This Hobo Casserole Recipe is an easy and delicious one-pan meal that everyone in your family can enjoy! With layers of tender beef, potatoes, creamy filling, and cheesy goodness, it's the perfect weeknight meal!
What makes this recipe irresistible? Where do I start? It's the cheesy, rich deliciousness! Add to that you only need simple ingredients to make it. And the oven does most of the work. Does it get any better than that?
We LOVE this recipe!!
Ingredients you'll need
Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.
lean ground beef - you could even use lean ground beef patties or ground chicken or turkey.
Yellow potatoes, russet or red potatoes. Use what you have on hand.
Colby Jack cheese
cream of celery and chicken soup - you can swap either for cream of mushroom soup to avoid a trip to the grocery store.
Add the ground beef to a lightly greased cast iron skillet (10"). Break up and move around to be evenly layered.
Season with salt and pepper.
Peel and slice potatoes and layer on top of the ground beef.
Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the potatoes.
Add cans of soup, milk, all-purpose seasoning, and Worcestershire Sauce to a large mixing bowl. Mix well with a whisk.
Spoon over the top of the cheese layer, then smooth out evenly with the back of a spoon.
Cover with aluminum foil tightly, then place in the oven (with a baking sheet on the rack directly under it to catch any overspill while cooking).
Bake for 90 minutes.
Remove from the oven, remove the foil, and sprinkle the fried onions evenly over the top.
Place under a hot broiler for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
Garnish with green onions or parsley.
Notes
If you don't have a large cast iron skillet, you can certainly use a 9x13" casserole dish, following the instructions as written above.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze this casserole. Let it cool completely before wrapping in plastic wrap or foil and placing it in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat covered with aluminum foil in a 350°F oven until warmed through. You can also reheat single servings in the microwave.
This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.
Instructions for the Hobo Casserole Recipe
Preheat the oven.
Add the meat to the skillet. Break up and pat ground beef so it's evenly layered and season.
Layer the sliced potatoes over the ground beef.
Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Add the cream soup, milk, seasoning, and Worcestershire Sauce to a large mixing bowl and mix well.
Spoon over the top of the cheese layer, smooth out evenly.
Cover with aluminum foil tightly, then place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes.
Remove the foil, and top with fried onions.
Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
FAQ's
Do you brown the ground beef first?
No, there's no need to brown the ground beef.
Why use lean ground beef?
The beef cooks with the casserole. You don't pre-cook it. If you don't use lean ground beef, the fat will be absorbed into the potatoes and it will be much heavier. Or greasy - no thanks!
Why should I bake a casserole with foil on the top?
Using aluminum foil on top of your casserole helps to trap moisture so that the casserole doesn't dry out while baking. It also helps to keep the heat and steam inside which will help your food cook more evenly.
Variations for the Hobo Casserole
Add a small onion. Slice onion thinly and add a layer of onion top of the ground beef.
If you love garlic, mince some garlic cloves and add a couple to your ground beef mixture.
Add a touch of heat by adding a dash of chili powder, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper when you mix the soup and other sauce ingredients together.
Swap out the French Fried Onions for crushed potato chips for a salty crunchy on top of the casserole.
Make individual hobo packets using aluminum foil. These are fun to make on the grill when you're camping. The kids will love having their own serving!
Deb's tips for the perfect dish
My top tip is to cover the dish while baking. Use heavy-duty aluminum foil. If you don't have heavy-duty, use two layers.
My favorite garnishes are fresh parsley or green onions for a pop of color, but you could also top this easy meal with a dollop of sour cream.
Keep the French-fried onions off the casserole until the last minute so that they don't become soggy.
I've found that the best way to get a great cheese melt is by shredding your own cheese instead of picking up the pre-shredded stuff at the store. Just look at that cheesy stretch on top of the blog post!
This Creamy Beef Noodle Casserole is a delicious casserole that can be made ahead so that it's ready to bake when you get home on busy weeknights.
Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe is a hearty meal that will feed the whole family, and it saves you so much time in the kitchen compared to the traditional version.
Looking for a simple and quick side dish that pairs well with this casserole? Check out this Steamed Brussels Sprouts recipe. It comes together in just minutes and tastes great!
This Outback Wedge Salad is another one of my favorite recipes to serve with this hobo casserole recipe. It's easy to personalize and it's a healthy side that your whole family will enjoy.
Turn this into a full and yummy meal when you pair it with a crusty bread side dish like this Air Fryer Garlic Bread. Plus, you don't have to worry about oven space since the air fryer does the work.
Isn't this cheesy and delicious? I hope you really enjoy the recipe. It's a favorite for sure! Leave a comment or any questions you have about the recipe!
Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
That's a great question Courtney, I bet it would be delicious! You'd need to drain it really well, or the meat layer would turn out soupy. Another option would be adding taco mix, I bet that would be super good. I haven't tried this myself. Let me know how it turns out for you! Enjoy the casserole.
I added onion, garlic, and an orange pepper to the hamburger to add more flavor. I only had 1 can of cream of mushroom and then added extra milk. It turned out great! Will make again!!
Melissa, that's a great question, I'm sorry I didn't address that in the blog post. If you don't have a cast iron skillet, there's no need to go out and buy one. Use a 9x13" casserole dish or an oven proof skillet. Just follow the instructions as noted above. Enjoy the casserole!
Another fantastic casserole. I used canned diced potatoes and since you cook it so long, they were tender but not mush. 9 x 13 pan in the oven and had no problems. I did use evaporated milk since I had some in the fridge I am trying to use up. With the loose layers I really expected it to be harder to scoop up, but it actually stayed together quite nicely after I let it sit about 15 minutes. Leftovers for tonight and we have agreed this is a keeper and will be repeated.
Evaporated milk is such a great substitute! It makes everything even more delicious and creamy. Thanks for sharing. Glad the recipe is a keeper!! Yum, YUM!!!
I haven't made it that way. Using the precooked ground beef would change the cooking time and the potatoes wouldn't be done. However, having said that, if you precooked the potatoes (either boil whole or bake) and then sliced them, that would totally work! Enjoy the casserole Margie, it's excellent!
I did! We had it just last night. Cooked ground beef and onions. Added some minced garlic while it was frying. Drained the hamburger then I mixed the onion soup mix with it, just to make it easier. 9 X 13 pan, didn't have to use heavy foil and will definitely make it again.
I made this for the first time today and the flavors were on point. However, I don't have a skillet, so I used a round glass casserole dish that wasn't shallow enough which I think makes a difference in how everything cooks together. I also had to use a different cheese that didn't melt very well, and I didn't know what kind of all-purpose seasoning to use, so I just used a packet of onion soup mix and skipped the Worcestershire sauce. The flavors were amazing, but I found that there was just too much soup, and the onion soup mix made it a little too salty for my taste. But definitely will try to make it again and will follow the recipe exactly next time.
Thanks for sharing Susan, I'm glad you made it work for you. There are several all-purpose seasonings at the grocery store, however most of the time I use this recipe on everything. https://bowl-me-over.com/chicken-seasoning-blend/ (Even though it says chicken) It's so flavorful and is the perfect blend of spices. I make a double-batch and just keep it in a jar with a screwtop lid. Enjoy the hobo casserole next time too, thanks for sharing. It's such a yummy recipe! 😋
Courtney says
I haven't made this yet, but it looks promising. I wonder if you could mix a can of rotel tomatoes in with the ground beef to add some kick...
Debra Clark says
That's a great question Courtney, I bet it would be delicious! You'd need to drain it really well, or the meat layer would turn out soupy. Another option would be adding taco mix, I bet that would be super good. I haven't tried this myself. Let me know how it turns out for you! Enjoy the casserole.
Dana Rapsey says
I added onion, garlic, and an orange pepper to the hamburger to add more flavor. I only had 1 can of cream of mushroom and then added extra milk. It turned out great! Will make again!!
Debra Clark says
Great way to make it work Dana! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe. It's so good!!
Melissa says
Does it need to be baked in a cast iron skillet?
Are there other options?
I don't own one. 🙁
Debra Clark says
Melissa, that's a great question, I'm sorry I didn't address that in the blog post. If you don't have a cast iron skillet, there's no need to go out and buy one. Use a 9x13" casserole dish or an oven proof skillet. Just follow the instructions as noted above. Enjoy the casserole!
Michelle Bogart says
Another fantastic casserole. I used canned diced potatoes and since you cook it so long, they were tender but not mush. 9 x 13 pan in the oven and had no problems. I did use evaporated milk since I had some in the fridge I am trying to use up. With the loose layers I really expected it to be harder to scoop up, but it actually stayed together quite nicely after I let it sit about 15 minutes. Leftovers for tonight and we have agreed this is a keeper and will be repeated.
Debra Clark says
Evaporated milk is such a great substitute! It makes everything even more delicious and creamy. Thanks for sharing. Glad the recipe is a keeper!! Yum, YUM!!!
Margie Colby says
Can you assemble this in a casserole pan with pre-browned ground beef? Sounds yummy!
Debra Clark says
I haven't made it that way. Using the precooked ground beef would change the cooking time and the potatoes wouldn't be done. However, having said that, if you precooked the potatoes (either boil whole or bake) and then sliced them, that would totally work! Enjoy the casserole Margie, it's excellent!
Michelle Bogart says
I did! We had it just last night. Cooked ground beef and onions. Added some minced garlic while it was frying. Drained the hamburger then I mixed the onion soup mix with it, just to make it easier. 9 X 13 pan, didn't have to use heavy foil and will definitely make it again.
Debra Clark says
Thanks for sharing Michelle - I appreciate all that great information!!
Anne says
surprisingly good
Charlene Moffitt says
Can you cook this and freeze it for a dinner later ?
Debra Clark says
Absolutely, assemble and cook the casserole, then allow to cool and freeze. Enjoy Charlene!
Susan says
I made this for the first time today and the flavors were on point. However, I don't have a skillet, so I used a round glass casserole dish that wasn't shallow enough which I think makes a difference in how everything cooks together. I also had to use a different cheese that didn't melt very well, and I didn't know what kind of all-purpose seasoning to use, so I just used a packet of onion soup mix and skipped the Worcestershire sauce. The flavors were amazing, but I found that there was just too much soup, and the onion soup mix made it a little too salty for my taste. But definitely will try to make it again and will follow the recipe exactly next time.
Debra Clark says
Thanks for sharing Susan, I'm glad you made it work for you. There are several all-purpose seasonings at the grocery store, however most of the time I use this recipe on everything. https://bowl-me-over.com/chicken-seasoning-blend/ (Even though it says chicken) It's so flavorful and is the perfect blend of spices. I make a double-batch and just keep it in a jar with a screwtop lid. Enjoy the hobo casserole next time too, thanks for sharing. It's such a yummy recipe! 😋