Hobo casserole is a traditional and easily cooked recipe. It uses the basic ingredients which are a part of everyday cooking. The best thing about hobo casserole recipe is the way it is cooked. It is one of those dishes which are free from any complications or arduous preparations.
Hobo casserole is quite suitable for usual get together parties or routine dinners. An average home cook or seasoned chef both can make with with great ease. Its golden top look, its aromatic charisma and its mouthwatering taste will leave everyone craving for more.
The Olden Casseroles
The casserole is a saucepan in French. As a hobo casserole recipe is baked and served in the same dish that’s why the name has its origin from there. Moreover, casserole meals have ancient traces to be found even back into the 13th century. Over the centuries, it turned many faces but its delectability remained amazing till the present day.
The Hobo Casserole recipe is just a matter of layering the ground beef with potato slices along with mild versatile seasoning and topping plus garnishing of cheese. And you are there with a satisfying perfect main course.
Key Ingredients and their Significance
Ground Beef
The main (king) ingredient of this recipe is the ground beef which serves as the main portion of the hobo casserole recipe. It is just a treat for meat lovers. Some people who prefer white meat, can frankly substitute it with chicken. The beef is cooked lightly with a bit of seasoning before going into the baking oven. This double heat leaves it even more delicious.
Potato Slices
Potatoes are the most loved in the world. As they give a stuffy form to the meals and are mild in taste, their presence in hobo casserole recipe is the very basic one. They are layered in the same casserole (pan) with beef and also seasoned accordingly.
Cheese
Cheese makes the top layer of the hobo casserole recipe. Cheese is a joining agent. It gives a smooth leveled texture to the meals. At the same time, it makes the food more creamy, soft, and saucy. The best and unique phenomenon of cheese is its acceptability and liking by all age groups.
Flavors
The ingredients of hobo casserole recipe derive the tastes and aroma from the spices which they are seasoned with. Garlic powder or freshly crushed garlic and paprika both add up a lot in the flavor of this dish. Fresh onions and the fried onions both have their distinct taste and smell and both play their part really well. And of course the cheese, cheddar cheese has its own savor, giving a complementary feel to hobo casserole.
Ingredients you will need
- 1 pound ground cow/buffalo beef (or beef mince)
- I tbsp olive oil
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- ¼ th tsp red chili flakes
- 1 tsp of Paprika powder
- 1 leveled tsp of Garlic powder or freshly crushed garlic
- 1 medium sized onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 medium potatoes, (thinly sliced
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 tbsp of milk
- 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup of French fried onions
Preparation of Hobo Casserole Recipe
Step 1 Cooking
- Oil a skillet with olive oil. Add beef mince into it.
- Saute the beef for 5 minutes.
- Add garlic powder of freshly crushed garlic in the beef. Mix with spatula.
- Then put 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of crushed black pepper and chili flakes into the skillet.
- Mix well all the spices with beef.
- Cook it for a few minutes, approximately 8-10 minutes, until the meat changes its color from pink to brown.
- When it gets brown, turn off the flame.
Step 2 Mixing
Mixing cream and milk in a hobo casserole recipe is necessary to be well beaten. Mix the can of cream with milk. Beat them very well until a smooth creamy paste. You may use an electric beater instead of a hand mixer if you feel the mixing tiresome. Some people also like the addition of sour cream which is definitely a choice.
Step 3 Seasoning
The potato slices come out amazing if seasoned with salt, pepper and paprika before baking. So rub these spices on both the sides of the slices so they add up their additional flavor in hobo casserole.
Step 4 Layering
The most exciting step of hobo casserole is the layering of the ingredients. One point is important to be kept in mind. If you want to make double layers then use half of the ingredients in each layer. If you are easy in making a single layer of each item then use the whole material in one layer.
I prefer the double layer, by the way. Let’s start with the bottom layer of potato slices. Spread them evenly throughout the baking dish. Make sure that the slices do not overlap.
The 2nd layer will be of cooked beef. The 3rd item to be spread is the onion. The slices of onion take their place on the beef. Now pour the beaten cream evenly in the baking tray. Spread grated cheese on the top. Now repeat the same layers. When you spread cheese on the top of the 2nd layer then also spread the French fried onions on the top. These crushed fried onions give a crunchy texture to hobo casserole.
Step 5 Baking
The final step is baking. It is suggested to cover the baking tray with aluminum foil so our hobo casserole keeps its juicy, aromatic, textured presentation sustained. After covering the tray, place it in the pre heated oven for one and a half hours until the potatoes are tender. Bring out the tray from the oven. Remove the foil and bake for another five minutes to give the hobo casserole’s top a golden hue.
Info Box
- Preparation time 10 minutes
- Cooking time 15 minutes
- Baking time 100 minutes
- Servings 6
- Rich in protein, carbohydrates and minerals
Type main course
Troubleshooting
You may face trouble or disappointment if:
- You don’t spice the mince and potato slices well
- Mince is not cooked properly
- Cream is not beaten well
- You divert from time instructions regarding baking
Variations and Customization
The blending of old and new is always fun. The traditional tastes like hobo casserole are well customized according to the needs and demands of the trendy souls. This meal might be served with creamy salads, bean salads, and fresh vegetable salad. As hobo casserole itself is a full meal so light appetizers well suit to be presented with it.
The use of chicken mince is always a good option if you want to try it.
You may add a thin layer of boiled fettuccine pasta amidst the layers of hobo casserole in order to make it even more satisfying.
Conclusion
Hobo casserole recipe is commonly my all time favorite meal. The ease with which it is prepared and baked plus the simplicity of its ingredients and the addition of cream and cheese in it all make it a loved one recipe which is tried time and again in casual and formal dinings and leaving those sitting around the table feeling crazy.
