Description
Hearty cheesy ground beef and potatoes casserole blends savory meat with creamy potato layers. Simple ingredients create a comforting meal you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Starch and Vegetables:
- 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
Seasonings and Oils:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), ensuring optimal temperature for a golden, crispy casserole.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef until fully cooked, breaking into crumbly pieces. Transfer to a separate plate.
- Using the same skillet, sauté onions until translucent and fragrant, releasing their sweet aromatics.
- Prepare a greased baking dish, creating the first foundation layer with half of the sliced potatoes.
- Generously season potato layer with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to enhance underlying flavors.
- Distribute half of the cooked ground beef evenly across the seasoned potato base.
- Sprinkle sautéed onions over the beef, followed by a generous layer of shredded cheese.
- Repeat the layering process: remaining potatoes, second portion of ground beef, onions, and cheese.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and blend with milk, whisking in paprika for a rich, creamy sauce.
- Pour the seasoned sauce uniformly over the layered casserole, ensuring complete coverage.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes to develop deep, melded flavors.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until surface turns golden and cheese bubbles.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and making serving easier.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, lower-fat alternative that keeps the dish protein-packed.
- Customize the cheese by mixing different varieties like sharp cheddar and mozzarella for a more complex flavor profile that adds depth to the casserole.
- Boost nutritional value by adding diced bell peppers or spinach between layers, creating extra vegetable intake without changing the dish’s comforting essence.
- Reduce cooking time by pre-boiling potatoes slightly, which helps create a faster and more evenly cooked casserole with perfectly tender potato slices.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 640 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg