This Beef Hamburger Potato Casserole is the definition of hearty, homestyle comfort food. It brings together savory ground beef, tender sliced potatoes, and a rich, creamy sauce all baked into one satisfying dish.
With layers of flavor topped with melted cheddar cheese, this easy casserole is a crowd-pleasing dinner that requires simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Recipe Details
- Flavor: This dish offers classic savory flavors with a creamy mushroom and onion sauce that permeates the meat and potatoes.
- Texture: You get soft, fork-tender potato slices and crumbly ground beef, all bound together by a velvety sauce and finished with gooey melted cheese.
- Time: While the prep is quick, this recipe benefits from a slow bake of about 1 to 1 1/2 hours to ensure the potatoes are perfectly cooked.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves basic browning of meat, mixing a sauce, layering, and baking.
What You’ll Need
To make this casserole, you will need a base of lean ground beef and fresh potatoes. The binding sauce is made from pantry staples like condensed soup and milk, and everything is topped with a layer of shredded cheese.
Ingredient Notes
- Lean Ground Beef – Using lean beef ensures the casserole isn’t too greasy, as the meat cooks directly in the dish with the creamy sauce.
- Potatoes – You need about 3 cups of peeled and thinly sliced potatoes. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes are great choices here; just ensure they are sliced evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – This acts as the thickener and flavor base for the sauce. Do not add water to the soup; we use milk instead.
- Onion – Chopped onion adds aromatic depth to the creamy sauce.
- Cheddar Cheese – Shredded cheddar adds the perfect sharp, salty finish. Grating your own block usually results in a smoother melt.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Soup Varieties: If you aren’t a fan of mushrooms, you can swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cream of celery without changing the cooking method.
- Vegetables: You can layer in some frozen peas, corn, or sliced carrots along with the beef to make it a more complete one-pot meal.
- Cheese: Pepper Jack or Colby cheese are delicious alternatives if you want a different flavor profile than Cheddar.
How to Make Beef Hamburger Potato Casserole
Prep and Brown Meat
- Get Ready. Gather all your ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook Beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the ground beef in the hot skillet until it is browned and crumbly, which takes about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Drain. Drain and discard the excess grease from the skillet to keep the casserole from becoming oily.
Make the Sauce
- Mix. In a medium bowl, combine the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, chopped onion, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix until the sauce is smooth and combined.
Assemble and Bake
- Layer. In a 2-quart baking dish, alternately layer the sliced potatoes, the soup mixture, and the browned ground beef.
- Cover. Cover the dish tightly with foil. This is crucial as it traps steam to cook the raw potatoes.
- Bake. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake until the potatoes are tender. This usually takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
- Add Cheese. Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Cheddar cheese over the top.
- Melt. Continue baking, uncovered, for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve. Remove from the oven, let it sit for a moment, then serve and enjoy.
Pro Tip: Slice your potatoes as thinly and consistently as possible (about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick). Thick slices will take much longer to cook and may result in the rest of the casserole drying out before the potatoes are soft.
Recipe Tips
- Test for Doneness: Before adding the cheese, test the potatoes by inserting a fork or knife into the center of the casserole. It should slide through the potatoes with no resistance.
- Tightly Foil: Ensure the foil seal is tight during the long bake. If steam escapes, the potatoes might stay hard while the sauce evaporates.
- Seasoning: Don’t be afraid to season your beef while browning it, in addition to the salt and pepper in the sauce, for extra flavor.
FAQs
Why are my potatoes still hard? This usually happens if the potato slices were too thick or the foil wasn’t sealed tightly enough to trap the steam. If they are still hard after the allotted time, cover the dish again and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.
Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the casserole (steps 1-4 in assembly) and refrigerate it for a few hours before baking. You may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if starting with a cold dish.
How do I store leftovers? Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
- Green Salad: A crisp, fresh salad with vinaigrette helps cut through the richness of the creamy casserole.
- Dinner Rolls: Soft rolls are perfect for mopping up the savory mushroom sauce.
- Steamed Vegetables: Serve with a side of steamed broccoli or green beans for added color and nutrition.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can brown the ground beef and slice the onions a day ahead to save prep time. Store them in separate containers in the fridge. When ready to cook, slice the potatoes fresh (so they don’t oxidize/turn brown), assemble the layers, and bake as directed.
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Beef Hamburger Potato Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Beef Hamburger Potato Casserole is the definition of hearty, homestyle comfort food. Savory ground beef, tender sliced potatoes, and aromatic onions are baked together in a creamy mushroom sauce and finished with a gooey layer of melted cheddar cheese. It is a simple, satisfying, and crowd-pleasing dinner perfect for any weeknight.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 3 cups peeled and thinly sliced potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
Step 1: Prep and Brown Meat
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the ground beef until it is completely browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease.
Step 2: Make the Sauce
In a medium bowl, combine the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, chopped onion, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Step 3: Assemble the Casserole
In a 2-quart baking dish, create alternating layers of the sliced potatoes, the soup mixture, and the browned ground beef.
Step 4: Bake
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Step 5: Add Cheese
Remove the foil and sprinkle the shredded Cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Step 6: Melt and Serve
Continue baking, uncovered, for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Slice consistently: For the best results, use a mandoline slicer to cut your potatoes into even 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices. This ensures they cook through at the same rate without some pieces remaining hard.
Seal it tight: When covering the dish for the first long bake, ensure the foil seal is very tight. You need to trap the steam inside to soften the raw potatoes; if steam escapes, the potatoes may dry out.
Prevent browning: If you peel and slice your potatoes in advance, keep them submerged in cold water to prevent them from oxidizing (turning brown). Drain and pat them dry thoroughly before assembling the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving (approx. 1 cup)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Hamburger Potato Casserole, ground beef dinner, potato bake, comfort food, creamy mushroom casserole, easy family dinner
