Description
Comforting ground beef casserole delivers hearty flavors straight from grandma’s kitchen. Layers of seasoned meat, tender potatoes, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 5–6 medium potatoes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley or chives (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 375°F and slice potatoes into thin, uniform rounds for even cooking.
- Sauté diced onions and minced garlic in olive oil until translucent and fragrant, releasing their aromatic flavors.
- Brown ground beef in the same skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and seasoning with paprika, thyme, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk cream of mushroom soup with milk until creating a smooth, creamy sauce that will bind the casserole layers.
- Create the first layer in a greased casserole dish by spreading half the potato slices across the bottom, ensuring complete coverage.
- Distribute half the seasoned beef mixture evenly over the potato layer, followed by pouring half the soup mixture to provide moisture.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining potatoes, beef, and soup mixture, ensuring each ingredient is distributed consistently.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top to create a golden, melted crust during baking.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes to allow potatoes to soften and flavors to meld.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the top turns golden brown and potatoes become tender.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving, then garnish with fresh chopped parsley or chives for added color and flavor.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Consider using a mandoline slicer for perfectly thin and consistent potato slices, which helps achieve a more professional and balanced dish.
- Replace cream of mushroom soup with homemade cream sauce for a healthier, lower-sodium alternative that adds more depth of flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute regular potatoes with sweet potatoes and use gluten-free cream soup or a cornstarch-based white sauce.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg