Hobo Casserole is a comfort food casserole with beef, potatoes, cheese and a delicious cream sauce. Our green chile cream sauce is completely made from scratch. Unlike traditional casseroles that rely on canned soup, our recipe delivers rich from-scratch flavor without a lot of effort.
For other delicious casserole recipes, try ours Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole or us Delicious Taco Casserole.
Why our recipe?
- Creamy homemade sauce (no cream here!) loaded with flavor from green chiles and garlic.
- Layer potatoes, seasoned beef and melted cheddar cheese for ultimate comfort.
- A time-saving option is to swap potatoes with frozen hashbrowns.
This casserole has a few simple ingredients you may already have on hand, as well as a delicious cream sauce that's packed with flavor. Once you make the sauce and prepare the ingredients, you bake it in the oven, making most of it very nice.
Material notes
- Ground Beef: Choose lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10) to avoid excess grease. Ground turkey or chicken can also be used.
- Russet Potatoes: Best for this dish as they keep their shape well. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds for even cooking. Substitute with Yukon Gold potatoes for a creamier texture.
- Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded cheese, which contains anti-caking agents. Feel free to experiment with Monterey Jack or Mexican blends
- White Onion: If you have a yellow onion on hand, it will work for this recipe as well.
- Chicken Broth: Canned chicken broth, bouillon or chicken stock all work in this recipe.
- Heavy Cream: You can substitute half and half if needed, but the sauce won't be as creamy.
- Sour Cream: Along with the heavy cream it makes the sauce super rich and creamy.
- Chopped green chilies: This sauce adds a nice kick. You can find them in small cans at your grocery store.
- Hot Sauce: You can use your favorite hot sauce here. Feel free to add a little more to the sauce if you want to kick things up a bit more.
Potato substitute
When it comes to cutting potatoes, you have a few options, depending on your equipment and how much time you have. Whichever method you choose, aim for thin, even slices (about 1/4 inch) so they cook evenly.
Sharp knife: Classic choice! If you're using a knife, start by cutting the potato in half lengthwise so you have a flat, stable surface. Then cut to consistency. Pro Tip: A sharp knife makes this a lot easier (and safer!).
Mandolin: Got a mandolin? Lucky you! This is the fastest way to get paper-thin, uniform slices. Just remember to use guards (seriously, protect those fingers!) and take it slow. You'll have a pile of perfect slices in no time.
Food Processor: If you want to save time, grab your food processor with a slicing blade attachment. It will cut your potatoes quickly and evenly with just a few strokes.
Using frozen hashbrowns
Need to save some time? Frozen hashbrowns to the rescue! You should have about 3 pounds (or 48 ounces) of shredded pork. No thawing is required for the slices. Layer them in the baking dish as you would sliced potatoes.
Since they cook quickly, you can cut the baking time down to about 35-40 minutes and let that cheesy top layer get golden and bubbly.
Make it a freezer meal
If you make one, you might as well make two! This casserole is perfect for the freezer – you'll thank yourself later! Put it all together, but don't bake it yet. Wrap the dish in two snug layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil to keep fresh and prevent freezer-burn. Be sure to label it with the date and baking instructions! It will keep for up to 3 months.
When you're ready to dig in, let it thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake as usual, adding an extra 10-15 minutes for good measure.
For a tip: Freeze it in small portions for quick individual meals – pop it in the microwave or oven when you're hungry.
Make-ahead
Hobo Casserole is the definition of make-head friendly. If you're short on time, assemble the casserole completely, but hold off on baking it. Cover it nice and tight with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
When the time is up, pull it out and let it hang at room temperature for 20 minutes while the oven preheats. Then bake as directed, adding an extra 5-10 minutes to make sure it's all hot and bubbly. Simple PC!
Serving advice
The Hobo Casserole is hearty enough to stand on its own, but there are plenty of delicious options if you want to round out your meal! A simple green salad, roasted broccoli or green beans are all great vegetables. Crusty bread or dinner rolls make a great dip in the creamy sauce.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Reheat Microwave portions in 30-second increments or in the oven at 300℉ for about 20 minutes.
