Description
This hearty Hobo Casserole with Ground Beef is a comforting and easy-to-make dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Featuring savory ground beef mixed with creamy mushroom soup, seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and spices, topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese, this casserole combines rich flavors and satisfying textures. The addition of mushrooms and green beans or peas adds a healthy touch and extra depth to the recipe, making it a complete and delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ cup green beans or peas (optional, for added veggies)
Sauce
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
Topping
- 2 cups frozen tater tots
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, sliced mushrooms, and green beans or peas if using. Cook until the beef is browned and vegetables are softened, breaking the beef apart with a spatula.
- Drain Excess Grease: After cooking, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet to keep the casserole from being too oily.
- Mix Sauce Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes if using until smooth.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into the cooked beef in the skillet and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble Casserole Base: Spread the beef and sauce mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef base layer to add a creamy, cheesy flavor.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, covering the entire surface.
- Bake Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
- Add Final Cheese Layer: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the top, and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes to set before serving, making it easier to portion.
- Optional Garnish: Garnish with fresh parsley or additional cheese if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute the cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or celery soup for a different flavor profile.
- Adding vegetables like mushrooms and green beans boosts the nutritional value and adds texture.
- For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure that the cream of mushroom soup and tater tots are certified gluten-free.
