Inspired by a cheerful video from The Stay At Home Chef, this hobo casserole brings old-fashioned comfort to the modern kitchen. The recipe is an easy, hearty casserole that layers thinly sliced potatoes, seasoned ground beef, and sharp cheddar, all smothered in a creamy green-chile sauce. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or freezing for later—exactly the kind of practical cooking, recipes, bon apetit that home cooks love.
Why this hobo casserole works
This dish traces its roots to Depression-era hobo foil packets: inexpensive, portable meals cooked over a fire. The casserole keeps the same spirit—simple ingredients, big flavor—but updates it for the oven. The creamy sauce (made with real butter, cream, and sour cream) replaces canned soup, giving a fresh, homemade taste. It’s filling, crowd-pleasing, and easy to scale up for a larger pan.
Key takeaways
- Feeds about six in a 9x9-inch pan; double the ingredients for a 9x13-inch pan.
- Made from scratch—no canned soup—so flavors are fresher and more customizable.
- Great for meal prep and freezer meals: assemble, wrap, and freeze before baking.
- Perfect example of practical cooking, recipes, bon apetit—homestyle comfort without fuss.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for potatoes)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (Tabasco recommended)
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 recommended)
- 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/4-inch)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar (freshly shredded melts best)
Step-by-step instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.
- Start the sauce: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook about 5 minutes until softened.
- Sprinkle in the flour, stirring and cooking 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly add chicken broth, heavy cream, and sour cream. Lower heat and warm 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in diced green chiles, salt, black pepper, and hot sauce. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium-high, brown the ground beef, breaking it up and seasoning with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Drain any excess grease.
- Peel and thinly slice the russets into roughly 1/4-inch slices. Layer them evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Top the potatoes with the browned beef, then drizzle the creamy sauce evenly so it soaks through.
- Sprinkle one cup of sharp cheddar over the top. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown the cheese and make it bubbly.
Tips, variations, and make-ahead options
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or a plant-based substitute for a lighter or vegetarian twist.
- Add a layer of sautéed peppers or a cup of corn for extra color and texture.
- Want more heat? Increase the hot sauce or stir in a pinch of cayenne.
- Freezer-friendly method: assemble in a foil pan, wrap tightly, and freeze before baking. Thaw overnight and bake as directed.
- For even creamier sauce, use full-fat sour cream and freshly grate the cheddar.
Serving suggestions
Serve straight from the pan with a crisp green salad, steamed vegetables, or a simple slaw to balance the richness. Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven or microwave—comfort food that keeps on giving. This recipe exemplifies easy, satisfying cooking, recipes, bon apetit for families and meal planners alike.
Final thoughts
Hobo casserole is the kind of happy, homey recipe that hits all the right notes: economical, forgiving, and delicious. With a creamy homemade sauce and layers of tender potatoes and savory beef, it’s a perfect weeknight winner and a smart option for make-ahead meals. Try it once and it will likely become a regular in the rotation of comforting cooking, recipes, bon apetit.
This article was created from the video Hobo Casserole with the help of AI.
Hobo Casserole — comforting cooking, recipes, bon apetit from The Stay At Home Chef. There are any Hobo Casserole — comforting cooking, recipes, bon apetit from The Stay At Home Chef in here.
