Description
Crazy good casserole brings comfort and joy to dinner tables with its hearty layers of savory ingredients. Cheesy, creamy, and packed with flavor, this dish promises to satisfy hungry families and create lasting mealtime memories.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 lb bacon, chopped
- 2 cups shredded chicken
Starches and Vegetables:
- 3 cups hash browns, frozen
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 1 cup corn kernels
Dairy and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup butter
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp ranch seasoning mix
- 1/4 cup chopped chives
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, crisp the chopped bacon over medium-high heat until golden and rendering its rich fat, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Using the same skillet, brown the ground beef with diced onions, breaking the meat into small crumbles and seasoning with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Drain any excess fat from the beef mixture and combine it with the cooked chicken, crispy bacon, frozen hash browns, and cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk together sour cream, heavy cream, eggs, and ranch seasoning mix in a separate bowl until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Pour the creamy mixture over the protein and potato blend, gently folding to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Fold in corn kernels and half of the shredded cheddar cheese, mixing thoroughly to create a cohesive casserole base.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly and topping with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs.
- Dot the surface with small pieces of butter to enhance golden browning and rich flavor.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown, cheese is melted, and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes to set, then garnish with chopped chives before serving.
Notes
- Swap out bacon for turkey bacon or omit entirely to create a lighter, lower-fat version of the casserole.
- Make the dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and replacing breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or cornflakes.
- Reduce sodium content by choosing low-sodium ranch seasoning mix and minimizing added salt during cooking.
- Prepare ingredients ahead of time to streamline the assembly process and make weeknight cooking faster and easier.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg