The Humble, But Delicious Hamburger Casserole
The hamburger casserole is a frequently misunderstood dish as it’s seen hungry diners tortured with tasteless mixes, soggy noodles, or too little meat and far too much filler. The shame here is this casserole is simple to prepare, and is hearty enough for a main entrée for lunches or suppers. It’s possible to set a hamburger casserole made from scratch in a slow cooker, and enjoy a great dish ready to eat when you return home. It’s also possible to use a variety of ingredients, and sides with this type of casserole, and never bore those who sit down at the table.
Forget the Mixes
Mixes for hamburger have been around for a long time, and while these appear convenient the reality is they usually don’t make enough for an entire family of four or more. Making a homemade hamburger casserole allows you the chance to increase or decrease portions according to the number of people who will be dining. There is also the matter of taste, as mixes have a tendency to be far less tasty than most recipes no matter how delicious the picture on the box might appear. While the casserole out of the box is bland, you can create a number of great savory hamburger meals from scratch in roughly the same amount of time you’d spend on a mix.
Forget the Mixes
Mixes for hamburger have been around for a long time, and while these appear convenient the reality is they usually don’t make enough for an entire family of four or more. Making a homemade hamburger casserole allows you the chance to increase or decrease portions according to the number of people who will be dining. There is also the matter of taste, as mixes have a tendency to be far less tasty than most recipes no matter how delicious the picture on the box might appear. While the casserole out of the box is bland, you can create a number of great savory hamburger meals from scratch in roughly the same amount of time you’d spend on a mix.
The Right Meat
The type of meat you will need for the casserole can be the same as you’d select to make a burger, but you can use leaner meats for this purpose. If you plan on making the dish with browned hamburger meat you can use a leaner ratio of fat to meat than you would need to use in making a hamburger because the beef will not cook down, and the other ingredients in the dish will keep the meat moist.
Fresh Ingredients
You can add fresh ingredients to a casserole, which is another plus over using a mix. Along with the usual fillers such as potatoes, pasta, or rice you can use grilled vegetables, cheeses, and spices. Grilling time for vegetables that will be simmering later in the casserole is fairly short, as you only need to brown the edges.
The type of meat you will need for the casserole can be the same as you’d select to make a burger, but you can use leaner meats for this purpose. If you plan on making the dish with browned hamburger meat you can use a leaner ratio of fat to meat than you would need to use in making a hamburger because the beef will not cook down, and the other ingredients in the dish will keep the meat moist.
Fresh Ingredients
You can add fresh ingredients to a casserole, which is another plus over using a mix. Along with the usual fillers such as potatoes, pasta, or rice you can use grilled vegetables, cheeses, and spices. Grilling time for vegetables that will be simmering later in the casserole is fairly short, as you only need to brown the edges.
Making an Easy Recipe
One big excuse in using the mix instead of making a casserole from scratch is the time involved. There’s also a bit more effort involved, but a few extra steps, and a couple of added minutes in the kitchen is worth it when you can serve and enjoy something truly hearty and delicious. One great recipe to start out with is the Potato Hamburger casserole. It’s quick, simple and very filling. This recipe takes 45 minutes in oven time, but this gives you time to make a salad or side dish to go along with the casserole.
Ingredients for Potato Hamburger Casserole
You will need three potatoes sliced thinly. If you have a multipurpose grater this will help, otherwise peel and carefully slice the potatoes with a sharp knife. This recipe calls for one pound of hamburger, which will look like too much at first, but keep in mind this will cook down. You will need to slice one small onion, and either slice or grate four ounces of Cheddar cheese, or use packaged grated cheese. You will also need to have a ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt, 1 16-ounce can of green beans, or if you prefer 16 ounces of freshly sautéed green beans, ½ can of milk, and 1 can of cream of celery soup.
One big excuse in using the mix instead of making a casserole from scratch is the time involved. There’s also a bit more effort involved, but a few extra steps, and a couple of added minutes in the kitchen is worth it when you can serve and enjoy something truly hearty and delicious. One great recipe to start out with is the Potato Hamburger casserole. It’s quick, simple and very filling. This recipe takes 45 minutes in oven time, but this gives you time to make a salad or side dish to go along with the casserole.
Ingredients for Potato Hamburger Casserole
You will need three potatoes sliced thinly. If you have a multipurpose grater this will help, otherwise peel and carefully slice the potatoes with a sharp knife. This recipe calls for one pound of hamburger, which will look like too much at first, but keep in mind this will cook down. You will need to slice one small onion, and either slice or grate four ounces of Cheddar cheese, or use packaged grated cheese. You will also need to have a ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt, 1 16-ounce can of green beans, or if you prefer 16 ounces of freshly sautéed green beans, ½ can of milk, and 1 can of cream of celery soup.
Putting the Casserole Together
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a casserole dish. You can if you prefer use margarine, or spray the bottom of the dish with cooking spray. Spread the sliced potatoes on the bottom of the dish as evenly as possible. Brown the hamburger meat along with the slices of onion. Once browned put these on top of the potatoes. Add the garlic salt as this point rather than later as it will incorporate better with the meat and potatoes when you do. The next layer is the green beans. Mix the milk and celery soup together then pour them over the beans. Take the grated cheese and spread this out evenly over the top without mixing into the contents. Just place a topping of the cheese.
When the dish is ready with all the ingredients put the dish in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Put a lid on the dish, and continue to bake for another 10 minutes.
Serving the Casserole
You can serve this casserole with a light green salad and crunchy breadsticks. It is a filling dish, and great for cold winter’s day. A good hamburger casserole is always the best excuse for a family to spend some time together.
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Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a casserole dish. You can if you prefer use margarine, or spray the bottom of the dish with cooking spray. Spread the sliced potatoes on the bottom of the dish as evenly as possible. Brown the hamburger meat along with the slices of onion. Once browned put these on top of the potatoes. Add the garlic salt as this point rather than later as it will incorporate better with the meat and potatoes when you do. The next layer is the green beans. Mix the milk and celery soup together then pour them over the beans. Take the grated cheese and spread this out evenly over the top without mixing into the contents. Just place a topping of the cheese.
When the dish is ready with all the ingredients put the dish in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Put a lid on the dish, and continue to bake for another 10 minutes.
Serving the Casserole
You can serve this casserole with a light green salad and crunchy breadsticks. It is a filling dish, and great for cold winter’s day. A good hamburger casserole is always the best excuse for a family to spend some time together.
Have you ever heard about stuffed burgers ? Would you like try it at home ? Find how StufZ, can help you to prepare homemade stuffed burgers in minutes.