Hamburger Chow Mein Casserole. I was thumbing through Mom’s old recipe box the other day, and I stumbled onto this classic recipe.
Mom was an incredible cook, and she was my best friend. She is still my inspiration in the kitchen.
Dad used to tell her she could “make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” when it came to our dinnertime meals. And she was one of the rare “working women” back then. So she was always on the lookout for easy, quick main dishes she could whip up in a hurry when she got home from her job at the post office. And even though she was looking for fast and easy recipes, she still took time to set a beautiful table and make dinnertime special.
I remember this Hamburger Chow Mein as a “go to” casserole at our house. Ask any old grandma in America today and they’ll tell you. A casserole was the chosen main dish for almost everybody back then!
An old fashioned casserole usually used small amounts of meat, so cooks could stretch that protein to feed lots of folks very cheaply. And Mom’s Hamburger Chow Mein fit that profile to a T. It also uses another secret weapon of 1950’s home cooks. Canned soup! In fact, the only “exotic” ingredient in the recipe is chow mein noodles. The recipe calls for a can of them, but I had a large bag in my cupboard this time…and I used them all.
That “exotic” dish sure brought back memories of dinnertime on the farm. Happy memories of Mom bustling around in that cozy kitchen. And the smell of that recreated casserole baking in the oven the other day was like a hug from Heaven.
Mom didn’t have to call us twice to come to the table, no matter what was on the menu. And I’m betting this simple casserole will bring your gang running too. Give it a try!
A Touching Side Note Just Now…
I glanced at the calendar here in my office as I prepared to publish this post. And I suddenly realized…TODAY is Mom’s birthday! Maybe that’s the deep down reason I felt compelled to publish this recipe today. So Happy Heavenly Birthday Mom! And THANK YOU for sharing your love of cooking with your only daughter so many, many years ago.
I am grateful every single day.
Mom's Hamburger Chow Mein
This simple 1950's casserole still tastes good today!
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 lbs. Ground Beef
- 1 can Tomato Soup (undiluted)
- 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup (undiluted)
- 1 small Onion (diced)
- 2 cups Celery (diced)
- 1 large can Chow Mein Noodles
- Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
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Brown the ground beef, then add the onion and celery and drain excess grease if needed.
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Stir in tomato and mushroom soups, and salt and pepper to taste.
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Stir in most of the chow mein noodles but reserve a few for topping.
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Pour mixture into a greased casserole dish.
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Sprinkle reserved noodles on top.
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Bake at 350 Degrees for about 45 minutes.
My mom made a casserole like this, too. Your post brought back memories. Since I am gluten intolerant, many of these recipes are off limits for me. Or at least hard to recreate in a safe and tasty way.
Aww…Thank you for your comment Tami! I’m so glad it brought back happy memories but I’m so sorry you can’t enjoy another taste of the past! Stay well…and I hope some of my future recipes won’t be off limits to you!
XOXO
Meemaw
Couldn’t you just add rice and leave out the noodles?
I would imagine you could…but it would certainly change to the flavor profile. Feel free to experiment. 🙂
Happy Cooking!
XOXO
Meemaw
That’s how my mom made it!! With rice and no tomato soup
Hi Wendy! Thanks for sharing your comments with me!
XOXO
Meemaw
Brings back fond memories. My mom would use aachopped rump roast. Also I use noodles and white rice. Top at end with soy sauce. Thanks for recipe
Awww…Thanks Thomas! And you’re welcome!! I’m so glad this brought back fond memories.
XOXO
Meemaw
I make mine with chow mein vegtables, water chestnuts ,hamburger,onion,celery,cream of celery soup,cooked rice sy sauce and noodles.
Thanks so much for sharing your version of that old timey dish!
XOXO
Meemaw
My mom makes this still today. My mom rarely bakes in the oven and usually does in a soup pot on the stove, adding the chow mien noodles near the end. This is one of the few casseroles my husband will eat. He is scoutmaster of the local boy scouts and he takes to many of their potlucks as they request. The crock-pot always comes home clean. If I want some of it I have to take it out before he leaves.
Thanks for your suggestion Sheila! I’ll have to try it that way sometime!
XOXO
Meemaw
I grew up with my mom making a dish like this. Thank you for sharing this. When my mom passed away I was not able to find the family cookbook that had this in it. I look forward to making this.
You’re so welcome Sandy! Let me knowif the dish brings back some wonderful food memories for you!
XOXO
Meemaw
I make a similar one with chicken and fresh veggies, but today I wanted to make ground beef like my mom did for us in the 50s and 60s. I looked at so many that called for rice. I was beginning to think I hallucinated that hers contained none. Then I found yours! This is how she made it, but she used just creamed soups. I may try it with the tomato at a future time as it sounds intriguing.
I’m going to whip one up for dinner. I will probably put some purple shredded carrot in as I cook the beef until tender before I put it all together. One other thing I have discovered over the years is that La Choy also makes a chow mein noodle that uses a rice/wheat combo instead of all wheat. We all agreed decades ago that they make a better casserole. They’re thinner and crispier and don’t get as soggy when baked.
Thank you so much Jo! I’m glad Mom’s recipe proved your sanity!! 🙂 Let me know how you like her version. And I’ll look for those rice/wheat noodles next time I make it myself. Thanks again!
XOXO
Meemaw
THANK U❤️I’ve ben looking for this 4-ever,but as w/many of “mom’s”recipes she ddnt hav it written down…She used veg.vegetable soup i.l.o.tomato wich I think improved upon it;&occasionally reg.noodles/pasta “in”-reserving th chow mean for on top.It is good ALL ways&we look forward to havn it tonite.IT DOES NOT NEED ANY EXTRA SALT as canned soups hav plenty! ENJOY❣️
Thank you Becky! Enjoy!
XOXO
Meemaw