Easy Hobo Casserole

This easy family dinner is made in a large skillet. It's a great way to simplify dinner during the first weeks of back-to-school chaos.

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want.

Table of Contents

• 🗝️ Key takeaways
• 📖 Recipe
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 📖 Hobo casserole variations
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🥫 How to store leftover casserole
• 💭 Things to know
• 👩‍🍳 FAQs
• 📚 Related recipes
• 📞 The last word
• 💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

• Almost no prep time if you use a thin-skinned potato and the comfort food level is through the roof.
• This easy meal is perfect for weekends, back-to-school, and those first chilly days of fall. Since there's 90 minutes of oven time it's not a good choice for super-busy weeknights when you're pressed for time.
• Shredding cheese from a block rather than buying shredded cheese is the best way to get the gooey-est, cheesiest, creamiest results.

This hobo casserole recipe is made with layers of ground beef, potatoes, melty cheese, and a creamy topping. Then it's all covered with crispy fried onions to make this easy casserole a family favorite.

📖 Recipe

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📖 Hobo casserole variations

Hobo dinner casserole is an easy meal with infinite variations. Try adding a can of green beans (drain first) - it makes it a bit like shepherd's pie.

• Make your own crispy fried onions with this easy recipe.
• You can use cream of chicken soup instead of cream of celery.
• Make it in a casserole dish - just brown the ground beef first then continue with the recipe as written.
• Any ground meat will work; ground chicken, ground turkey, pork, or venison.
• Add a can of drained, mixed veggies or a cup or so of frozen mixed veggies.
• Add diced green bell pepper.
• Add onion powder if you want that extra flavor. Garlic powder is good, too.
• Or, just add in crushed garlic cloves.
• Use canned, sliced potatoes to make it even faster.
• Use frozen hashbrowns instead of sliced potatoes.
• Season the ground beef with taco seasoning instead of onion soup mix.
• Top with crushed potato chips instead of crispy fried onions.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Spray an oven-safe skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Pat ground beef into a thin layer, and sprinkle the mushroom onion soup packet over the top of beef.
2. Slice the potatoes and add them over the ground beef, then add a layer of cheese.
3. Mix soup, Worcestershire sauce, and milk. Smooth it evenly over the cheese layer. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 f oven.
4. Remove from oven, take off the foil, and add the French fried onions to top of the casserole. Broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully.

🥫 How to store leftover casserole

Have leftovers of this easy ground beef casserole recipe? Be sure to refrigerate promptly!

Refrigerate

Let the leftovers cool to room temperature and remove them from the skillet. Place in an airtight container, or a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Freeze

If you want to freeze hobo casserole put it in a freezer-safe container and freeze up to 3 months.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Always put an old baking sheet under your casserole to catch any drips.

• Don't buy shredded Cheddar cheese, grate your own from a block. Not only is it less expensive but it melts better, too.
• The casserole is done when it registers 165F in the center on an instant-read thermometer.
• Be sure to layer ingredients evenly so the casserole cooks evenly and every bite is filled with all the glorious flavors in this casserole!
• Always let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving, allowing the ingredients to settle.
• If your ground beef is a little fattier than you thought just dip any excess grease that rises to the top off, then lightly blot with paper towels.
• 4 medium potatoes is equal to about 4 cups sliced.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

📚 Related recipes

• Salisbury steak casserole has all of the flavor of your favorite Salisbury steaks but in an easy casserole that's done in 30 minutes.
• Hamburger steaks are simmered in a delicious brown gravy.
• You'll be making leftover rice on purpose just so you can have this yummy Spanish rice for dinner!

📞 The last word

I'm looking forward to fall weather. I know it's the end of July in Texas which means we have at least 2 more months of hell's sauna but we're getting there.

And recipes like this hearty hobo casserole are the perfect way to ease into back-to-school and autumn chill.