Making a Hobo Casserole

This variation on a traditional hobo dinner includes all the ingredients you love, but combines them into a casserole that is perfect for serving alongside a tossed garden salad. This recipe will serve four to six people easily and takes very little prep time.

Things You'll Need:

1 lb. ground beef
5 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 large carrots, cleaned and sliced
1 large onion, sliced
1 15 oz. can of English peas
1 10 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup
2/3 cup water
1 10 oz. can of French fried onions

Step 1

Crumble and brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain the cooked meat and set aside.

Step 2

Combine the potatoes, carrots and onion slices into a casserole dish. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss the three ingredients so they are intermingled nicely.

Step 3

Drain the can of English peas and add the peas to the raw vegetables. Blend the peas in so they are thoroughly mixed with the other three ingredients.

Step 4

Add the contents of the can of cream of mushroom soup to the vegetables. Pour in the water while working the condensed soup around the vegetables until all the ingredients are coated with a more or less even layer. If the mixture seems a little thick, add a little more water.

Step 5

Stir the cooked hamburger into the vegetable mixture, making sure the meat is evenly distributed throughout the casserole.

Step 6

Bake the casserole in a preheated oven set at 350 degrees for about thirty minutes. Remove from the oven and add the French fried onions to the top of the mixture. Place back in the oven for five minutes or until the French-fried onions are a golden brown.

Tips & WarningsYou can cut down on the prep time by using cans of sliced potatoes and carrots, and purchasing diced onions from the frozen foods section at the grocery store. For a really quick short cut, buy several cans of mixed vegetables that contain potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery. Make sure to drain off the liquid before using the contents of the cans. Overcooking will result in a very dry casserole. You want the potatoes and carrots to be done but not cooked to pieces