Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole (Printer-Friendly Version)

Ground beef, melted cheese, crispy fries, and tangy sauce combined in one family-pleasing comfort dish.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Meat and Main Components

01 - 900 g ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 1 medium onion, finely diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 750 g frozen shoestring French fries

→ Seasonings and Sauce Base

05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Casserole Creamy Layer

09 - 305 g can cheddar cheese soup
10 - 305 g can cream of mushroom soup

→ Cheesy Topping

11 - 220 g sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

→ Burger Sauce

12 - 120 g mayonnaise
13 - 30 g tomato ketchup
14 - 15 g yellow mustard
15 - 2 teaspoons pickle juice
16 - 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion flakes
17 - A pinch of ground black pepper

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 200°C. Arrange shoestring fries in a single layer and air fry per package instructions until golden and crisp. Transfer to a tray and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onions, cooking until beef is browned and onions have softened. Break up the meat as it browns.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds, until fragrant. Avoid browning the garlic.
04 - Add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly and drain excess fat from the skillet to prevent a greasy base.
05 - Add cheddar cheese soup and cream of mushroom soup to the meat mixture. Stir well to create a cohesive and creamy filling.
06 - Grease a 28 x 18 cm casserole dish (7x11 in). Spread the prepared beef mixture evenly over the bottom. Layer the cooked fries across the top, followed by an even sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese.
07 - Preheat oven to 175°C. Bake the assembled casserole for 10–15 minutes or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling. Monitor closely to prevent fries from over-browning.
08 - While baking, whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, dehydrated onions, and a pinch of pepper in a bowl until smooth and well-integrated. Refrigerate until ready for use.
09 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking. Generously drizzle burger sauce over the top and serve hot.

# Handy Cooking Tips:

01 - Pre-cooking fries separately prevents sogginess and ensures a crispy topping.
02 - Use sharp cheddar for pronounced flavor; mild cheeses may get lost in the dish.
03 - Resting before serving allows cheese to set and avoids burns from molten filling.
04 - Make extra burger sauce—guests often request more.

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