Description
Hearty Amish Harvest Casserole delivers pure comfort with layers of seasonal vegetables and creamy textures that sing of homestyle cooking. Generations of farm kitchens perfected this satisfying dish you’ll savor down to the last comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb / 454 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) carrots, sliced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) potatoes, diced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) green beans, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the protein base by thoroughly browning ground beef in a skillet, ensuring complete rendering of excess fat. Incorporate finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until aromatics become translucent and fragrant.
- Transfer the meat mixture into a slow cooker, creating a foundational layer for the hearty casserole. Carefully arrange diced carrots, cubed potatoes, sweet corn kernels, and tender green beans atop the seasoned meat.
- Delicately pour creamy mushroom soup over the vegetable medley, using gentle circular motions to distribute evenly. Sprinkle a blend of dried thyme and parsley across the surface, gently folding ingredients to ensure uniform seasoning and moisture distribution.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature, allowing ingredients to meld and develop deep, rich flavors over 6-7 hours. Vegetables should become fork-tender and ingredients harmoniously integrated.
- During the final half hour of cooking, generously scatter sharp cheddar cheese across the casserole’s surface. Allow cheese to melt completely, creating a golden, bubbling topping that adds luxurious creaminess.
- After cooking completes, permit the casserole to rest for 10-12 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and sauce to slightly thicken. Serve warm, allowing each portion to showcase the perfectly blended ingredients.
Notes
- Optimize meat flavor by using high-quality ground beef with 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for extra richness and juiciness.
- Boost vegetable nutrition by substituting frozen veggies with fresh seasonal produce from local farmers’ markets.
- Accommodate gluten-sensitive diets by replacing mushroom soup with homemade cream sauce using gluten-free flour or cornstarch.
- Enhance protein content for vegetarian versions by
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg