and nostalgia in every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb bacon, chopped
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 cup frozen corn
Pantry Items:
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 ml) cream of mushroom soup
- 0.5 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 0.25 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, crisp the chopped bacon over medium heat until golden and rendered, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon drippings in the pan.
- Using the same skillet with bacon drippings, brown the ground beef until no pink remains, breaking it into small crumbles and seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Add chopped onions to the beef and sauté until translucent and slightly caramelized, releasing their natural sweetness.
- Layer the diced potatoes and sliced carrots evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a hearty vegetable foundation.
- Spread the browned beef and onion mixture over the vegetables, ensuring an even distribution.
- Sprinkle the crispy bacon pieces uniformly across the meat layer for added smoky flavor and crunch.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth, creating a creamy binding sauce.
- Pour the soup mixture over the casserole, making sure it seeps between the layers and coats all ingredients.
- Distribute frozen corn across the top of the casserole for a burst of color and sweetness.
- Generously top with shredded cheddar cheese, covering the entire surface.
- Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the cheese for a golden, crispy texture.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and the top is beautifully golden brown.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to set.
Notes
- Enhance potato tenderness by parboiling them briefly before layering in the baking dish, ensuring they cook evenly and absorb more flavor.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, leaner protein option that maintains the dish’s hearty essence.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free breadcrumbs and checking that cream of mushroom soup is gluten-free certified.
- Boost vegetable nutrition by adding spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini between potato and meat layers for extra color and vitamins.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 830 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg