Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

01 - 900 g ground beef (80-85% lean)
02 - 1 bag (approximately 570 g) shoestring French fries
03 - 305 g canned cream of mushroom soup
04 - 305 g canned cheddar cheese soup
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 200 g shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Burger sauce

11 - 120 ml mayonnaise
12 - 60 ml ketchup
13 - 30 ml yellow mustard
14 - 15 ml pickle juice
15 - 1 tablespoon dehydrated onions
16 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 175°C.
02 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and diced yellow onion for 8–10 minutes, breaking up meat until browned and onions are softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
04 - Drain excess fat from the skillet. Add cheddar cheese soup and cream of mushroom soup to the beef mixture and stir until fully combined and creamy.
05 - Prepare shoestring French fries according to package instructions until crisp, preferably using an air fryer.
06 - Spread the beef and soup mixture evenly into a 28 x 18 cm casserole dish. Layer the cooked fries on top.
07 - Scatter shredded cheddar cheese over the French fries. Bake for 10–15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
08 - In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, dehydrated onions, and black pepper. Mix until smooth.
09 - Allow casserole to cool for several minutes. Drizzle with burger sauce, slice, and serve warm.

# Notes:

01 - Swap ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version, or use tater tots or crinkle-cut fries as an alternative topping.
02 - Diced pickles, jalapeños, crispy bacon, or sautéed mushrooms can enhance the flavor profile.
03 - To make ahead, assemble without fries and cheese, refrigerate, and add those just before baking.
04 - For optimal reheating, use an oven or air fryer to maintain crispness.
05 - Freeze the assembled dish prior to baking; thaw completely before adding fries and cheese, then bake.
06 - Reserve a portion of fries, bake separately, and add prior to serving for extra texture.
07 - If cheddar cheese soup is unavailable, combine melted cheddar with a splash of milk or substitute with other creamy cheese-based soups.

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