Description
This hearty Ground Beef & Potato Casserole is classic comfort food at its best. Tender layers of thinly sliced potatoes, savory seasoned beef, and a creamy mushroom sauce bake together under a blanket of melted cheddar. It’s simple, budget-friendly, and perfect for cozy family dinners or make-ahead meals on busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (115 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
- Cooking spray or extra oil for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish with cooking spray or a little oil.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté for 2–3 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula. Cook for 5–7 minutes, until browned and no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt, black pepper, and paprika until smooth and well combined.
- Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cooked ground beef mixture, then pour over half of the soup mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining potatoes, remaining ground beef, and the rest of the soup mixture, making sure the top layer is well coated.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes begin to soften.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return the casserole to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes to set slightly for easier slicing.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, then slice and serve warm.
Notes
- For even cooking, slice the potatoes as uniformly and thinly as possible—about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick.
- If your casserole browns too quickly on top, loosely re-cover it with foil for part of the baking time.
- Season the potatoes lightly with a pinch of extra salt and pepper between layers if your family prefers bolder flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g (approx.)
- Sodium: 650 mg (approx.)
- Fat: 20 g (approx.)
- Saturated Fat: 9 g (approx.)
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g (approx.)
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g (approx.)
- Carbohydrates: 23 g (approx.)
- Fiber: 2 g (approx.)
- Protein: 20 g (approx.)
- Cholesterol: 70 mg (approx.)
Keywords: ground beef casserole, potato casserole, easy weeknight dinner, family meal, comfort food