A classic comfort food casserole with ground beef, potatoes, and a creamy sauce. Perfect for a family dinner!
Ingredients:
- Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped (optional)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- Potatoes:
- 2-3 pounds potatoes (russet or Yukon gold work well), peeled and thinly sliced.
- Sauce:
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (or cream of celery, or cheddar soup)
- 1/2 cup milk (or beef broth)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional Additions:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas or mixed vegetables
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dried thyme, or rosemary.
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the Beef:
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease.
- If using, add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- If using, add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add salt and pepper to the beef.
- Prepare the Sauce:
- In a medium bowl, combine the condensed soup and milk (or broth). Whisk until smooth.
- Add any desired spices, such as worcestershire sauce, or dried herbs.
- Assemble the Casserole:
- Layer half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Spread the cooked ground beef mixture over the potatoes.
- If using, add frozen vegetables ontop of the beef.
- Top with the remaining sliced potatoes.
- Pour the soup mixture evenly over the potatoes.
- If using, sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Bake:
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown.
- Rest and Serve:
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This will help the sauce thicken slightly.
Tips and Variations:
- Potato Prep: For even cooking, slice the potatoes thinly and uniformly.
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend of cheeses works well.
- Vegetables: Add any of your favorite vegetables, such as carrots, corn, or green beans.
- Spices: Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor.
- Creamy upgrade: Replace milk with heavy cream, or sour cream.
- Layer Variation: for more distinct layers, you can layer, Potatoes, beef, soup, potatoes, cheese.
- Make ahead: This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake. Add an additional 10-15 minutes to the baking time if starting with a cold casserole.
Enjoy your delicious Hamburger Potato Casserole! Sources and related content