Hamburger Potato Casserole checks all the easy dinner boxes! It’s delicious, quick and simple to make- a hearty meal the whole family will appreciate! Tender potatoes, savory meat, and melted cheese make a satisfying comfort food dish that will save you on busy weeknights. Plus, this casserole calls for basic ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes and Cheese
This is a from-scratch recipe for hamburger potato casserole without soup. It is one of the best skillet recipes you can make with ground beef! It boasts big flavor and is the perfect comfort food, especially on busy nights.
When cheesy potatoes and ground beef are staple ingredients of a dish, you know it’s going to be a delicious meal!
Best of all, this is one of those easy casserole recipes that needs a permanent place in your dinner rotation since it’s no-fuss, budget-friendly and makes the perfect leftovers.
If you’re looking for more quick and easy dinners you might also like our Crockpot Goulash, Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers and our Salisbury Steak. Each recipe makes use of hamburger meat, and might offer some inspiration for what to do with ground beef!
Why You’ll Love This Hamburger and Potato Casserole
This potato and ground beef casserole is an easy meal perfect for when you don’t have much on hand but the basics! It calls for simple ingredients and is a dish that kids and adults alike will rave over. And it is made from scratch. No canned cream of mushroom soup in this recipe.
Our potato and hamburger casserole is:
- A quick and easy recipe that boasts big flavor!
- Hearty and cheesy- comfort food to the max.
- Perfect for all eaters and a dish the whole family will enjoy.
- A great casserole for larger gatherings and meal prep since leftovers keep well.
Ingredients For Hamburger Potato Casserole
Here’s a look at the basic ingredients you will need for our ground beef casserole with potatoes. The great thing about this list is that you likely already have most of it on hand! Pantry staples, a few aromatics and seasonings, plus a few fridge essentials is all that’s required here.
- Russet potatoes. This be-anything potato is perfect for this dish since the large potatoes are sliced thin and bake up nice and tender.
- Ground beef. Choose a lean ground beef- 85/15 or leaner- for the best results.
- Onion and garlic. Chopped and minced and sautéed until soft and fragrant, these savory add-ins give your casserole a flavor boost!
- Salt and pepper. Essential seasonings that play a big role in this dish.
- Butter and flour. This pairing helps to thicken the sauce in the casserole.
- Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and Tomato paste. This trio combines for a sharp yet subtle umami flavor that works well with ground beef.
- Beef stock or chicken broth. For added moisture as the potatoes bake.
- Milk and Sour cream. Two ingredients that transform this meat and potato bake into a deliciously creamy dish.
- Cheese. For layers of cheesy goodness! Half of the cheese gets stirred into the creamy sauce while the other half creates a melty, cheesy topping. Use any kind of cheese you prefer!
How to Make Our Potato Casserole with Hamburger
Here’s a quick summary of the steps, but be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and view our printable recipe card. It has all of the ingredient amounts and full instructions to walk you through the process.
Slice the potatoes into thin slices, about 1/8-inch thick (a mandolin slicer is a handy tool here!). Place them in a bowl of cold water.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and remove all but 1 tablespoon of the grease. Add the diced onions and garlic and cook to soften.
Stir in the butter, then add the flour to the meat mixture. Cook, stirring 1-2 minutes, then add in the Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste.
Pour in the stock or broth. Add the milk and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and mix in the sour cream and half of the shredded cheese.
Pat dry the potato slices and spread half of them in the skillet on top of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle with salt and stir them in. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes.
Top the casserole with the rest of the cheese. Cover and bake.
The casserole will bake for about 75 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Remove the lid/foil and bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Tips for the Best Casserole Bake
- Place the sliced potatoes in a bowl of cold water to sit while you prepare the ground beef. The cold water will prevent the potatoes from turning brown. Make sure to dry the potatoes before stirring them into the meat mixture otherwise the casserole will turn out soupy.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, simply use a baking dish. You can also cover a skillet or casserole dish with aluminum foil if you do not have a lid.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Storing and Freezing Leftover Casserole
You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to three days.
To freeze leftovers, let the casserole cool completely and place it in an airtight container. Freeze for up to three months.
What To Serve with Hamburger Potato Casserole without Soup
This potato hamburger casserole is a rich, hearty dish, so pairing it with lighter, refreshing, or tangy sides can balance out the meal. Here are some suggestions to serve with this dinner.
- A simple tossed green salad or baby kale salad
- Homemade cracked wheat bread or oatmeal bread
- Lemon roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts and carrots
- Jalapeno cheddar cornbread or sour cream biscuits
- Spicy tomato soup or butternut squash soup
This hamburger potato dinner is comfort food that will fill you up. It’s a warm, hearty meal that’s not only easy to make but also budget-friendly. And this is a scratch recipe that doesn’t use sodium-laden cans of soup.
⭐️ Helpful Tools for the Hamburger Casserole
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Hamburger Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Russet potatoes
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1-¼ cups beef stock or chicken broth
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheese any kind
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Slice the potatoes into thin slices, about ⅛ inch thick. A mandolin slice works great for this. Place the potato slices in a bowl of cold water to prevent them from turning brown while you cook the ground beef.
- Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Use a spoon or turkey baster to remove all but 1 tablespoon of the grease.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is soft.
- Add the butter and stir until melted then stir in the flour. Cook, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the Dijon, Worcestershire, and tomato paste. Use the back of a spoon to mash the tomato paste and blend it into the mixture.
- Slowly pour in the stock or broth while constantly stirring. Pour in the milk and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream and half of the shredded cheese.
- Drain the water from the potato slices and pat them dry. Spread half of the potatoes over the top of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle the potatoes with a bit of salt then stir them into the beef mixture. Repeat withe the rest of the potatoes.
- Sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and slide it into the oven. Bake for 75 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, then remove the lid. Bake uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Notes
- Pat the potato slices dry before you stir them into the hamburger mixture. If they are still wet, the casserole will turn out soupy.
- If you don’t have a lid for your skillet, you can cover it with aluminum foil.
- If you don't have a large enough skillet, you can transfer everything to a 13×9 inch casserole dish to bake.
Shannon
Tuesday 26th of September 2023
In step 1 it says to grease a 13 X 9 casserole dish but then it says later to put skillet in the oven?! At what point do I use the casserole dish?
Dahn Boquist
Tuesday 26th of September 2023
Sorry about that. In my initial recipe testing, I transferred everything to a casserole dish, however it worked very well to keep everything in a skillet as long as the skillet is large enough. I updated the recipe card.