Description
Comfort food reaches new heights with this french fry casserole packed with cheesy, meaty layers. Crispy potatoes, savory ground beef, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bag (28 oz / 794 g) frozen French fries
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese blend)
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk or broth
- 1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream (optional)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to a sizzling 375°F (190°C), ensuring a perfectly heated cooking environment.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and diced onions over medium heat, meticulously draining any excess fat to maintain a lean base.
- Enhance the meat mixture with a symphony of seasonings: garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Incorporate cream of mushroom soup and liquid (milk or broth), allowing the mixture to simmer and meld together for 5 minutes, creating a rich, cohesive sauce.
- Transfer the seasoned beef mixture into a greased casserole dish, spreading it uniformly to create a robust foundation.
- Artfully arrange frozen French fries in a single, strategic layer across the beef base, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the fries transform into golden, crispy perfection.
- Generously blanket the surface with shredded cheddar cheese, returning to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes to achieve a molten, bubbling cheese topping.
- Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or green onions, presenting a vibrant, comforting dish ready to be served piping hot.
Notes
- Boost flavor by using homemade seasoned ground beef with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for deeper taste profile.
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for healthier or vegetarian alternative that maintains rich protein content.
- Customize cheese layer by mixing different varieties like mozzarella, pepper jack, or smoked gouda to create unique flavor combinations.
- Enhance crispiness of French fries by lightly spraying them with cooking oil before baking and placing casserole on top oven rack for maximum browning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg