Description
Hearty hobo casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to dinner tables with its simple, rustic charm. Savory ground beef mingles with potatoes and vegetables, creating a satisfying one-dish meal you’ll crave on chilly nights.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4–5 medium potatoes (thinly sliced)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup beef broth (or water)
- ¼ cup milk (optional)
- Fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, preparing a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles for about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat from the meat, then incorporate chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables soften.
- Evenly distribute the beef and onion mixture across the prepared baking dish.
- Create a uniform layer of thinly sliced potatoes atop the meat mixture.
- Generously season the potato layer with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
- Sprinkle a blend of cheddar and Parmesan cheese completely covering the potatoes.
- Gently pour beef broth around the dish’s edges to maintain potato moisture.
- Optional: Drizzle milk over the casserole for enhanced creaminess.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking 15-20 minutes until potatoes become tender and cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Optionally garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving hot.
Notes
- Maximize potato tenderness by slicing them uniformly thin to ensure even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Enhance flavor complexity by using beef stock instead of water, which adds deeper, richer taste layers to the dish.
- Reduce fat content by selecting lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7) without compromising the casserole’s hearty texture.
- Customize dietary needs by substituting potatoes with cauliflower or sweet potato for low-carb or paleo-friendly variations.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 491 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg