Hobo Casserole 🥔🍖🧀
This Hobo Casserole is the ultimate one-dish comfort food — hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding the whole family! ❤️ Layers of seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, onions, and creamy soup come together under a blanket of melted cheese. It’s budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and tastes like a warm hug on a plate. Great for busy weeknights or potluck dinners!
⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour
🍽️ Servings: 6–8
Ingredients:
For the Base:
1 lb (450g) ground beef (or ground turkey for a lighter option)
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet onion soup mix (or 2 tbsp homemade mix)
Salt & pepper, to taste
For the Layers:
4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite blend)
1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for greasing the dish)
Optional Add-ins:
1 cup frozen peas, corn, or mixed vegetables
½ cup sour cream (for extra creaminess in the sauce)
A sprinkle of paprika or dried parsley for garnish
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven:
Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with olive oil or butter.
2. Cook the beef mixture:
In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Add diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened. Stir in onion soup mix, season with salt and pepper, and remove from heat.
3. Prepare the sauce:
In a small bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth. If you like it extra creamy, stir in sour cream here.
4. Layer the casserole:
Spread half of the sliced potatoes on the bottom of the greased casserole dish.
Top with half of the beef mixture.
Pour half of the soup mixture over the top.
Repeat the layers with remaining potatoes, beef, and sauce.
5. Add cheese:
Cover the top with shredded cheddar cheese (reserve a little if you like to add extra cheese at the end).
6. Bake to perfection:
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes, until potatoes are fork-tender and cheese is golden and bubbly.
7. Serve and enjoy:
Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing into portions. Garnish with paprika or parsley if desired. Serve with a crisp green salad or warm bread for a complete meal.
Tips & Variations:
✅ Swap cream of mushroom for cream of chicken or cheddar cheese soup for a different flavor.
✅ Add vegetables like peas, corn, or green beans to make it a full meal in one dish.
✅ Prep ahead: assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate overnight before baking.
✅ For a crispy topping, add crushed Ritz crackers or French fried onions in the last 10 minutes of baking.