- Building Flavorful Meat Foundation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a greased 9×13-inch baking dish for easy serving and cleanup. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef with diced onion and minced garlic, breaking the meat into small, uniform pieces as it browns completely. Continue cooking until no pink remains and the onions become translucent and fragrant, about seven to eight minutes total. Drain any excess fat thoroughly to prevent the finished casserole from becoming greasy.
- Creating Creamy Vegetable Base
- Return the drained beef mixture to the skillet and stir in the green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and paprika until everything combines into a cohesive, well-seasoned mixture. The consistency should be creamy but not too thick, with the vegetables evenly distributed throughout the seasoned beef base. Taste and adjust salt as needed, remembering that the cheese will add additional saltiness.
- Strategic Layering For Perfect Results
- Transfer the prepared mixture to your greased baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom to ensure consistent cooking throughout. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the entire surface, making sure every area gets covered for maximum melted cheese goodness. Top with French fried onions, distributing them uniformly to create that signature crispy layer that makes this casserole so irresistible.
- Achieving Golden Bubbly Perfection
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes until the casserole bubbles around the edges and the cheese melts completely into golden perfection. The fried onions should become even more golden and crispy while the entire casserole heats through evenly. Watch during the final few minutes to ensure the onions don’t burn while achieving that perfect color.
- Final Resting For Optimal Serving
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for five minutes before serving, which allows the layers to set slightly while maintaining optimal serving temperature. This brief resting period prevents the mixture from being too liquidy when served while ensuring everyone can enjoy it without burning their mouths
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