Description
Crispy golden french fry casserole brings comfort food to new heights with its layers of cheesy goodness and hearty meat. Melted cheese, crisp potato edges, and savory ground beef create a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 32 ounces (907 grams) frozen crinkle-cut French fries
- 3 cups (340 grams) mild cheddar cheese, freshly grated
Soup and Liquid Ingredients:
- 10.5 ounces (298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 10.5 ounces (298 grams) cheddar cheese soup
- 2 tablespoons half and half
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F, preparing a standard casserole dish for assembly.
- Prepare frozen French fries according to package instructions, ensuring they reach a golden crispy texture.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef with diced onions, seasoning with salt and pepper until meat is fully cooked and onions are translucent.
- Create a rich sauce by combining cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese soup, half and half, and Worcestershire sauce, stirring until smooth and well-integrated.
- Arrange the crispy French fries as the base layer in the prepared casserole dish, creating an even foundation.
- Carefully pour the beef and sauce mixture over the fries, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Generously distribute the first portion of cheddar cheese across the casserole surface.
- Bake the initial layer for 20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and cheese to begin melting.
- Remove casserole from oven, top with remaining cheese, and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes until cheese is fully melted and slightly bubbly.
Notes
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium soups and selecting a reduced-fat ground beef for a healthier version.
- Swap traditional French fries with sweet potato fries or baked potato wedges for a nutritious twist that keeps the comfort food essence.
- Create a vegetarian alternative by replacing ground beef with plant-based crumbles or black beans, maintaining the rich, hearty flavor profile.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to help cheese set and make serving easier without losing warmth or texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 486 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg