All these years I had no idea that my mother-in-law's "Chow Mein Casserole" was actually a Chow Mein Hotdish (aka Minnesota Hotdish or Mock Chow Mein). But it makes perfect sense, given where we're from. Being that we're from Winnipeg, which happens to be in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which lies directly above the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, it now makes perfect sense that she'd have a recipe for Minnesota Hotdish in her arsenal.
My mother-in-law passed away when my kids were pretty young, so they never really had the pleasure of enjoying her cooking. I, on the other hand, did and was fortunate enough to get many of her recipes. This Mock Chow Mein recipe is one of my husband's faves and a total comfort food for him. It makes a great weeknight dinner!
🍒Reader Review
"It's a hit with my family!!! Super easy. I made it with ground turkey, added a couple cloves of garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes!!!!"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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If you love comfort food casseroles, you're probably going to love my Stuffed Green Pepper Casserole too!
One of the main reasons I started this blog was so that my kids and future generations would have my recipes. Sadly, I only have one of my Baba's recipes (her Rhubarb Coffee cake). Fortunately, I was able to get several of my mother-in-law's (Grandma Jean) recipes; this being one of them. I am grateful that my kids get to enjoy at least some of her cooking through me.
When I was growing up in Winnipeg there were a lot of hockey tournaments in Minnesota and we regularly billeted Minnesota hockey players in Winnipeg. I'd say we were pretty good buddies with the state of Minnesota.
And being that it was a hop skip and a jump from Winnipeg, it's really no surprise this easy chow mein casserole recipe found its way across the border!
🥘 Ingredient Notes
Hotdish, the unofficial state cuisine of Minnesota, is a comfort food staple found in households, not just in Minnesota, but across the Upper Midwest United States. Hotdish is a type of casserole that incorporates a mixture of simple, thrifty ingredients and dump and stir method. Being thrifty is the reason it's also referred to as poor man's chow mein. You can read more about the hotdish HERE.
The Anatomy of a Hot Dish:
- Protein: Ground beef (hamburger), shredded chicken, canned tuna
- Vegetables: Canned corn, canned green beans
- Starch: rice, macaroni, mashed potatoes
- Sauce: Canned cream of anything soup: cream of mushroom, cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, cheddar
- Crispy Topping: Tater Tots, French’s French Fried Onions, chow mein noodles, crushed potato chips
The only difference is that this Minnesota hot dish calls for celery and onion instead of canned veggies. I usually serve it with mixed vegetables on the side, but you could easily add them to the dish!
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Add-ins - water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or bean sprouts, fresh mushrooms
- Hamburger - You could also substitute ground turkey or chicken (this will lighten it up as well)
- Rice - You could use white rice, wild rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or cauliflower rice (to lighten it)
- Soup- you can use cream of chicken soup instead of cream of mushroom. Or if you don't have any canned cream soup on hand, check out my post on how to make a cream-of-anything soup substitute (jump to #17)
🔪How to Make Chow Mein Casserole
Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 175 degrees C and spray the inside of a large 3-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Cook celery in ½ cup water in microwave (covered) for 4- 5 minutes until soft. Drain off remaining water.
Brown ground beef in a large skillet with chopped onion over medium heat.
Add celery, tomato soup, mushroom soup, rice, ground beef with onion, and chow mein noodles to a large bowl.
*I find it easier to do this in a separate large bowl, but you could do this right in the casserole dish if you don't want to dirty another bowl
Pour into prepared casserole dish or 13x9 baking dish.
Sprinkle with soy sauce.
*You can add additional soy sauce now or after the dish is cooked
Bake (uncovered) for 20 minutes in preheated oven.
Garnish:
Garnish with additional crunchy chow mein noodles, and soy sauce, and green onions, if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Adding chow mein noodles before cooking and as a garnish gives this casserole a nice texture combination with both soft and crunchy chow mein noodles!
- I recommend adding the additional soy sauce after the dish is cooked (you can serve it with a small dish of soy sauce)
🍲The Difference between a Casserole and a HotDish
Although all hotdishes are casseroles, the reverse is not true. Hotdish is a general term that has been used since the early 18th century and applies to South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Hot dishes use more condensed soup varieties like cream of mushroom, while casseroles often use stock, vegetable juices, and wine.
Both casseroles and hot dishes have become all-in-one staple meals in North America that can be found at the majority of social functions including banquets, family dinners, thanksgiving, funerals, and potlucks.
Casseroles are king when it comes to easy comfort food. And if you talk to anyone from the upper midwestern United States (or Manitoba) they'll most certainly agree that this Chow Mein Hotdish epitomizes comfort food!
🥗 What to serve with Chow Mein Hotdish
I like to serve this Hamburger Chow Mein Casserole with mixed veggies on the side, a salad, or a vegetable side dish. Here are some ideas:
👪 Serving Size
This Chow Mein Noodle Casserole recipe serves 8. However, you can half, or even double or triple the recipe if you're feeding a large family, simply by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You'll just need a larger (or additional) casserole dishes.
🌡️Storage
Store this Chow Mein Hotdish in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
It can be frozen for up to 3 months in a sealed container.
If you're looking for easy recipes, you'll love this one! And as far as comfort foods go, this Chow Mein Hamburger casserole is the ultimate.
📋More Casserole Recipes!
Comments & Reviews
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📋 Chow Mein Hotdish Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lbs ground beef * I use lean ground beef
- 1.5 cups celery, chopped (3-4 stalks celery)
- ½ cup water
- 2 whole medium onions
- 2 cups cooked rice * I used brown instant rice
- 10 ounce - can of cream of tomato soup/condensed tomato soup
- 10 ounce - can of cream of mushroom soup
- ½ -14 oz pkg dry (crispy) chow mein noodles
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
Garnish
- dry (crispy) chow mein noodles
- additional soya sauce
- green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/ 175 degrees C and spray the inside of a large casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cook celery in ½ cup water in microwave (covered) for 4- 5 minutes until soft. Drain off remaining water.
- Brown ground beef in large skillet with chopped onion over medium-high heat.
- Add celery, tomato soup, mushroom soup, rice, ground beef with onion, and chow mein noodles to a large bowl.*I find it easier to do this in a separate large bowl, but you could do this right in the casserole dish if you don't want to dirty another bowl
- Pour into prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle on soya sauce.
- Bake (uncovered) in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
Garnish:
- Garnish with additional dry chow mein noodles, and soy sauce and green onions, if desired.
Kristine S
Hi there! A few questions:
Do I cook the casserole first before freezing?
And do the chow mein noodles go on top before freezing if it is frozen uncooked?
I am preparing a lot of dishes prior to surgery and this looks delicious!
Thank you!
Terri Gilson
Hi Kristine,
Yes, cook it prior to freezing! I would put the crunchy chow mein noodles on after it's warmed up, if you like them crunchy. But I have eaten them after they've been frozen too. If you are looking for more dishes I would recommend my Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole and my Lasagna, as well as my Stuffed Green Pepper Casserole.
Good luck with your surgery!
Terri
Carissa Mullenix
I have made something similar to this but used cream of celery soup instead of the cream of mushroom since one of my kids hates mushrooms. Also if I use ground chicken instead of ground beef I use cream of chicken soup.
Rebecca Donahue
Hello. While the recipe looks delicious and adaptable, I'm actually interested in the orange casserole dish with the high, angled handles--it looks just like one my uncle used to own, and which I have inherited. He said it is an enamel-covered dutch oven, but I'm not sure, and don't want to damage it by using it incorrectly. Please, can you telI me what it is? I would be very grateful for your help. Thank you.
Terri Gilson
Hi Rebecca,
That is a Rachel Ray casserole dish I won in a recipe contest last year! It can go in the oven but not on the stove top.
If your uncle said it’s a Dutch oven you have then you can use it on the stove top AND in the oven!I also have a Dutch oven that’s similar in colour. I hope that helps!
Rebecca Donahue
Thank you! Once I dug the dish/lid out of the packing box, I could see that it is ceramic instead of enameled metal. It is not a Dutch oven, but still versatile and in good condition. I look forward to using it, and holding onto that little bit of connection to him. Thank you!
Terri Gilson
Hi Rebecca,
Wonderful! Enjoy that casserole dish and the memories it brings 🙂
Missy
I’ve been to two different grocery stores and can’t find cream of tomato. Will condensed tomato soup work?
Terri Gilson
Sorry you had that trouble, Missy! Yes it’s the same thing. I think maybe some brands call it cream of tomato ?
Sabrina
Yummy and delicious, definitely a family crowd pleaser!
Terri Gilson
Thanks Sabrina!
Donna Helmick
What can I use in place of the tomato soup? I just don't like the flavor.
Thank you.
Donna
Terri Gilson
Hi,
You could try substituting another cream soup (like mushroom) but it won't taste the same. If you don't mind tomatoes, you could add fresh or canned as well.
Enjoy!
Terri
Melanie @ Bon Appet' Eat
My kids, well everyone at home, would love this! I'm pinning it for later! Looks so good!
Terri Gilson
Hope you like it - it's such a comfort food for us!
Jo Vanderwolf
My parents are going to love this. Thank you so much for sharing it. I can't wait to make this for them this weekend. It looks so comforting!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Jo! Yes, it is very comforting and easy to make. Hope you all enjoy it!
Cynthia
I also have never heard of a hot dish. Looks easy and budget friendly to make!
Terri Gilson
Yes, it's very budget friendly, Cynthia!
Colleen
I've never heard of a hot dish, but it sure sounds like total comfort food, and a great way to feed a crowd.
Bernice Hill
Really interesting! I have actually never heard of a Hot Dish and I grew up only one province over. We had these type of dishes but never used that name. I can imagine it's a great way to feed a large amount of people or one hungry hockey player on the cheap!
Terri Gilson
I know, Bernice. I hadn't heard of it referred to as "hot dish" in Canada either. It wasn't until I was researching my post that I realized that was it's OTHER NAME 🙂 Oh yeah, hungry hockey players are a great target audience!
Lisa Cosgrove
It's a hit with my family!!! Super easy. I made it with ground turkey, added couple cloves of garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes!!!!
Terri Gilson
That’s great, Lisa! Glad you liked it.
Sounds like a healthy version with a little bit of spice?
Lee Ann
IS SOYA SAUCE AND SOY SAUCE THE SAME THING?
Terri Gilson
Hi Lee Ann ,
Yes it is ?For some reason we use the British term ‘soya’ instead of ‘soy’ in Canada! But they are interchangeable.