Hamburger pie is a delicious casserole made with ground beef, vegetables, and topped with a biscuit or cornbread crust. The name comes from the fact that the base of the dish resembles a pie, with the beef and veggie filling covered by the crust. While simple to make, it has a wonderful homestyle flavor that makes it a favorite comfort food.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients that go into making classic hamburger pie are:
- Ground beef – This provides the base of flavor and heartiness. Ground chuck or a leaner ground sirloin are good options.
- Onion – A diced yellow or white onion adds aromatics.
- Carrots – Shredded or diced carrots lend sweetness, color, and nutrients.
- Celery – Diced celery provides texture and freshness.
- Frozen mixed vegetables – A blend of peas, carrots, corn, and green beans. You can also use fresh veggies.
- Canned tomatoes – Diced, crushed, or tomato sauce helps build the sauce.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper add lots of flavor.
- Cheese – Shredded cheddar or Colby jack give a cheesy topping under the crust.
- Biscuit or cornbread mix – The crust topping. Pre-made mixes are simple to use.
The specific amounts of each ingredient depends on how large of a hamburger pie you are making. For a 9×13 dish size, you’ll want around 1 1/2 lbs ground beef and generous portions of the vegetables and seasonings.
Steps to Make Hamburger Pie
Here is a step-by-step overview of how to make classic homemade hamburger pie:
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery, and frozen veggies. Cook for 5 minutes until onions are translucent.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce or paste, if using. Mix in Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer the filling for 10-15 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Top with shredded cheese.
- Prepare the biscuit or cornbread mix according to package directions. Flatten out the dough and arrange atop the beef filling.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
The hands-on preparation time is around 30 minutes, with additional time for baking. The result is a crowd-pleasing one-dish meal!
Variations
There are lots of ways to customize hamburger pie to suit your tastes:
- Use Italian seasoned ground beef for extra flavor.
- Add sliced mushrooms when cooking the vegetables.
- Stir in 1-2 cups of frozen corn kernels for sweetness.
- Mix in cooked rice or pasta instead of veggies for heartiness.
- Top with salsa or taco sauce for a Mexican-inspired version.
- Replace beef with ground turkey or veggie crumbles.
- Use bacon or ham with the ground beef.
- Make individual hand pies instead of a large casserole.
- Switch up the crust to mashed potatoes, stuffing, or croissants.
Feel free to get creative and customize it to suit your tastes! The crust and beef base make a versatile canvas.
Tips for Making Hamburger Pie
Follow these tips for the very best homemade hamburger pie:
- Don’t skimp on browning the beef – take the time to cook it until nicely browned for the best flavor.
- Drain off excess fat after cooking the ground beef.
- Cut the vegetables into uniform small dice for evenly cooked, tender pieces.
- Simmer the filled for 10+ minutes to meld the flavors.
- Season generously with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- For convenience, use pre-shredded cheese versus block cheese.
- Allow the baked pie to rest 5 minutes before eating so the juices can absorb back into the crust.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for longer term.
What to Serve with Hamburger Pie
Here are some tasty sides that pair nicely with hamburger pie:
- Mashed potatoes
- Buttered noodles
- Biscuits or cornbread
- Coleslaw or broccoli slaw
- Green salad
- Roasted vegetables like carrots, Brussels sprouts, or cauliflower
- Applesauce
- Fruit salad
A simple green salad or veggie side is usually all you need. The hamburger pie itself is quite filling!
Nutrition Information
Here are some key nutrition facts for a serving of homemade hamburger pie:
- Calories: 350
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Carbs: 29g
- Protein: 20g
As you can see, hamburger pie is a meaty, protein-packed dish. The vegetables, cheese, and crust do add a good amount of carbs as well. Adjust the ingredients as desired to tweak the nutrition profile.
The History of Hamburger Pie
Hamburger pie has long been a budget-friendly way to feed a crowd. Some trace its origins back to recipes for Cottage Pie, a British dish made of ground beef topped with mashed potatoes. The hamburger version likely emerged in the Midwest United States in the early 1900s.
It gained popularity during the Great Depression and war eras as an affordable way to stretch meat and fill hungry bellies. The biscuit or cornbread crust helped used up any extra bread dough. The dish was likely served often in diners and church potlucks over the years.
While once seen as poor man’s food, today hamburger pie is regarded as a comforting nostalgic meal. It remains a crowd-pleasing potluck and family dinner recipe made across America.
Similar Dishes
Hamburger pie is part of a class of dishes where a protein and veggie filling is topped with a carbohydrate crust. Some other examples include:
- Shepherd’s Pie – Made with lamb instead of beef.
- Tamale Pie – Uses cornmeal in the crust with chili pepper seasoned beef.
- Chicken Pot Pie – Filled with chicken and vegetables.
- Tunisian Borek – North African dish with ground meat in phyllo dough.
- Pastitsio – Greek pasta bake with ground meat and béchamel sauce.
The crust topping provides a creative way to bring carbohydrates and protein together in one hearty baked dish.
Tips for Making Ahead and Freezing
To streamline preparation, hamburger pie can be made ahead:
- Assemble unbaked: Prepare the beef filling and press into the baking dish. Top with cheese but don’t add the crust. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days.
- Pre-bake crust: Bake just the biscuit or cornbread crust until lightly browned. Let cool, then add filling and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat to serve.
- Fully bake: Bake the assembled pie, let cool completely, wrap well and freeze up to 3 months. Reheat frozen.
Freezing is great for make-ahead meals or doubling the recipe. Be sure to thaw the frozen pie overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Common Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about hamburger pie:
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Absolutely! Lean ground turkey can be substituted for the ground beef if desired. Use the same amount called for in the recipe.
What kind of frozen vegetables should I use?
A blend like peas, carrots, corn, and green beans works well. You can also use just carrots, peas, or green beans. Go with whatever frozen veggie blend you prefer.
Do I need to parboil the potatoes for the crust?
If using sliced potatoes for the crust, it helps to parboil them for 5-10 minutes first. This ensures they will cook through and be tender. Use very thin slices.
Can I make individual hand pies instead?
Yes, you can divide the filling into ramekins or small pie tins. Top each with a round of crust and bake until golden. Mini pot pies!
Is hamburger pie freezer friendly?
Fully baked hamburger pie freezes very well for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight before reheating to serve.
Conclusion
Hamburger pie is the ultimate comfort food casserole! With its meaty flavor, tender veggies, melted cheese, and crispy crust, it’s a hearty meal the whole family will love. While simple to throw together, it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Serve up this retro classic soon – it never goes out of style.
Let your creativity run wild with unique ingredient combinations and crust options. Leftovers can be frozen for quick future meals. However you make it, hamburger pie always brings back delightful memories of home.