Casseroles are such a great dinner option! This cheesy ground beef and potato casserole is creamy, comforting and perfect for a busy day.
We had received so many messages about our readers making our mega viral busy day casserole with potatoes instead of rice that I just had to try it for myself. This casserole is full of creamy potatoes, seasoned ground beef and melted cheese for days.
We are giving you two versions of this recipe…a quick version with cream of mushroom soup and a totally made from scratch version where you make the creamy sauce yourself. You can choose whatever you have time for!
Now if you force me to choose between the rice version and the potato version of this casserole, I will have to give the slightest edge to the original rice version. It’s probably nostalgia for me, but I just like it a little better. This potato version is pure comfort food and it reminded me of camping and eating a tinfoil dinner. It tastes so similar!
What Ingredients Go in Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole?
For the quick version, you’ll only need 7 simple ingredients. For the homemade version, you’ll need a few more ingredients to make the cream of mushroom soup from scratch, but all the ingredients are easy to find. Here is what you will need for both versions:
Quick Version
- Cream of Mushroom Soup, Russet Potatoes, Milk, Carrots, Ground Beef, Onion, and Cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack)
From Scratch Version
- Sauce: Butter, Onion, Garlic, Mushrooms, Flour, Cream, Chicken Broth, Pepper, Salt, and Milk
- Casserole: Ground Beef, Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion, Carrots, Cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack), and Russet Potatoes
PRO TIP: You can also make this recipe with frozen hash browns to make it even easier!
The measurements of all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. Keep scrolling to see all the details!
What Potato is Best to Use?
We prefer Russet potatoes in this recipe. They are starchy and soak up a lot of the flavors of the ground beef, carrots and creamy sauce. You could honestly use any potato you want and it would be great!
How to Make Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes
Like I said earlier, you can do whichever version of the recipe you want. Obviously the from scratch version requires more ingredients, but when all is said and done, it probably only adds an extra 10 or 15 minutes to the recipe.
Quick Version
- Prep: preheat the oven and spray the baking dish
- Cook: brown the beef with the onions in a large skillet and drain any excess grease
- Combine: stir all the ingredients (except cheese) together and pour into the prepared baking dish
- Bake: cover the baking dish with foil and bake, add cheese at the end and bake until melted
From Scratch Version
- Sauté: melt the butter in a skillet on the stove top and add the onions, garlic and mushrooms and cook until tender
- Roux: add the flour and stir to make a roux and then add the cream and broth, stirring until thick and season to taste with salt and pepper
- Cook: in a separate pan, brown the beef and onions and drain any excess grease
- Prep: preheat the oven and spray a square baking dish
- Combine: add all the ingredients (minus the cheese) into the casserole dish and stir to combine
- Bake: cover the dish with foil and bake, add the cheese for the last few minutes and bake until melted
- Optional: Sprinkle some fresh thyme or fresh topped parsley on top for an extra pop of flavor!
The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Know When Hamburger Meat is Cooked
Ground beef should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees which you can’t really check in ground beef with a meat thermometer. So here are a few tips for cooking ground beef…use a meat chopper to break down the ground beef in to similar sized chunks so that they cook evenly. Make sure that no pink color is visible. It will take about 7-10 minutes to completely cook a pound of ground beef on the stove top.
The good news with this recipe is that if for some reason the ground beef doesn’t get totally cooked through on the stove top, it will cook for sure in the oven as the casserole bakes.
Variations and Add-ins
If you don’t have cream of mushroom soup, you can use cream of chicken, cream of celery or cream of potato soup.
You can also use whatever cheese your family loves. We love the flavor of a good cheddar cheese or a colby jack cheese. If you want a little heat, use pepper jack! If you want a little Mexican flare, use monterey jack. It’s really up to you!
Feel free to add in more vegetables or swap the carrots for peas, broccoli, green beans, corn, etc. It’s totally customizable!
What to Eat with Ground Beef Potato Casserole
This hearty ground beef casserole can stand on its own for dinner since it has protein and vegetables all in the one dish. If you want a little extra, here are some great side dish options…
What I Love About This Recipe
There are so many reasons to love this recipe, so here are a few:
Easy: The ingredients are simple to find. The recipe is easy to execute.
Family Friendly: All of the ingredients are kid friendly and adult approved. The whole family will love it!
Budget Friendly: All the ingredients are inexpensive so you can have dinner on the table without breaking the bank.
Flexible: If you’re tight on time, you can use the quick version of the recipe, and if you want to make the whole recipe from scratch, we have that option for you too!
Make Ahead: You can make all of this recipe ahead of time and just combine everything right before baking. Peel and dice the potatoes and set them in a pot of water to keep them from turning brown. Brown the meat and make the sauce. Then combine everything right before baking and bake as written in the instructions.
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 5 days. To reheat leftovers, just zap them in the microwave for a minute or two.
This recipe also freezes really well. Let it cool completely then store in a freezer safe container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Cheesy and easy ground beef and potato casserole needs to be added to your list of go-to family friendly casserole recipes for those busy weeknights! It will win over your picky eaters and the flavors are so comforting and satisfying!
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes:
Description
Casseroles are such a great dinner option! This cheesy ground beef and potato casserole is creamy, comforting and perfect for a busy day.
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Quick Recipe
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Heat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8×8″ baking dish with nonstick spray.
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Over medium heat, brown the beef and onions until cooked through. Drain the grease.
1 lb Ground Beef, 1/2 Onion
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Stir together the soup, seasonings, potatoes, milk, carrots, and beef with onions in a 8×8″ dish.
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup, 2 Russet Potatoes, 1 Cup Milk, 1 Cup Carrots, 1/4 teaspoon Salt, 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
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Bake for 60 minutes, remove the foil, add the cheese and bake for a few more minutes or until melted.
Cheddar or Colby Jack Cheese
From Scratch
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In a medium pan over medium heat, add the butter and melt.
3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
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Whisk in the onion, garlic and mushrooms.
1/4 Cup Onion, 1 Clove Garlic, 1/2 Cup White Button Mushroom
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Add the flour, whisking continually and cook for 30-60 seconds.
3 Tablespoons Flour
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Add the cream and broth and cook until thick.
1/2 Cup Cream, 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
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Season and remove from heat.
1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper, 1-2 teaspoons Salt
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Over medium heat, brown the beef and onions until cooked through. Drain the grease.
1 lb Ground Beef, 1/2 Onion
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Heat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8×8″ baking dish with nonstick spray.
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Place the cream mixture, potatoes, milk, beef and onions and carrots into the dish and stir to combine. Cover with foil.
1 Cup Milk, 1 Cup Carrots, 2 Russet Potatoes
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Bake for 60 minutes, remove the foil, add the cheese and bake for a few more minutes or until melted.
Cheddar or Colby Jack Cheese
May be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Calories: 370kcal
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