About
Burger and fries may not seem like a comforting, homespun meal, but when Grandma gets her hands on it, trust us — it becomes something special. Actually, you don't even need to take our word for it. Once you taste Grandma's Cheeseburger Casserole, you'll see it's true. The beef is succulent and flavorful, the hash browns are crispier than French fries, and the nacho cheese is melty and captivating. It's everything you could dream of in your typical fast-food meal reimagined into a dish that makes you feel plain happiness! Just like the lady herself, Grandma's Cheeseburger Casserole is all about making you happy.
Ingredients
- For the casserole:
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (20-ounce) package frozen hash browns
- 1 (15-ounce) jar nacho cheese sauce, can substitute cheddar cheese, shredded
- Optional, for topping:
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 head iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tomato, diced
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -In a 12-13-inch cast-iron pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Step 3 -Add the onions and the garlic to the hot oil and cook, while stirring, until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 4 -Add the ground beef, the sea salt, and the black pepper to the onion mixture and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the beef is no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes.
Step 5 -Transfer the beef mixture to a plate.
Step 6 -In the same pan over medium heat, add the remaining oil.
Step 7 -Add the hash browns to the hot oil and cook until golden-brown on the bottom, about 5-6 minutes.
Step 8 -Flip the hash browns and cook until they are fully crispy and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 9 -Layer the beef mixture over the hash browns.
Step 10 -Dollop the nacho cheese sauce over the beef mixture layer.
Step 11 -Bake the casserole until the cheese sauce is warmed through, about 15 minutes.
Step 12 -Serve with your favorite toppings.
