Description
Savory upside-down cheesy beef cake blends Mexican and American culinary traditions in one remarkable dish. Home cooks can explore bold flavors and create a memorable meal that delights dinner companions.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Dairy Products:
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons mustard
Pastry:
- 1 sheet of pie crust or puff pastry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C), ensuring an even temperature for optimal cooking.
- Gently unroll the pie crust or puff pastry, pressing it smoothly into a greased 9-inch round cake pan, trimming any overhanging edges with precision.
- Combine ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, thoroughly blending the seasonings.
- Evenly distribute the seasoned beef mixture across the pastry base, creating a uniform layer.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, allowing the beef to cook and release its juices.
- Carefully drain excess grease from the pan to prevent sogginess and maintain the dish’s structural integrity.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together cheddar cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and mustard until achieving a silky, homogeneous mixture.
- Gently spread the cheese blend over the cooked beef layer, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, watching for bubbling cheese and golden-brown pastry edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes, helping it set and making inversion easier.
- Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate, revealing the golden pastry base and creating the signature upside-down presentation.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a cleaner, less oily final dish.
- Chilling the pastry before fitting it into the pan helps prevent shrinkage and ensures a more stable crust.
- Use a paper towel to blot excess fat from the beef after initial baking, which prevents a greasy texture and enhances flavor concentration.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or Swiss for unique flavor variations that can transform the basic recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg