Hamburger Mushroom Bake (Printable)
Savory beef and mushroom casserole with creamy cheese topping
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 ½ pounds ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
→ Sauces & Dairy
05 - 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
06 - ½ cup sour cream
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - ¼ cup milk
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - ½ teaspoon salt
12 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
→ Topping
13 - 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and crumbly. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2–3 minutes until onion is softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in sliced mushrooms and continue cooking for 5 minutes until tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
05 - In a large bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
06 - Add the cooked beef and mushroom mixture to the bowl with the sauce. Stir thoroughly to coat everything evenly.
07 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
08 - In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs or crushed crackers with melted butter. Mix until evenly coated, then sprinkle over the cheese layer.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly around the edges.
10 - Remove from oven and let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- Its the kind of dinner that everyone actually agrees on, even the picky eaters who claim they dont like mushrooms somehow forget their objection
- You get that homemade casserole taste without spending hours in the kitchen, perfect for nights when you want comfort but not the work
02 -
- I learned the hard way that skipping the 5 minute rest period means the sauce runs everywhere when you try to serve it, so be patient and let those layers settle
- If you want to make this ahead, assemble everything but stop before baking, cover and refrigerate, then just add 5 extra minutes to the bake time since it's starting cold
03 -
- Dont skip draining most of the fat from the beef, too much grease makes the sauce separate and creates an oily layer on top
- If your topping is browning too fast, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking, nobody wants burnt breadcrumbs