Description
Hearty hamburger hash brown casserole brings comfort and nostalgia to family dinner tables. Cheesy layers of ground beef and crispy potatoes create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Potato Base:
- 1 bag (32 ounces / 907 grams) frozen hash browns
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F (175°C) and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Sauté ground beef and diced onions in a skillet over medium heat, breaking meat into crumbles until fully cooked and no pink remains. Drain away excess grease thoroughly.
- Combine shredded hash browns with cream soup, sour cream, half the cheese, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, blending ingredients until evenly distributed.
- Create the first layer of the casserole by spreading half the hash brown mixture across the bottom of the greased baking dish, ensuring an even surface.
- Distribute the browned beef uniformly over the initial hash brown layer, creating a substantial meat foundation.
- Cover the beef layer with the remaining hash brown mixture, smoothing the top to create a complete seal.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining cheese over the entire casserole surface, allowing for complete coverage.
- Transfer the casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and bubbling edges that indicate thorough heating.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Customize the cheese blend by mixing cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack for extra flavor depth and richness.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner or vegetarian version of the casserole.
- Add diced bell peppers or mushrooms to boost vegetable content and introduce more nutritional variety to the dish.
- Cover with foil during the first 30 minutes of baking to prevent cheese from over-browning and ensure even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg