Hamburger Mushroom Bake (Printable)

Savory ground beef and mushrooms baked with creamy sauce and cheesy breadcrumb topping for an easy family dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1.5 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 - 0.5 cup sour cream
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 0.25 cup milk

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 0.5 tsp salt
12 - 0.5 tsp black pepper

→ Topping

13 - 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and crumbly, approximately 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in sliced mushrooms and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until completely smooth and well incorporated.
06 - Add the cooked beef and vegetable mixture to the sauce bowl. Stir thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
07 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese uniformly over the top.
08 - In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs or crushed crackers with melted butter. Mix well until breadcrumbs are evenly moistened, then sprinkle over the cheese layer.
09 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until the topping is golden brown, the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the casserole is heated through.
10 - Remove from oven and let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to set and makes serving easier.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crispy buttered topping against the creamy filling creates the most satisfying contrast in every bite
  • Everything comes together in one dish while the oven does the heavy lifting
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have had more time to become friends
02 -
  • The rest period is not optional if you want clean squares instead of a sloppy mess on the plate
  • Overcooking the mushrooms before assembling makes them rubbery so watch them closely
  • You can assemble everything ahead and refrigerate but add 5 extra minutes to the baking time
03 -
  • Use fresh breadcrumbs made from day-old bread instead of store-bought for the best texture
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for better melting

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