Hearty Oven-Baked Shipwreck Dinner

Introduction

The Hearty Oven-Baked Shipwreck Dinner is a family favorite comfort food—a layered casserole that delivers big flavor and convenience. With simple preparation and familiar ingredients, it’s a one-pan wonder that can easily be doubled for a crowd or portioned for future meals. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying weeknight dinner or a stick-to-your-ribs dish for gatherings, this recipe keeps both preparation and cleanup simple.

Why Shipwreck Dinner Is a Must-Make Meal

What makes Shipwreck Dinner timeless? It combines layers of seasoned ground beef, potatoes, colorful veggies, and tangy tomato soup, all baked together to cozy, bubbling perfection. The flavors meld beautifully, creating a deeply savory dish that needs only a crusty bread side. Its customizable nature also means you can tweak the ingredients to fit picky eaters or whatever you have in the fridge.

The Secret to Building Bold Layers

Here’s how to unlock the shipwreck’s best flavors: slice your potatoes thinly for even cooking. Choose extra-lean ground beef to keep things hearty but lighter. Onion, bell pepper, and carrot add sweetness and crunch, while kidney beans bring satisfying texture. The final touch is the tomato soup and broth poured over top, allowing all the layers to cook together for a delicious, homestyle meal.

Easy Assembly for Shipwreck Dinner

To assemble, simply layer the potatoes, beef, and veggies in a casserole dish and pour over the liquid. Cover and bake—it’s that straightforward. This means minimal stovetop prep and no extra pots required. Just one dish, comforting aromas, and dinner is ready to enjoy.

Serving Suggestions for Hearty Oven-Baked Shipwreck Dinner

Spoon generous servings into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley or grated cheese. Pair with a green salad and warm rolls for a full meal. This casserole also reheats well, making it a practical option for lunchboxes or next-day leftovers.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves about 6 people, with each portion providing a balanced combination of protein, healthy carbs, and fiber from beans and vegetables. A typical serving is around 375 calories, making it hearty enough for dinner but still fitting sensible portion sizes for most meal plans.

Why You’ll Love Hearty Oven-Baked Shipwreck Dinner (Recap)

With simple ingredients, easy prep, and crowd-pleasing, layered flavor, this casserole is a staple dish you’ll reach for throughout the year. It checks all the boxes: affordable, filling, and freezer-friendly.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until just browned. Drain excess grease and season with half the salt, pepper, and herbs.
3. Layer half the potato slices on the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with half the beef mixture, half the carrots, bell pepper, and kidney beans. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
4. Repeat with remaining potatoes, beef mixture, and veggies.
5. In a bowl, whisk together tomato soup and broth. Pour evenly over the layered casserole.
6. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 60 minutes.
7. Uncover, sprinkle cheese over the top if using, and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are tender and cheese is bubbly.
8. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This hearty casserole is ideal for make-ahead weekly meal prep sessions. Save and schedule this recipe to easily plan your week’s dinners and generate all-in-one shopping lists that consolidate ingredients across your chosen meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically add up ingredient amounts across all scheduled recipes
• Organize shopping lists by store department for faster grocery runs
• Avoid duplicate purchases and prevent forgotten ingredients
• Simplifies batch prepping and helps reduce food waste

Pro tip: When scheduling several meals—including this casserole—CookifyAI ensures any overlapping ingredients like onions or ground beef are tallied up, so you buy exactly what you need and make the most of your meal prep time.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Enjoy the satisfying ease—and flavor—of Hearty Oven-Baked Shipwreck Dinner, the ultimate all-in-one meal for busy weeks and hungry families!