Grandma’s Ground Beef Chow Mein Casserole: A Comfort Food Classic
This cherished casserole recipe hails straight from my grandma’s kitchen in Wisconsin and was always a favorite whenever we visited her as kids. Grandma’s Ground Beef Chow Mein Casserole, also known as chop suey casserole, combines savory ground beef and vegetables with a creamy soup mixture and rice. It all bakes together into a warm, bubbly dish that’s topped with crispy chow mein noodles for a delightful crunch.
Why You’ll Love This Casserole:
- Hearty and satisfying: The perfect blend of savory beef, crunchy veggies, and creamy soup.
- Simple and quick: Easy to prepare and cooks in just over an hour.
- Family-friendly: Perfect for a crowd or family dinner.
- Crispy topping: The chow mein noodles provide a satisfying crunch in every bite.
The Magic of This Dish:
There’s something magical about this casserole that’s hard to beat. The tender ground beef sautéed with onions gives it a robust, savory flavor. The addition of celery and water chestnuts provides a nice crunch, while the combo of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups creates a luscious, velvety sauce that binds it all together.
This dish is comfort food at its finest, a perfect all-in-one meal that’s hearty enough to satisfy and easy enough to prepare for a crowd.
How to Make Grandma’s Ground Beef Chow Mein Casserole:
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the Beef Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the browned ground beef, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, diced onion, chopped celery, chopped water chestnuts, uncooked rice, water, and soy sauce. Stir it all together until well mixed.
- Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes, until it’s hot and bubbly.
- Add the Noodles: Remove the foil and sprinkle the chow mein noodles evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the noodles to crisp up.
- Cool and Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Grandma’s Ground Beef Chow Mein Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef (browned and drained)
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 8 oz can water chestnuts (drained and chopped)
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 5 oz chow mein noodles
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix the browned ground beef, soups, onion, celery, water chestnuts, rice, water, and soy sauce.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with foil.
- Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes until bubbly, then remove the foil.
- Sprinkle the chow mein noodles evenly over the casserole and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
This Ground Beef Chow Mein Casserole is a fantastic way to bring some comfort into your kitchen. The crispy noodles on top and creamy, savory filling make it the perfect dish to feed the whole family. Enjoy this Midwestern classic that’s been passed down through the generations!