The first burger was supposedly eaten in 1885… which means we’ve had those juicy, savory flavors for a long time! With all the time that has passed, we’ve been able to figure out different combinations and variations to make the options available to you better and better! Take Everything-But-The-Bun Casserole for example. It’s served over a bed of crispy crinkle fries and topped with all your favorites, like flavorful hamburger, melty cheese, a creamy, tangy special sauce, and all your favorite burger toppings. So, you can see, it’s missing the bun, but don’t you worry, it isn’t missing an ounce of flavor! New inventions are just the best, and Everything-But-The-Bun Casserole is the most delicious one there’s ever been!
Ingredients
For the casserole:
- 1 (28-ounce bag) frozen crinkle-cut fries
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon dry minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups American cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
For the toppings:
- tomatoes, to taste, diced
- lettuce, to taste, shredded
- dill pickles, to taste, chopped
- bacon bits, to taste
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 –In the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, evenly spread the fries.
Step 3 –Bake the fries, stirring halfway through, until they are heated through, about 25-30 minutes.
Step 4 –While the fries are baking, in a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, the minced onion, the salt, the pepper, and the garlic powder, while stirring and crumbling the beef, until the beef is no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 5 –Transfer the beef mixture to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Step 6 –Transfer the fries from the oven and flip them.
Step 7 –Sprinkle the fries with 1/2 of the shredded cheese, then top the cheese with the beef mixture.
Step 8 –Sprinkle the beef mixture with the remaining cheese.
Step 9 –Bake the beef and fry mixture until the cheese has melted, about 10 minutes.
Step 10 –While the mixture is baking, in a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, the ketchup, the lemon juice, and the paprika together.
Step 11 –Drizzle the sauce over the top of the cooked casserole.
Step 12 –Top the casserole with the tomatoes, the lettuce, the pickles, and the bacon.
Step 13 –Serve.
