Description
Hobo Casserole is a rustic, comforting ground beef and potato bake layered with seasoned beef, tender potatoes, and topped with melted cheddar cheese. This hearty casserole combines simple ingredients baked together to create a warm, satisfying meal perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1 medium onion
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Seasonings and Oils
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it is ready when assembling the casserole.
- Prepare Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly, about 1/8 inch thick, for even cooking and layering.
- Chop Onion: Peel and finely chop the onion so it will cook evenly with the beef.
- Cook Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula until browned.
- Drain Excess Fat: Remove any excess fat from the skillet for a less greasy casserole.
- Cook Onion with Beef: Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Season Beef Mixture: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and paprika to flavor the beef and onions.
- Add Dairy to Beef: Mix the milk and sour cream into the beef mixture until well combined. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Layer Potatoes and Beef: Spread a layer of potato slices on the bottom of the dish, season with salt and pepper.
- Add Beef Layer: Spoon half of the beef mixture evenly over the potatoes.
- Repeat Layers: Add another layer of sliced potatoes, season again with salt and pepper, then spread the remaining beef mixture on top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
- Add Cheese and Bake More: Remove foil, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top, then bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add herbs like thyme or rosemary to the beef mixture.
- Use a mandoline slicer for uniform potato slices to ensure even baking.
- This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated.
- To make it lower fat, use lean ground beef and reduced-fat sour cream.
