Description
A quick, 30-minute comfort food casserole that captures the flavors of a classic cheeseburger with ground beef, sharp cheddar, pickles, and a creamy roux-based sauce, topped with crispy potato chips.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1 cup crushed potato chips (for topping)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion, mince garlic, chop pickles, and grate cheddar cheese.
- Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned. Drain excess grease if desired, but leave some for flavor. Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make the roux: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and melt. Sprinkle flour over the beef mixture and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
- Build the sauce: Slowly pour in milk while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice. Stir well and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add the cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Gradually add grated cheddar, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. If too thick, add a splash of milk.
- Add the pickles: Stir in chopped dill pickles. Taste and adjust salt if needed, keeping in mind the saltiness of the cheese and pickles.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with crushed potato chips for crunch. Alternatively, sprinkle chips on top and broil for 2 minutes until golden.
Notes
Use fresh garlic and grate your own cheese for the best texture and flavor. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy. If the sauce is too watery, let it simmer longer or add more cheese. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour. For a dairy-free version, substitute with coconut milk and dairy-free cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with topping
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: cheeseburger casserole, quick dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipe, 30 minute meals, family friendly, easy casserole