Ground Beef Cobbler is a savory, crowd-pleasing casserole you’ll find yourself making again and again! Based on a viral TikTok recipe, this dish layers browned ground beef with vegetables, cheddar bay biscuit mix, and creamy soup for a satisfying weeknight meal.
If you’re on TikTok, you may have seen the chicken cobbler recipe that’s gone viral there. This ground beef cobbler is the same idea, but made with beef instead of chicken! It is even easier when you have ground beef prepped and ready in the freezer!
And just like chicken cobbler, ground beef cobbler is ridiculously easy to make and it’s the kind of comfort food dinner your whole family will love—especially on a chilly evening when you’re craving something hearty and satisfying.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Tried-and-True – This recipe is a variation of the viral sensation that’s all over TikTok, so you know it’s going to be good! It is so worth the hype.
- Quick and Easy – Ground beef cobbler comes together quickly and with minimal effort. Plus, it’s a one-dish dinner so cleanup is easy too!
- Hearty and Filling – Although you can definitely add a side if you’d like (I share some ideas below!), this savory cobbler is satisfying on its own. With protein, veggies, and carbs, it’s got everything you need for a complete dinner.
- Versatile – You can easily customize this dish with different vegetables, soups, or by adding herbs or cheese. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Kid-Friendly – There are no complex flavors or ingredients here, so even pickier eaters will devour this dinner.
Recipe Notes
This ground beef casserole recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few minutes of prep time for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make ground beef cobbler to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Lean ground beef – Use lean ground beef for this recipe so there’s minimal grease to drain.
- Butter – I recommend using unsalted butter since both the soup and biscuit mix have salt added.
- Cheddar bay biscuit mix – This mix has great flavor, but if you don’t have any you can use any biscuit mix you have on hand (like bisquick) or make your own.
- Milk – Any kind you have on hand, whether it’s whole or skim.
- Frozen mixed vegetables – Typically a mix of corn, beans, peas, and carrots. If your family is picky about which vegetables they like, you can go with a single frozen vegetable or create your own custom mix, or just forego the vegetables all together.
- Broth – Chicken,Beef, or vegetable broth or stock will work.
- Cream of chicken soup – Feel free to swap in cream of celery, cream of mushroom, or another variety to change up the flavor.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Turkey Cobbler – Swap the ground beef with ground turkey to lighten up this recipe.
- Veggie Cobbler – Make the recipe vegetarian by skipping the ground beef and adding extra frozen vegetables. Or, use your favorite plant-based ground beef substitute.
- Tex-Mex Beef Cobbler – Add south-of-the-border flavor by replacing the mixed veggies with a can of diced tomatoes and green chiles and adding taco seasoning as you brown the beef.
- Breakfast Cobbler – Replace the ground beef with cooked crumbled breakfast sausage and use frozen diced hashbrown potatoes and onions instead of mixed vegetables. Serve as a breakfast bowl with rosemary, thyme, or parsley for garnish.
- Extra-Cheesy Beef Cobbler – During the last few minutes of cooking time, add shredded cheddar cheese to the top.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make ground beef cobbler.
- Step 1– Brown the ground beef and add it to a casserole dish.
- Step 2– Layer the frozen veggies over the beef.
- Step 3– Add the biscuit mixture followed by the cream of chicken soup mixture.
- Step 4– Bake, rest for 5 minutes, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Drain Off the Grease – There won’t be much since we’re using lean ground beef, but you don’t want the bottom of the casserole to be greasy.
- Let It Rest – Beef cobbler is best if you let it sit for 5 minutes after you pull it out of the oven. This gives it a chance to set and cool down a bit.
- Don’t Overmix – When you’re mixing the biscuit mix and milk, don’t overmix. It’s better to have some lumps and streaks of flour than to mix too much and end up with a tough biscuit topping.
- Don’t Stir Everything Together – The last step is to pour the cream of chicken soup mixture over the top. Don’t stir it into the beef and biscuit layer! If you’ve ever made a dump cake before, it works kind of like that.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Melt the Butter in the Casserole Dish – You can easily melt the butter in the dish you’ll be baking in—just put the butter in the dish and pop it in the oven.
- Use Precooked Ground Beef – You can brown the ground beef a day or two in advance to get a head start on the recipe. You may even want to brown ground beef for a few recipes to get a leg up on your dinners for the week!
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this minced beef cobbler recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 4 months.
How to Freeze Ground Beef Cobbler After Cooking
- Allow the casserole to cool completely.
- Tightly wrap the ground beef cobbler with plastic wrap.
- Place the wrapped dish into the freezer.
- When ready to serve, let the casserole thaw in the refrigerator and then bake in a 350ºF oven until it’s warmed through.
What to Serve with Ground Beef Cobbler
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of comfort food classics, it will pair well with many of your favorite vegetable side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- House Salad – This is like the one you get at Outback or Texas Roadhouse!
- Brown Butter Broccoli– I can’t tell you how delicious and easy this is
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
Beef Cobbler Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
What is beef cobbler made of?
This beef cobbler recipe is super easy because it starts with a box of cheddar bay biscuit mix. This means you don’t need to use a pastry cutter to mix together eggs, flour, and baking powder in a mixing bowl! In addition to the beef and biscuit mix, there’s a layer of frozen vegetables and a creamy soup mixture that bakes into the cobbler.
What makes a cobbler a cobbler?
Cobblers get their name from the cobbled appearance of the topping. They typically have a layer of fruit on the bottom, with a biscuit-like layer on top. This savory cobbler has ground beef and vegetables as the base layers.
Can I use stew meat in this recipe?
I don’t recommend using chuck or other stew meats for this beef cobbler. Ground beef cooks much faster and it has the right texture for this kind of recipe.
How can you tell when beef cobbler is done?
The beef cobbler should feel set in the center and the edges will be starting to brown.
More EASY Beef Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy beef recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Ground Beef Cobbler
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 box cheddar bay biscuit mix, (11.36 ounce)
- 2 cups milk
- 12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 cup chicken broth, or beef broth
- 10.5 ounce cream of chicken soup, (1 can)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F.
- Brown the ground beef over medium heat until cooked through. Drain an excess liquid or fat.
- Spread the melted butter over the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish. Place the ground beef and frozen vegetables evenly over the butter.
- Whisk together the biscuit mix, including the spice packet, and 2 cups of milk. There may still be some lumps, that is okay. Pour the mixture over the beef and veggies. Do not mix.
- Whisk together the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Pour mixture over the casserole. Do not mix.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the sides are bubbling and the top starts to brown. Let sit 5-15 minutes to set, then serve.
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