Description
Cheesy ground beef and potato casserole brings comfort to your dinner table with layers of hearty goodness and melted cheese. Grab your favorite baking dish and get ready to savor a simple, satisfying meal that delivers pure home-style deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Starches:
- 2 cup diced potatoes
Seasonings and Dairy:
- 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a medium baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Chop 1 medium onion and 2 garlic cloves into small pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the onion and garlic for 3 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbs. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the meat turns completely brown.
- Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep your dish light and clean.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano over the meat. Stir thoroughly to distribute the seasonings.
- Pour 2 cups diced potatoes and 1 cup beef broth into the skillet. Simmer for 5 minutes to partially soften the potatoes.
- Transfer the entire beef and potato mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Scatter 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese across the top of the casserole, ensuring complete coverage.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the potatoes become tender and the cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the cheese to set slightly.
Notes
- Potato size matters, so dice them uniformly to ensure even cooking and perfect texture throughout the casserole.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with lean ground turkey and use reduced-fat cheese to cut calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Fresh herbs can transform this basic casserole, so experiment with thyme or rosemary instead of parsley for a different aromatic profile.
- Freezing this dish works beautifully – prepare completely, cool, and store in an airtight container for up to three months, making weeknight dinners super simple.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 518 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 840 mg
- Fat: 37 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg