Description
Hearty hobo casserole brings classic comfort from midwest kitchens, blending ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables into one satisfying skillet meal. Rustic layers of simple ingredients create a budget-friendly dinner that connects families around warm, filling plates.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb bacon, chopped
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
Pantry/Seasoning:
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 ml) cream of mushroom soup
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) milk
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 cup (60 ml) water
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure easy serving and cleanup.
- In a large skillet, crisp the chopped bacon over medium heat until golden and rendering its rich, smoky flavor, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Using the same skillet with bacon drippings, brown the ground beef, breaking it into crumbly bits, and drain any excess fat to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Layer the diced potatoes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a hearty foundation for the casserole.
- Distribute the chopped onions and sliced carrots over the potato layer, adding depth and nutritional variety to the dish.
- Sprinkle the crispy bacon pieces and browned ground beef uniformly across the vegetable base, ensuring balanced flavor in each bite.
- Whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, water, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl, creating a creamy, seasoned sauce.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the meat and vegetable layers, allowing it to seep through and provide moisture and flavor.
- Top the casserole with a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese, which will melt and create a golden, bubbling crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving, allowing the layers to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Customize meat options by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for healthier alternatives.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium cream of mushroom soup and monitoring salt quantities during seasoning.
- Enhance vegetable variety by incorporating frozen mixed vegetables or adding diced bell peppers for extra nutrition and color.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time by assembling layers and refrigerating overnight, then baking when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg