I love recipes that are just thrown together, popped in the oven and the rest of the work is done for you! This Easy Shipwreck Casserole Recipe is just that - EASY! It's a simple, delicious, and hearty one-pot comfort food meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. The original recipe and most versions of shipwreck casseroles are in the form of a layered casserole, but doing all that 'layering' work really isn't necessary when you can just throw everything together. You don't even have to precook the ground beef or anything else!
Has your busy weeknight been shipwrecked by a lack of time? This 10-minute prep shipwrecked casserole is the answer. This easy dinner recipe was a big hit at my house and is popular any time of the year, although it makes a great cozy dish when it's chilly outside. This shipwreck recipe is an old-fashioned recipe that's inspired by the traditional "shipwreck stew" or "hobo stew" that was often cooked over an open fire by travelers or workers during the Great Depression.
Recipe Overview: Shipwreck Casserole
- Ready in: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Calories: 179 kcal
- Serves: 8
- Main Ingredients: Extra lean ground beef, potatoes, instant rice, frozen vegetables, tomato soup.
- Dietary Info: Healthy, Low-Calorie, High-Protein, WW friendly, Dairy-Free.
- Weight Watchers Points: 3 WW Points.
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Occasions: Busy weeknights, budget-friendly family dinners, winter comfort food.
- Why You'll Love It: This is a true one-dish wonder. There is no pre-cooking, no extra pans to wash, and the "no-browning" method results in the most tender beef you've ever had in a casserole.
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🍒Reader Review
"Recently bumped into your "Easy Shipwreck" casserole and had it tonight. BEST RECIPE I HAVE EVER FOUND ON THE INTERNET! Always looking for easy but tasty recipes as most of them I get interested in have too many steps. I couldn't believe this didn't even ask me to brown the meat. So it's A+ in simple and 3xA+ in taste. Can't wait for leftovers tomorrow night!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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- Recipe Overview: Shipwreck Casserole
- Summarize and Save this Content on:
- 🍒Reader Review
- Why is it called Shipwreck Casserole?
- 🥘Ingredient Notes
- 📖Variations & Substitutions
- The Secret to a "No-Precook" Shipwreck Casserole
- 🔪How to Make Shipwreck Casserole
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🥗 What to serve with Shipwreck Casserole
- 🌡️Storage
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🔢WW Points
- ❔Recipe FAQ's
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🍲More Casseroles
- 📋 Easy Shipwreck Casserole Recipe
- Expert Recipe Tips
If you love ground beef casserole recipes, then check out my Potato and Ground Beef Casserole (with spinach) or my Crockpot Cowboy Casserole!
And be sure to check out my Healthy Comfort Foods for more easy, healthy, and delicious meals!
Why is it called Shipwreck Casserole?
It is a bit of a funny name for a dinner, isn't it? If you've ever wondered why it's called Shipwreck Casserole, the answer is quite simple. The name comes from the way the ingredients-typically ground beef, potatoes, onions, and beans-are layered or "tossed" into a single pan. To some, the finished dish looks like a bit of a mess, as if a ship's pantry had "wrecked" right inside your oven!
But don't let the name fool you. While it might look like a "mess" of ingredients on the outside, it tastes like a total treasure on the inside. This dish is a classic, frugal staple that has been a family favorite for generations because it is filling, budget-friendly, and incredibly easy to make. In my "Lazy Way" version, we take that tradition a step further by skipping the pre-cooking entirely, making it the ultimate stress-free "shipwreck" to serve your hungry crew!
It also reminds me a lot of my Dad's 'hamburger surprise' we used to eat growing up, except he'd make it in a large skillet on the stovetop. And if you love easy hamburger and potato recipes, give my Hamburger Soup with Potatoes a try!
🥘Ingredient Notes
To make this recipe for shipwreck casserole, you will need some basic ingredients:
- Celery. Gives a nice flavor and crunch!
- Frozen mixed vegetables. I use these because they are economical and healthy, and I always have them on hand.
- Uncooked rice and Potatoes. * I use instant white rice as it needs less time to cook than regular long grain rice.
- Raw ground beef. *It is critical you use EXTRA LEAN (do NOT use regular or lean) because you don't precook it, and using anything less than extra lean would make the casserole greasy.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Slow Cooker -this can be cooked in a slow cooker (crock pot) for 4-6 hours on low (until ground beef is cooked through- see expert tips)
- Potatoes - you can use any type of potato, but russet potatoes (aka Idaho potatoes) work well in this dish. And you could use sliced potatoes instead of chopping them
- Ground Meat - you could use ground turkey instead of ground beef
- Rice - you can use instant brown rice or white rice
- Add-ins- you could also use dark red kidney beans and Italian seasoning and top the casserole with shredded cheese
- Frozen mixed vegetables: you could use fresh carrots instead, with canned corn, frozen or fresh peas, and fresh green beans
The Secret to a "No-Precook" Shipwreck Casserole
If you are used to standing over a hot stove browning meat before it goes into a dish, you might be skeptical about putting raw ground beef directly into the pan-but this is the ultimate "Lazy Way" secret!
The reason this Shipwreck Casserole works so well without pre-cooking is all in the layering. By placing the raw, extra-lean ground beef between moisture-rich vegetables like sliced onions and potatoes and then covering it with a savory sauce, you create a natural "steaming" environment inside the oven.
As the casserole bakes, the steam from the vegetables keeps the beef incredibly tender and juicy. Unlike recipes that require pre-browning, this method allows the flavors to meld together from the very first minute. The result is a more flavorful, cohesive meal that is much juicier than traditional bakes. Best of all? It cuts your prep time down to just 10 minutes and leaves you with one less greasy pan to wash!
🔪How to Make Shipwreck Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and spray the casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Add all ingredients to casserole dish (do NOT cook the ground beef in advance)
Mix together.
Cover and cook for 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours
*You will know it's done when the ground beef is cooked through (see top tip)
Expert Recipe Tips
- The "Lazy Way" Dice: To ensure your potatoes are perfectly tender without precooking, make sure to dice them into small, uniform pieces (about ½ inch). If the pieces are too large, they may still be firm when the meat is done.
- The "Extra" Lean Rule: This is the most important tip! Because we aren't browning and draining the meat, you must use extra-lean ground beef (95% or higher). Using regular or even lean beef will result in a greasy casserole.
- The Rice Type: Make sure you use Instant Rice (like Minute Rice). Traditional long-grain rice takes much longer to cook and requires more liquid; instant rice is designed to rehydrate perfectly within the steam of the casserole.
- Temperature Check: You will know for sure that the casserole is done if you use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the center has reached 165°F (74°C).
- The Crust Hack: If you love a bit of texture, remove the cover for the last 15 minutes of baking. This allows the top layer to slightly "crisp" up while the center stays moist.
🥗 What to serve with Shipwreck Casserole
Shipwreck Casserole has everything in it and is a complete meal on its own, but if I serve it with something besides bread or a side salad, I like to serve it with Garlic bread (from baguette), classic fruit salad, or Quick Cucumber Kimchi.
And for dessert...this casserole pairs perfectly with my Mixed Berry Crumble (with Lemon, Mint & Coconut), which is also a very easy recipe!
🌡️Storage
Store leftover Shipwreck Casserole in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If you want a simple make-ahead dinner, you can make this dish 2-3 days in advance and it can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
👪 Serving Size
This shipwreck recipe makes 8 servings. However, you can halve, double, or triple the recipe 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 bigger casserole dish if you double or triple it.
🔢WW Points
This hearty casserole recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 3 WW points per serving.
❔Recipe FAQ's
No, the ground beef is added raw. This saves time, but it's crucial to use extra-lean ground beef to prevent the dish from becoming greasy.
Russet (Idaho) potatoes are recommended, but you can use any type. You can also substitute diced potatoes with sliced ones for a different texture.
Yes, you can cook it in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours until the ground beef is fully cooked.
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So if you are looking for easy casserole dishes, this is a recipe the whole family will love; this shipwreck dinner is sure to become a family favorite!
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📋 Easy Shipwreck Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup celery, chopped
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- ¼ cup instant rice (uncooked)
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef
- 2 cans condensed tomato soup 10 oz cans
Garnish (optional)
- green onions
- salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and spray a 2 quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add everything to the casserole dish. * Do NOT cook the ground beef in advance, add it raw.½ cup celery, chopped, 2 potatoes, diced, 1 small onion, chopped, 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables, ¼ cup instant rice (uncooked), 1 lb extra lean ground beef, 2 cans condensed tomato soup
- Mix together.
- Cover.
- Cook for 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours or until ground beef is cooked through.
Garnish (optional)
- Sprinkle on green onions and salt and pepper as desired.green onions, salt, black pepper
Notes
-
- Slow Cooker -this can be cooked in a slow cooker (crock pot) for 4-6 hours on low (until ground beef is cooked through- see top tip)
-
- Potatoes - you can use any type of potato, but russet potatoes (aka Idaho potatoes) work well in this dish. And you could used sliced potatoes instead of chopping them
-
- Ground Meat - you could use ground turkey instead of ground beef
-
- Rice - you can use instant brown rice or white rice
-
- Add-ins- you could also use dark red kidney beans and Italian seasoning and top the casserole with shredded cheese
-
- Frozen mixed vegetables: you could use fresh carrots instead, with canned corn, frozen or fresh peas, and fresh green beans
Expert Recipe Tips
- The "Lazy Way" Dice: To ensure your potatoes are perfectly tender without precooking, make sure to dice them into small, uniform pieces (about ½ inch). If the pieces are too large, they may still be firm when the meat is done.
- The "Extra" Lean Rule: This is the most important tip! Because we aren't browning and draining the meat, you must use extra-lean ground beef (95% or higher). Using regular or even lean beef will result in a greasy casserole.
- The Rice Type: Make sure you use Instant Rice (like Minute Rice). Traditional long-grain rice takes much longer to cook and requires more liquid; instant rice is designed to rehydrate perfectly within the steam of the casserole.
- Temperature Check: You will know for sure that the casserole is done if you use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the center has reached 165°F (74°C).
- The Crust Hack: If you love a bit of texture, remove the cover for the last 15 minutes of baking. This allows the top layer to slightly "crisp" up while the center stays moist.
- Frozen mixed vegetables: you could use fresh carrots instead, with canned corn, frozen or fresh peas, and fresh green beans
Lisa Chicola says
We made a version of this in girl scouts in the 60's on camp outs.I used a can of Rotel tomatoes in place of one of the soups because it was what I had. Still was a good, speedy dinner!
Terri Gilson says
That's very cool, Lisa! We never made anything that yummy on girl guide cook-outs - lucky you!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Terri
Norma Del Pezo says
This recipe looks yummy and super easy ...but...it can be done in pressure cooker instead ? Instead of two hours in the oven...Thanks
Terri Gilson says
Hi Norma,
I don't see why not. I don't have a pressure cooker and have honestly never used one, but if you know how to change recipes for your pressure cooker it should work. It will work in a slow cooker. Enjoy! Terri
Edith says
I remember my Mom making a version of this recipe. We always loved it. This version is so easy and so good.
Terri Gilson says
Glad it could bring back fond memories for you, Edith! And I'm happy to hear you enjoyed my version 🙂
Terri
Angela says
A GREAT recipe, even though I substituted cauliflower for the potatoes, used brown rice, & used Heart Healthy canned soup.
I made this a bit healthier than the original recipe was, but it was (still) a very tasty dish.
I liked that your recipe called for Extra Lean Ground Beef, especially since I never use Ground Beef that's fattier than 90/10% in any of my dishes. I try to make interesting, yet healthy meals for my family.
My family (even the kiddoes) loved this Casserole. I'll definately make it again.
Terri Gilson says
I love your even healthier version, Angela! And happy to hear the family loved it! Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Terri