Hamburger Mushroom Cheesy Bake (Printable version)
Ground beef and mushrooms baked in a creamy cheese sauce with crispy breadcrumb topping.
# What you need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 ½ lbs ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
→ Sauces & Dairy
05 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
06 - ½ cup sour cream
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - ¼ cup milk
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - ½ tsp salt
12 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ Topping
13 - 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
# How To:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned and crumbly, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet; cook 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in sliced mushrooms; cook another 5 minutes until tender and liquid has mostly evaporated.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
06 - Add the beef and mushroom mixture to the bowl; stir well to coat everything evenly with the sauce mixture.
07 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with shredded cheddar cheese.
08 - In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs or crushed crackers with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the cheese layer.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges.
10 - Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set for easier scooping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its the kind of meal that makes everyone pause their conversations and reach for seconds without thinking
- The creamy mushroom sauce creates this incredible richness that still manages to feel like home cooking not restaurant food
- You can assemble it ahead and tuck it in the fridge which has saved me more times than I can count
02 -
- I once skipped draining the beef and the whole thing turned out greasy so please dont skip that step
- The sauce might look thin going into the oven but it thickens beautifully while baking
03 -
- Fresh breadcrumbs from dayold bread create the most delicious crunchy topping
- Letting it rest those 5 minutes seems unnecessary but it makes serving so much easier