Description
Hearty slow cooker hobo casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to dinner tables with its rustic blend of ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables. Layers of simple ingredients meld together, creating a satisfying meal that warms souls and delights families craving homestyle cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb bacon, chopped
Vegetables:
- 3 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the bacon by chopping it into small, uniform pieces and lightly crisp in a skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat on paper towels.
- Brown the ground beef in the same skillet, breaking it into crumble-sized chunks, and drain any accumulated grease thoroughly.
- Dice potatoes into consistent bite-sized cubes, ensuring uniform cooking, and slice carrots, onions, and green beans into similarly sized pieces.
- Layer the chopped bacon and browned beef at the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a robust protein foundation.
- Arrange the diced potatoes, onions, carrots, and green beans over the meat layer, creating an even vegetable distribution.
- Whisk together cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl until smoothly combined.
- Pour the seasoned liquid mixture evenly over the layered vegetables and meat, ensuring complete coverage and flavor penetration.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, cooking for 6-7 hours until vegetables are tender and flavors have melded completely.
- Once cooking is complete, gently stir the casserole to distribute ingredients and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve hot, garnishing with fresh herbs if desired, and enjoy the hearty, rustic one-pot meal.
Notes
- Bacon Perfection: Render fat slowly to achieve maximum crispiness without burning, creating a flavor-packed foundation for the casserole.
- Meat Management: Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and prevent a soggy dish, enhancing overall texture and healthiness.
- Veggie Versatility: Swap green beans with seasonal vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers to keep the recipe fresh and adaptable to garden produce.
- Diet-Friendly Modifications: For gluten-free version, use cornstarch instead of cream of mushroom soup and select gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 845 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg