Easy Hamburger Chow Mein Hotdish Recipe

This easy hamburger chow mein recipe is delicious old-fashioned comfort food! Made with ground beef, rice, soy sauce, and veggies, it’s an inexpensive, filling dinner that comes together quickly and tastes great.

It may not win any beauty awards, but the entire family should still love it. A topping of crunchy chow mein noodles makes it extra yummy!

I grew up on this hamburger chow mein casserole, and my five siblings and I all loved it! It’s easy enough to prepare that I started making it for my family when I was about ten. (Yes, I’ve always loved cooking!)

I completely forgot about it until I was going through some old church cookbooks from my mom and stumbled across it. After making a few tweaks, it was perfect!

My kids don’t like mushrooms, so I used cream of chicken soup instead of the mushroom soup my mom used. In addition, I added coleslaw for extra crunch, color, and nutrients.

The final change I made was to serve the crunchy noodles on the side instead of baking them on top of the casserole. When they bake with the dish, they get soggy, especially if you have leftovers.

Why We Love This Hamburger Chow Mein Recipe

• Easy to make: Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation make this a great weeknight meal.
• Budget-friendly: Ground beef and rice are an affordable way to feed the whole family.
• Perfect for meal prep: You can assemble the entire casserole and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake. Since it’s cold, you will need to increase the baking time.
• Full of flavor: A savory sauce of soy sauce and canned soup brings the beef and vegetables together.
• Complete meal: With protein, carbs, and vegetables all in one, you don’t need side dishes!
• Customizable: You can add or subtract any veggies you like, and add seasonings of your choice.

How to Make Hamburger Chow Mein

1. Saute Ground Beef and Onion: Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
2. Combine: Stir in the celery, garlic, pepper, soy sauce, soup, dry rice, and water.
3. Bake: Spread the mixture into a greased 9×13″ pan. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.
4. Add veggies: Remove from the oven and stir in the coleslaw. Cover and bake for another 20 minutes.
5. Serve: Garnish with crunchy chow mein noodles.

Recipe Tips:

• Use lean ground beef. This helps prevent the finished dish from becoming overly greasy.
• Adjust the soy sauce to taste. Different brands of soy sauce vary in saltiness, so start with less and add more as needed.
• Don’t overcook the coleslaw. Adding the coleslaw during the last few minutes of baking keeps it from getting mushy.
• Add the crispy noodles just before serving. This keeps them crunchy instead of allowing them to get soggy during baking.

VARIATIONS:

• Vegetables: You can add mushrooms, bean sprouts, carrots, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, green onions, red peppers, or other vegetables you have on hand.
• Seasonings: For an additional depth of flavour, you can add oyster sauce, fresh ginger, or red pepper flakes.
• Rice: For more dietary fiber, you can use brown rice instead of white. You will need at least 1 1/2 cups of water, and you will also need to increase the baking time.
• Nuts: To add a tasty crunch, add a cup of chopped cashews, almonds, or pecans. You can either stir them into the dish with the coleslaw, or sprinkle them on top.

Can I Make Hamburger Chow Mein Ahead of Time?

Yes! Hamburger chow mein is a great make-ahead dinner. Prepare the beef and rice mixture, and spread it in the casserole dish. Cover it and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, bake as directed, adding a few minutes to the first baking time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hamburger chow mein?
Hamburger chow mein is a classic American-style comfort food made with ground beef, vegetables, and rice in a savory sauce. It is often served topped with crispy chow mein noodles.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Yes. Ground turkey or ground chicken can be substituted for the pound of ground beef to reduce the total fat.

What vegetables can I add to chow mein?
Cabbage, celery, onions, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, and water chestnuts all work well in hamburger chow mein.

More easy recipes with ground beef:

• Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
• Ground Beef Lo Mein
• Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
• Spicy Meatball Recipe
• Ground Beef Fried Rice
• Tater Tot Casserole with Corn
• Ground Beef and Broccoli
• Taco Cabbage

If you’re looking for an old-fashioned hamburger chow mein recipe, give this a try. Make sure to add plenty of crispy chow mein noodles, and the whole family will love it!