This hamburger casserole recipe is a little like traditional Shepherd’s pie, but with a twist. It's a frugal recipe that's delicious!
Because hamburger is so inexpensive, hamburger casserole recipes are great low cost recipes that go a long way.
The combination of beef with sugar and raisins in this hamburger casserole may sound a little weird, as well as the olives in the corn mixture but this is a really tasty dish... the flavors do blend together nicely. Omit the olives if you're not keen on them, it will still be really good!
Ingredients:
1½ pounds coarsely ground lean beef 1 cup onion; chopped 1 dried chile pod; crushed ¼ cup raisins 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon Ffeshly ground black pepper 2 cups fresh corn ½ cup tomatoes; chopped 10 black olives; cut in half ½ teaspoon oregano More black pepper to taste 1½ cup hot mashed potatoes 1 teaspoon paprika
Method:
In a heavy skillet, brown the meat.
Add the onion and chile; saute with the meat until the onion is limp and translucent.
Stir in the raisins, brown sugar, cumin, salt and pepper. Heat thoroughly and set aside.
In a saucepan combine the corn and tomatoes with a little water. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 min.
Add olives, oregano and perhaps some more pepper; simmer another 2 minutes.
Assemble a casserole with a bottom layer of the ground beef mixture; then the corn mixture and top with a layer of mashed potatoes.
Pat the potato layer down and smooth it. Sprinkle on the paprika and bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 min or until the top has browned a bit.
Source: original recipe by Jim Weller based vaguely on a long ago meal in a Chilean restaurant.
This hamburger casserole recipe is a little like traditional Shepherd’s pie, but with a twist. It's a frugal recipe that's delicious! 
