Cheeseburger Casserole

This quick and easy recipe for Cheeseburger Casserole is a family favorite... especially with kids... tastes like a fast food burger.. but made with lean ground beef... and served with oven baked fries... a perfect alternative to those fat laden fast food meals they all love.

TIPS

I made mine in a deep dish pie plate in the hopes of making it like a "pie" ... but since I didn't want a bottom crust.. it really is more like a casserole ... you scoop out a serving.

I used ultra lean ground beef... you can use whatever ground beef you prefer... just drain it after cooking.

I used sliced American cheese... to give it that fast food flavor... you can use any cheese you prefer... also add other toppings if you like.

I used Hamburger Dill Pickle Chips... which in my opinion is a must... it is what gives this that burger taste.  You will need to lay them all over the cooked ground beef... so every scoop will get some.

For the top I used a thawed frozen puff pastry sheet... just laid it on top and trimmed it to fit the dish. 

You could also use a Bisquick biscuit mix... or pie crust.. but I think the puff pastry works best.

The egg wash gives it a nice browned color and get the sesame seeds to stick.

The casserole will "draw" some water underneath because of the pickles.. no need to be concerned... it will taste delicious!

You can make this for any amount you want... just figure about a pound and a quarter of ground beef for 4 servings... and adjust the amount accordingly... same goes for the rest of the ingredients.

Try this quick and easy recipe!

Recipe:  Cheeseburger Casserole

All you need:

1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Sprinkling of salt and pepper

1 medium onion, chopped and divided

Yellow mustard

Hamburger Dill Pickle Chips

Ketchup

American cheese slices

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg (lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water)

Sesame seeds

All you need to do:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix the meat, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  In a medium skillet, brown the beef over medium high heat.

When the meat is almost completely cooked, add 3/4 of the chopped onions (reserve the remaining chopped onions).. when the meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft... remove them from the skillet and drain on paper towels.  Cool slightly.

Place the cooked beef and onions in the bottom of a deep dish pie plate or baking casserole dish.  Squeeze a zig zag pattern of mustard over the beef.  Layer the pickle chips over the top.  Then sprinkle the reserved chopped raw onion over the pickles.

Lay an even layer of cheese over the top.  Then squeeze a zig zag pattern of ketchup over the cheese.  Lay the thawed puff pastry sheet over the top and trim the extra so it fits over the casserole.  Brush the pastry with the egg wash, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. 

Serve immediately.