Description
This Cheeseburger and Fries Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish that combines crispy crinkle cut fries with seasoned ground beef and melted American cheese, topped with a tangy homemade sauce and fresh burger toppings. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing dinner, this casserole delivers all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger in an easy-to-make baked casserole form.
Ingredients
Scale
Fries
- 1 28-ounce bag frozen Grown In Idaho Super Crispy Crinkle Cut Fries
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon dry minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded American cheese
Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Toppings
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped dill pickles
- Optional: bacon bits
Instructions
- Prepare Fries: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Spread the frozen crinkle cut fries evenly in the bottom of a 9”x13” baking dish. Bake the fries in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Be sure to stir the fries halfway through to ensure they cook evenly and become super crispy.
- Cook Ground Beef: While the fries are baking, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef along with the dry minced onion, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Use a spatula to crumble the beef as it cooks. Sauté until the beef is browned and fully cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the cooked beef on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess grease.
- Assemble Casserole: When the fries are done, remove the baking dish from the oven and turn the fries to mix them. Sprinkle half of the shredded American cheese evenly over the fries. Next, layer the browned ground beef mixture on top of the cheese. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the beef.
- Bake Casserole: Return the assembled casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and everything to heat through.
- Prepare Sauce and Add Toppings: While the casserole bakes, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon juice, and paprika in a small bowl, mixing well. After baking, drizzle this tangy sauce over the top of the casserole. Finish by sprinkling diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, chopped dill pickles, and optional bacon bits on top to mimic classic cheeseburger toppings.
Notes
- Use frozen fries with a thick cut for best texture and crispiness.
- Feel free to substitute American cheese with cheddar or your favorite melting cheese for a different flavor.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce mix.
- Bacon bits add extra smoky flavor but are optional for meat lovers.
- Make sure to drain the cooked beef to avoid excess grease in the casserole.
