This Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake is a hearty and comforting casserole-style dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef and sliced or mashed potatoes, all topped with a generous blanket of melted cheese. It’s a satisfying and relatively easy meal to prepare, perfect for family dinners or potlucks. The ground beef is typically browned and then seasoned with onions, garlic, and various spices like paprika, cumin, and sometimes a tomato-based sauce or gravy to add moisture and flavor. The potatoes can be prepared in a few ways: they might be thinly sliced and layered raw, allowing them to cook through in the oven with the beef juices, or they can be pre-cooked (boiled and sliced or mashed) to ensure a smoother and quicker baking process. The layering of the beef and potatoes can vary, but often involves a base of beef followed by a layer of potatoes, or alternating layers for a more integrated flavor. The crowning glory of this bake is a generous topping of shredded cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, a blend, or even a layer of cheese sauce, which melts and browns beautifully in the oven, creating a gooey and flavorful crust. The melted cheese not only adds a rich, savory element but also helps to bind the top layers together. This Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake is a versatile dish that can be customized with additional vegetables like bell peppers, corn, or peas mixed into the beef layer for added nutrition and flavor. It’s a comforting and filling meal that combines familiar and satisfying ingredients in a simple baked format.
The texture of Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake is a comforting combination of tender beef, soft potatoes, and a gooey, often slightly browned, cheese topping. If the potatoes are sliced and baked raw, they can have a slightly firmer texture. If they are pre-cooked and sliced or mashed, they will be softer and creamier. The melted cheese pulls apart in satisfying strings and can have a slightly crisp edge where it has browned.
The flavor profile is rich and savory, with the beef providing a hearty, meaty base, often seasoned with aromatic onions and garlic and warm spices. The potatoes offer a mild, earthy counterpoint that absorbs the flavors of the beef and seasonings. The melted cheese adds a salty, umami-rich layer that ties all the elements together.
Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake is an ideal dish for a comforting family dinner, a potluck contribution, or a satisfying meal on a chilly evening. Its hearty nature makes it a filling main course that can be served on its own or with a simple side salad or steamed vegetables.
The preparation of Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake involves browning and seasoning ground beef, preparing the potatoes (slicing raw or pre-cooking and slicing/mashing), layering the beef and potatoes in a baking dish, topping with cheese, and then baking until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. The ground beef is typically browned in a skillet with chopped onions and garlic, then drained of excess fat and seasoned with spices and sometimes a tomato-based sauce or gravy. Raw potatoes are peeled and thinly sliced, while pre-cooked potatoes are boiled until tender and then sliced or mashed. The beef mixture is spread in the bottom of a baking dish, followed by a layer of potatoes (or alternating layers). Finally, a generous amount of shredded cheese or a cheese sauce is spread over the top. The dish is then baked in a preheated oven until the potatoes are cooked through (if raw), the beef is heated, and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup or beef gravy (optional, for moisture)
- 4-5 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (raw) OR about 3 cups cooked and sliced or mashed potatoes
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or a blend
- Optional additions: 1 cup frozen peas or corn, 1 bell pepper, chopped
Equipment:
- Large skillet
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9×13 inch baking dish
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add Aromatics and Seasonings: Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the browned beef. Cook until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. If using, stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup or beef gravy. If adding vegetables like bell pepper, add them now and cook until slightly tender.
- Prepare Potatoes: If using raw potatoes, peel them and slice them thinly. If using pre-cooked potatoes, boil them until tender, then slice or mash them.
- Layer the Dish: Spread the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange the sliced raw potatoes in an overlapping layer over the beef, or spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the beef. If using pre-cooked sliced potatoes, layer them over the beef. You can also do alternating layers of beef and potatoes if desired. If adding frozen peas or corn, sprinkle them over the beef layer before adding the potatoes.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top layer of potatoes.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender (if using raw), the beef is heated through, and the cheese is melted and bubbly, with some golden-brown spots.
- Cool Slightly and Serve: Let the Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake cool for a few minutes before serving. It can be served on its own or with a simple side salad or steamed vegetables.
Enjoy this comforting and satisfying Cheesy Beef and Potato Bake!