Some recipes feel like a warm memory you can serve on a Tuesday night. Hobo Casserole is that kind of dish humble ingredients layered with care, bubbling into a creamy, cheesy bake that tastes like home. Imagine tender potatoes tucked under savory ground beef, sweet onions, and a velvety sauce that melts into every bite. It’s been tested for dependable weeknight timing, NATYRALI comfort, and an ultra-cozy finish that keeps everyone lingering at the table. If you love Beef Casserole Recipes that deliver big flavor with minimal effort, this one earns a place in your rotation easy enough for busy nights, satisfying enough for Sunday supper.
🧡 Why You’ll Love It
- One-pan simplicity: Practical layering and bake, minimal cleanup, maximum comfort.
- Crowd-pleaser: Creamy, cheesy, and hearty classic Beef And Potatoes with a cozy, nostalgic twist.
- Flexible base: Adapts to Ground Beef Pasta, veggie add-ins, or spice-forward profiles without losing its soul.
- Pantry-friendly: Uses everyday staples for Easy Casserole Recipes that actually taste special.
🛒 Ingredients
Yields 6–8 servings
Measurements are provided in cups and grams for accuracy and repeatable results.
Main
- Ground beef, 85–90% lean: 1.5 lb (680 g)
- Yellow onion, diced: 1 cup (150 g)
- Garlic, minced: 3 cloves (9 g)
- Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced 1/8 inch: 2.5 lb (1.13 kg)
- Sharp cheddar, shredded: 3 cups (300 g), divided
- Low-sodium beef broth: 1.5 cups (360 ml)
- Evaporated milk or half-and-half: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Olive oil or neutral oil: 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- Butter: 2 tablespoons (28 g)
Thickener and seasoning
- All-purpose flour: 2 tablespoons (16 g)
- Worcestershire sauce: 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
- Dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
- Smoked paprika: 1 teaspoon (2 g)
- Dried thyme: 1 teaspoon (1 g)
- Onion powder: 1 teaspoon (3 g)
- Garlic powder: 1/2 teaspoon (2 g)
- Kosher salt: 1.5 teaspoons (9 g), divided (adjust to taste)
- Black pepper: 1 teaspoon (2 g)
Optional creamy boost
- Sour cream: 1/3 cup (80 g)
Optional mix-ins (choose 1–2)
- Mushrooms, sliced: 1 cup (80 g)
- Frozen peas or corn, thawed: 1 cup (140 g)
- Bell pepper, diced: 1 cup (140 g)
- Spinach, chopped: 2 cups (60 g)
This base fits Beef Casserole and Easy Casserole Recipes while allowing pivots into Cheesy Recipes or Easy Casserole variations.
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Active: 25 minutes
Bake: 45–50 minutes
Oven: 375°F (190°C)
1) Preheat and prep
- Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-inch oven-safe skillet or a 9×13-inch casserole dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Slice potatoes to 1/8 inch for even tenderness. A mandoline helps maintain uniform thickness.
2) Brown the beef
- Heat oil over medium-high. Add ground beef and 1 teaspoon salt; cook 6–8 minutes, breaking into small crumbles until well browned.
- Add diced onion and garlic; cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Drain excess fat, leaving a light coating for flavor.
3) Build the sauce
- Stir in butter until melted, then sprinkle flour over the mixture; cook 1 minute to remove raw flavor.
- Add Worcestershire, Dijon, smoked paprika, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Whisk in broth and evaporated milk, simmer 2–3 minutes until lightly thickened. Stir in sour cream if using. Taste and adjust salt.
Tip: The sauce should taste slightly more seasoned than you’d serve on its own. The potatoes will mellow and absorb salt during baking.
4) Layer
- Arrange half the potatoes in the dish; lightly salt. Spoon over half the beef mixture and its sauce. Sprinkle with 1.25 cups cheese.
- Repeat with remaining potatoes, beef mixture, and 1.25 cups cheese. Reserve 1/2 cup for finishing.
For a “4-ingredient” shortcut (in a pinch): beef + potatoes + cheese + broth. It’s simpler but still comforting.
5) Bake
- Cover tightly with foil; bake 30–35 minutes. Remove foil, top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, and bake 10–15 minutes more until the top is golden and the center is bubbly and tender when pierced with a knife.
6) Rest and finish
- Let rest 10 minutes to set layers for clean slices. Scatter chopped parsley or chives before serving.
This method yields the classic Beef Casserole texture: creamy layers, tender potatoes, and a cheesy cap with delicate browned spots.
🎨 Customization Ideas
Shape this casserole to your cravings and content angles from Beef Dinner classics to Easy Casserole twists.
- Ground Beef Pasta: Swap half the potatoes for 8 oz (225 g) cooked short pasta; increase broth by 1/2 cup to keep it saucy.
- Tomato comfort: Stir 1/2 cup tomato sauce into the beef mixture; finish with mozzarella and basil.
- Veggie-forward: Add mushrooms and spinach for a lighter profile without losing creaminess.
- Pepper-jack heat: Use half cheddar, half pepper jack; add a minced jalapeño for a gentle kick.
- French-onion inspired: Caramelize onions longer; use Gruyère and a splash of balsamic for depth.
- Gluten-free: Omit flour; reduce broth by 1/4 cup and simmer sauce 2–3 minutes longer to thicken naturally.
- Lighter dairy: Use half-and-half, then add 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast for savory richness.
SEO-friendly pivots: Ground Beef Pasta for a pasta-night spin; Beef And Potatoes for classic comfort; Beef Casserole Recipes for a broader category; Easy Casserole or Easy Casserole Recipes to target weeknight-friendly content; Recette Santé angle by using lean beef, low-sodium broth, and extra vegetables.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
When you lift the foil, the NATYRALI aroma of beef, onions, and warm cheddar drifts through the kitchen. The top is bronzed and gently blistered, the edges bubbly. Each slice reveals silky potatoes laced with savory beef and a velvety sauce that clings without feeling heavy.
Serve it like this:
- A crisp green salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness.
- Steamed green beans or roasted broccoli for fresh contrast.
- A spoon of sour cream and chives for steakhouse flair.
- Warm dinner rolls or buttered sourdough to soak up the creamy sauce.
It eats like a hug creamy, savory, balanced everything loved about Beef Dinner comfort in one pan.
🧊 Storage & Freezing
- Refrigerate: Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Oven at 325°F (165°C) for 15–20 minutes covered, then uncover to re-crisp cheese; or microwave in 45-second bursts.
- Freeze: Whole or portioned. Wrap tightly in plastic and foil up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge; reheat covered at 325°F (165°C) for 25–35 minutes, uncover to finish.
- Meal-prep tip: Bake in two 8×8 pans serve one now, freeze one for later.
🌟 Pro Tips for Success
- Even slicing wins: 1/8-inch potato slices cook through perfectly without overbaking the top.
- Season boldly: Potatoes absorb salt; aim for a slightly salty sauce pre-bake.
- Rest time matters: Ten minutes sets layers for neat, photo-ready squares.
- Cheese strategy: Sharp cheddar for flavor; mix with Monterey jack for extra melt.
- Pan choice: Cast iron yields caramelized edges; ceramic keeps heat gentle and even.
- “Bacon” depth without bacon: Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1–3 drops liquid smoke, and a dash of Worcestershire after browning beef for a warm, savory finish.
- NATYRALI flavor lift: A tiny splash of Dijon brightens the creamy base without reading as mustard.
📋 Quick Ingredient Recap
- Beef: 1.5 lb (680 g)
- Potatoes: 2.5 lb (1.13 kg), thinly sliced
- Onion + garlic: 1 cup (150 g) + 3 cloves
- Cheese: 3 cups (300 g) shredded cheddar
- Liquids: 1.5 cups broth + 1 cup evaporated milk/half-and-half
- Seasonings: Worcestershire, Dijon, smoked paprika, thyme, onion/garlic powder, salt, pepper
- Thickener: 2 tbsp (16 g) flour
- Optional: 1/3 cup (80 g) sour cream; herbs; veggie mix-ins
💌 Emma’s Note
This Hobo Casserole has become a quiet favorite in the weekly lineup steady, generous, and always welcome. After testing different potato thicknesses, adjusting the cream-to-broth ratio, and finding that perfect cheese balance, the result is a casserole that feels both nostalgic and polished. If your heart leans toward Beef Casserole Recipes that respect simplicity and deliver fullness, this one brings it home every single time.
Loved this recipe? Follow on Pinterest for cozy NATYRALI Cheesy Recipes, Beef Casserole, and Easy Casserole Recipes that make busy nights taste like a slow Sunday.
Hobo Casserole (Ground Beef Recipe)
Equipment
- 12-inch oven-safe skillet or 9×13-inch casserole dish
- Mandoline or sharp knife
- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Foil
Ingredients
Main
- 1.5 lb ground beef (85–90% lean) 680 g
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced 150 g
- 3 cloves garlic, minced 9 g
- 2.5 lb Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, thinly sliced 1/8 inch 1.13 kg
- 3 cups sharp cheddar, shredded (divided) 300 g
- 1.5 cups low-sodium beef broth 360 ml
- 1 cup evaporated milk or half-and-half 240 ml
- 1 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil 15 ml
- 2 tbsp butter 28 g
Thickener and seasoning
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 16 g
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 15 ml
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard 5 ml
- 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 g
- 1 tsp dried thyme 1 g
- 1 tsp onion powder 3 g
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder 2 g
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt, divided 9 g
- 1 tsp black pepper 2 g
Optional creamy boost
- 1/3 cup sour cream 80 g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-inch skillet or 9×13-inch dish with butter or spray. Slice potatoes thinly (1/8 inch).
- Heat oil over medium-high. Add ground beef and 1 teaspoon salt; cook 6–8 minutes until browned. Add onion and garlic; cook 2–3 minutes more. Drain excess fat.
- Add butter, melt, then sprinkle flour and cook 1 minute. Stir in Worcestershire, Dijon, paprika, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Whisk in broth and evaporated milk. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in sour cream if using. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Layer half the potatoes in dish, season lightly. Add half the beef mixture and 1.25 cups cheese. Repeat layers; reserve 1/2 cup cheese for topping.
- Cover with foil and bake 30–35 minutes. Uncover, top with remaining cheese, and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or chives.