Easy One-Pan Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before beginning, ensure all ingredients are ready. Slice the bell peppers and mushrooms into uniform pieces to ensure they cook at the same rate as the ground beef.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and have a 9x13 inch glass casserole dish clean and ready for assembly. Proper preparation allows for a smooth cooking experience from start to finish.

Instructions

Browning and Sautéing

1. 1Prepare the meat and vegetables
   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add the sliced bell peppers and mushrooms to the skillet and sauté until they are tender and the moisture has evaporated.
   Look for The beef should be fully browned and the vegetables should be softened.
   Safe temperature 160°F (71°C) internal temperature (ground meat)
   Tip Ensure the vegetables are sliced thinly so they cook evenly with the beef.

The ground beef should be thoroughly browned with no pink remaining.

The bell peppers and mushrooms should be soft, and the mixture should be fragrant with the juices from the meat and vegetables incorporated evenly.

Assembly

2. 2Assemble the casserole
   Transfer the cooked ground beef and vegetable mixture into a 9x13 inch glass casserole dish. Spread the mixture into an even layer using your metal spatula to ensure uniform cooking and cheese distribution. This creates the perfect base for the cheese topping.
   Look for The mixture should be spread evenly to fill the dish.
   Tip Press the mixture down slightly to create a compact surface.

The mixture should be distributed evenly across the bottom of the casserole dish. The surface should be relatively flat to ensure that the cheese topping covers the entire dish uniformly, preventing any dry spots.

Melting the Cheese

3. 3Melt the cheese
   Top the casserole evenly with the shredded cheese. Place the dish into a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling across the entire surface. Remove from the oven and allow the dish to rest for five minutes before serving to let the cheese set.
   Look for The cheese should be golden and bubbling throughout.
   Tip Watch the cheese closely to avoid burning the top.

The cheese should be fully melted and bubbling. A slight golden crust may form on the edges. The casserole should look unified, with the cheese acting as a blanket over the savory beef and vegetable base.

Common mistakes

Avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning the beef and sautéing the vegetables, as this can cause them to steam rather than sear, leading to excess moisture in the final dish.

Additionally, ensure the oven is fully preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit before inserting the casserole to guarantee that the cheese melts properly without drying out the meat mixture.

How to tell it’s done

The casserole is done when the beef is fully browned and reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

The vegetables should be tender, and the cheese topping must be completely melted and bubbling across the entire surface. If the cheese begins to brown too quickly, tent the dish lightly with aluminum foil.

• Ground meat: 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part