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Hobo Casserole combines ground beef, onions, carrots, and potatoes in a creamy, cheesy base, topped with buttery Ritz crackers and green onions. This is a quick and easy dish that has quickly become a family favorite.

An overhead view of hobo casserole on a single serving plate with a salt and pepper shaker and the casserole dish full of it in the background.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.

Ground beef: Purchase ground beef with a little fat. Fat gives the beef flavor.
Carrots: For aesthetic purposes, peel the carrots.
Potatoes: Yukon Gold potatoes are my go-to for this dish because they hold their shape. Russet potatoes are a suitable substitute.
Soup: You can substitute all cream of mushroom soup or all cream of chicken soup, but we like the combination.
Sour cream: Use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture.
Cheese: Sharp cheddar, Colby Jack, and Pepper Jack are all great choices.
Ritz crackers: We love the Everything Ritz Crackers with this casserole, but you can use the original.

How To Make Hobo Casserole

This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.

Brown the ground beef over medium heat. While it is cooking, season it with salt and freshly ground black pepper. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and carrots.
Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and potatoes, cooking for several minutes.
Stir in the mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream.
Spoon half of the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Top with half the cheese. Spoon the rest of the mixture over the cheese and top with the remaining cheese.
Cover and bake the casserole for about 35 minutes.
Combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Top the casserole and bake uncovered for about 15 minutes.

Some of the steps for making hobo casserole. Brown the ground beef over medium heat. While it is cooking, season it with salt and freshly ground black pepper. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and carrots.

Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and potatoes, cooking for several minutes. Stir in the mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream.

Some of the steps for making hobo casserole. Spoon half of the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Top with half the cheese. Spoon the rest of the mixture over the cheese and top with the remaining cheese. Cover and bake the casserole for 35 minutes.Combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter.

Cooking Preparation Tips

Cut the potatoes into ½-¾ inch cubes for even cooking and easy eating.
Grease the casserole dish for easy clean-up.
Top the dish with green onions for a crispy finish to each bite.
This is a hearty casserole, but if you want to stretch it a bit, serve it with creamy pea salad or green goddess salad.

A spoon full of hobo casserole over a 9x13 inch casserole dish full of hobo casserole.

Recipe Variations

Meat: Substitute ground turkey, pork, or chicken. Consider adding crispy, cooked, chopped bacon.
Spice it up: Add some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or minced jalapeño.
Top it: Switch out the Ritz crackers for onion straws, crispy fried onions, potato chips, or buttery breadcrumbs.

A single serving plate full of hobo casserole with a fork and green napkin in the background.

More Ground Beef Recipes

Hobo Casserole

Hobo Casserole combines ground beef, onions, carrots, and potatoes in a creamy, cheesy base, topped with buttery Ritz crackers and green onions.

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner, main meal beef, main meal beef casserole

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 1

Servings: servings

Calories: 597kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, diced in ½ to ¾-inch cubes
1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
⅔ cup sour cream
2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 sleeve Everything Ritz crackers
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13-inch dish.
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. While it is cooking, season it with salt and freshly ground black pepper. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and carrots. Continue cooking and stirring until the onions are softened. Drain any excess grease.
Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic and potatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring.
Stir in the mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream. Spoon half of the mixture into the prepared dish. Top with half the cheese. Spoon the rest of the mixture over the cheese and top with the remaining cheese.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
Combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, then top the casserole with it. Bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the crumb topping is golden brown and potatoes are tender.
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Store leftovers, well-covered or in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in the oven covered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until warm. Or in the microwave at 50-60% power for short increments until warm.

Nutrition

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Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on this site should be used as a general guideline.