Ground Beef Potato Casserole
Hearty, comforting and easy to assemble, this Ground Beef Potato Casserole layers seasoned ground beef, thinly sliced potatoes and melted cheese into a one‑dish dinner perfect for busy weeknights. Minimal prep, maximum comfort.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Baking Dish (approx. 20x20 cm or similar)
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Foil or oven-safe cover
Ingredients
Base ingredients
- 500 g ground beef ≈ 85/15 for best flavor (but 90/10 works too — drain excess fat)
- 4 medium potatoes thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion diced small
- 150 g shredded cheese sharp cheddar preferred (or half cheddar / half Monterey Jack)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Lightly grease your baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and diced onion, breaking meat apart with a spoon. Cook until beef is browned and onion is translucent.
- If there's excess fat, carefully drain it off and discard (or reserve for another use).
- Place half of the thin potato slices in an even layer at the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the browned beef‑onion mixture evenly over the potato layer.
- Cover the beef with the remaining potato slices in an overlapping layer to cover evenly.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes to allow potatoes to steam and become tender.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top, then return to oven (uncovered) for another 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly and begins to brown at the edges.
- Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow layers to set slightly.
Notes
If you prefer creamier texture, stir one can of cream-of-mushroom (or similar creamy soup) into the browned beef mixture before layering. You can also swap half the potatoes with thinly sliced zucchini or add finely diced carrots/celery for extra veggies. Leftovers store well for 3–4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat gently in the oven (175 °C for 15–20 min covered) for the best texture.