Easy Shipwreck Casserole Recipe

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!

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.

🥘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 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

🔪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)

🥗 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 half, 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 @ 5 WW points per serving. However, if you use ground turkey instead of ground beef, it's 3 WW points per serving.

❔Recipe FAQ's