Description
A comforting and hearty cheesy hamburger potato casserole layered with seasoned ground beef, tender sliced potatoes, and melted cheddar cheese, all baked to golden perfection in a creamy cheddar cheese soup sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound crumbled ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 to 4 pounds potatoes, peeled and sliced into ¼ inch slices
Cheese and Dairy
- 8 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (or more as desired)
- 12 ounces evaporated milk (or whole milk)
- ½ cup milk
Other Ingredients
- 1 can Cheddar cheese soup mix
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the diced onion and crumbled ground beef. Cook until the beef is fully browned and onions are tender, then drain excess fat if necessary.
- Prepare Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and slice them thinly to about ¼ inch thickness, ensuring even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Layer Potatoes: Arrange one layer of sliced potatoes evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the salt and pepper to season this layer.
- Layer Meat and Cheese: Spread approximately one-third of the cooked ground beef and onion mixture over the potatoes. Then sprinkle with one-third of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat layers two more times with the remaining potatoes, salt, pepper, meat mixture, and two-thirds of the cheese. The final layer should be topped with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the can of cheddar cheese soup mix, evaporated milk, and ½ cup milk until smooth. Add additional salt and pepper to taste if desired.
- Pour Sauce Over Casserole: Evenly pour the cheese soup mixture over the layered casserole to soak through the potatoes and meat.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place in the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour to cook the potatoes through and blend flavors.
- Uncover and Brown: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese topping is melted and golden brown.
- Check Doneness: If the potatoes are thicker or not fully tender, continue baking uncovered in 10-minute increments until fully cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this warm, cheesy, and comforting casserole!
Notes
- Using thinly sliced potatoes (¼ inch) ensures even cooking within the one-hour bake time.
- You can substitute whole milk for evaporated milk if preferred, but the sauce will be slightly less creamy.
- For extra flavor, sauté onions with minced garlic or add herbs like thyme or parsley to the meat mixture.
- Make sure to cover tightly with foil to prevent drying out and to achieve tender potatoes.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to taste and dietary needs.
- This casserole can be made a day ahead and reheated covered in the oven before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheesy hamburger potato casserole, baked potato casserole, ground beef casserole, cheddar cheese casserole, comfort food, hearty casserole
