Description
Beef and Potatoes Casserole brings pure comfort right to your dinner table with layers of hearty ingredients that blend perfectly. This simple dish combines tender ground beef, creamy potatoes, and a rich sauce that makes hungry family members gather around and smile.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Starches:
- 4 medium russet potatoes, thinly sliced
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Sauté 1 finely chopped onion for 2 minutes until translucent.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Incorporate 1 pound ground beef into the skillet. Break meat into small pieces while cooking for 5-7 minutes until completely browned.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon oregano, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder over the meat. Stir thoroughly.
- Wash, peel, and slice 4 russet potatoes into ⅛-inch thick rounds. Aim for consistent thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Create first layer by spreading half the potato slices across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Top potatoes with half the cooked ground beef and ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese.
- Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, beef, and ¾ cup cheddar cheese.
- Whisk 1 cup milk with ½ cup heavy cream. Pour evenly over casserole layers.
- Cover dish with foil and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Allow casserole to rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Optionally garnish with ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- Check potato thickness to ensure even cooking, slicing them about 1/4 inch thick helps create uniform layers.
- Ground beef works best when browned completely, draining excess fat prevents a greasy final dish.
- For gluten-free adaptation, replace cream of mushroom soup with a homemade version using cornstarch as a thickener.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary can be added between layers to boost the casserole’s overall flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour - 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 481 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 488 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 99 mg