Description
Hearty cheeseburger French fry casserole brings together classic American comfort foods in one satisfying dish. Layers of ground beef, crispy fries, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll devour with pure delight.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 bag (20 oz or 567 g) frozen French fries
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (10 oz or 284 g) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of cheddar soup)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Diced tomatoes
- Pickles
- Shredded lettuce
- Ketchup
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 375F (190C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray for effortless release.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, brown ground beef with onions over medium heat, breaking meat into fine crumbles. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then drain excess fat to ensure a rich, concentrated flavor profile.
- Creamy Fusion: Whisk cream of mushroom soup and sour cream into a silky blend, integrating half the cheddar cheese to create a luxurious binding sauce for the casserole.
- Layer Construction: Spread seasoned beef across the baking dish’s base, then evenly distribute the soup-cheese mixture to establish a robust foundation for the upcoming layers.
- Fry Arrangement: Carefully position frozen French fries in an overlapping grid, completely covering the casserole surface to ensure maximum crispy coverage.
- Baking Process: Bake for 25-30 minutes until fries transform into golden-brown crispy delights, then sprinkle remaining cheese on top and return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes to create a bubbling, melted cheese crust.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with optional toppings like diced tomatoes, chopped pickles, shredded lettuce, and a ketchup drizzle to capture classic cheeseburger essence, then serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
Manage Meat Moisture: Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole, ensuring crisp fries and concentrated flavor.
Customize Cheese Layer: Experiment with cheese blends like cheddar, monterey jack, or pepper jack for enhanced taste complexity and personal preference.
Control Fry Crispness: Slightly thaw frozen fries before layering to help them crisp more evenly and absorb less moisture during baking.
Dietary Adaptation: Swap ground beef for plant-based crumbles, use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup, and select dairy-free cheese alternatives to accommodate vegetarian or vegan dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg