This Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole has seasoned ground beef, a tangy ketchup-mustard sauce, melted cheese and crispy fries on top! An easy one-pan dinner!
A KID-FRIENDLY WEEKNIGHT DINNER
Casseroles are a lifesaver on busy weeknights, and this one tastes exactly like eating a cheeseburger and fries but in casserole form. I originally planned to grill burgers one night, but then realized we had my son’s football game and no time to stand at the grill. So I took the same ingredients and turned them into this casserole instead. The fries get crispy on top, the beef has that classic burger flavor from the ketchup and mustard, and the whole thing comes together in one pan. My kids went crazy for it!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Can I use tater tots instead of fries?
Absolutely! Tater tots work great. Just swap them in and bake the same way.
Do the fries really get crispy?
Yes! As long as you don’t overcrowd them and you bake it long enough, they get nice and golden. If they’re not crispy enough for you, stick the whole thing under the broiler for a few minutes at the end.
Can I add other toppings?
For sure! Bacon would be amazing in this. So would jalapeños if you like spice. Diced onions or bell peppers would work too.
What kind of fries should I use?
Any frozen fries work. I usually just grab whatever’s on sale. Steak fries, shoestring fries, crinkle cut – they all work fine.
Do I use the fries straight from the freezer?
Yep, no need to thaw them. Just dump them on top frozen.
Can I make this ahead?
You can prep everything and assemble it, then cover it and stick it in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just pop it in the oven. Might need a few extra minutes since it’s starting cold.
How do I reheat leftovers?
The microwave works but the fries get soggy. Put them back in the oven to keep the fries crispy, or broil them for a few minutes.
Can I use a different cream soup?
Sure! Cream of cheddar would be really good. Cream of chicken or cream of celery would work too.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- ground beef – one pound. I usually use 85/15 but whatever you have works.
- dill pickle relish – this gives it that classic burger taste. You can use sweet relish if that’s what you have.
- ketchup and mustard – these make the sauce that gives it burger flavor.
- garlic – fresh minced garlic. About 4 cloves.
- cream of mushroom soup – one can. You could use cream of cheddar instead.
- cheddar cheese – shredded. About a cup.
- frozen french fries – a 24-ounce bag. Any style works.
HOW TO MAKE CHEESEBURGER FRENCH FRY CASSEROLE:
Turn your oven on to 350F degrees.
Brown your ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Break it up as it cooks. When it’s all cooked through and no pink is left, drain off the grease using a colander.
Dump the drained beef into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Grab a small bowl and mix together the pickle relish, ketchup, mustard, minced garlic, and cream of mushroom soup. Stir it all up until it’s combined.
Pour this sauce mixture right over the ground beef in the baking dish.
Sprinkle your shredded cheddar cheese all over the top of the sauce.
Now comes the fun part – cover the whole thing with frozen french fries. Just lay them out in an even layer until everything’s covered.
Stick the dish in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes. The fries should be golden and crispy on top.
Pull it out and let it sit for a few minutes before serving. If your fries aren’t as crispy as you want, turn on the broiler for a couple minutes at the end.
TIPS AND VARIATIONS:
- If one pound of beef doesn’t seem like enough for your family, use two pounds. You don’t need to adjust the sauce ingredients.
- Swap the fries for tater tots if you want.
- Add cooked bacon pieces to the beef before you add the sauce.
- Throw in some diced jalapeños for heat.
- Leftovers are great! Reheat in the oven to keep the fries crispy.
Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup dill pickle relish
- 3 Tablespoons ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons mustard
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag 24 oz frozen french fries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
- Cook 1 pound ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Drain fat using a colander and place cooked meat into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup dill pickle relish, 3 Tablespoons ketchup, 3 Tablespoons mustard, 4 cloves garlic, minced, and 1 can cream of mushroom soup. Mix well.
- Pour sauce mixture over the ground beef in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the sauce.
- Cover the top of the casserole with 1 bag frozen french fries in an even layer.
- Bake for 40 minutes until fries are golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Can use 2 pounds of ground beef for a meatier casserole without adjusting other ingredients.
- Tater tots can be substituted for french fries.
- Add cooked bacon, diced jalapeños, or sautéed onions and peppers for extra flavor.
- Cream of cheddar or cream of chicken soup can replace cream of mushroom.
- Sweet pickle relish can be used instead of dill pickle relish.
- If fries aren’t crispy enough, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end.
- Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake. May need a few extra minutes if baking from cold.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven to keep fries crispy. Microwave makes them soggy.
