French Fry Casserole

French fry casserole is a crowd-pleasing comfort food dish combining golden fries, savory ground beef, creamy sauces, and melted cheese for a delectable and easy-to-make meal.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: French Fry Casserole Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 685kcal

Ingredients

32 ounces frozen crinkle-cut French fries
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
½ cup sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup
10.5 ounces cheddar cheese soup
2 tablespoons half and half
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
3 cups mild cheddar cheese, freshly grated (divided into 1 cup and 2 cups)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread the entire bag of frozen crinkle-cut fries in a single layer over the prepared baking sheet. Evenly sprinkle the kosher salt and cracked black pepper over the frozen fries. Bake for 20-25 minutes. (This will ensure that the French fries are cooked and not soggy) All ovens cook differently, so keep a close eye on your fries.
While the French fries are baking, add the 2 pounds of ground beef and finely chopped onions to a 4 to 5-quart stockpot or a 10 to 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Stir the ground beef and onions often until the ground beef is cooked through and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.
Lower the heat to medium. Stir in the soups, half and half, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for just 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat.
Spray a 9x13 (or 13x9) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Evenly spread the ground beef and soup mixture into the sprayed baking dish.
Sprinkle 1 cup of the freshly shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the ground beef mixture.
Remove the fries from the oven. Using a spatula, carefully spread the fries over the top of the shredded cheddar layer.
Evenly sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheddar over the top of the French fries. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bottom ground beef layer is bubbly. Serve while hot.

Notes

We recommend shredding your cheese from the block for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese tends to have a preservative coating that prevents the cheese from melting well.
Baking the fries first before adding the beef mixture will ensure that the French fries are cooked and not soggy.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your french fry cheeseburger casserole as the suggested cooking time approaches.

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