An easy casserole recipe with ground beef, cheese, and potatoes – think meaty potatoes au gratin or cheesy scalloped potatoes with hamburger.
A hamburger (ground Beef) potato casserole can indeed be an excellent and budget-friendly family meal for several reasons:
- Cost-effective ingredients: The key components of a hamburger potato casserole, namely ground beef and potatoes, are generally affordable and readily available. These ingredients are often considered staples in many households, making them cost-effective options for a family meal.
- Versatility: A hamburger potato casserole offers versatility in terms of ingredient variations. You can customize it based on your family’s preferences and the ingredients you have on hand. You can add vegetables like onions, carrots, or peas to enhance their nutritional value without breaking the bank.
- Satisfying and filling: Combining ground beef and potatoes creates a hearty and filling meal. Potatoes are an excellent source of carbohydrates, while ground beef provides protein. This combination can help keep your family satisfied and energized.
- Leftover potential: Hamburger potato casseroles often yield generous portions, making them suitable for leftovers. You can enjoy the casserole for multiple meals, reducing the need for additional cooking or ordering takeout, thus saving money in the long run.
- Easy to prepare: Casseroles, in general, are known for their simplicity and convenience. A hamburger potato casserole typically involves basic cooking techniques such as browning ground beef and slicing potatoes. The ingredients are layered and baked, requiring minimal active preparation time, which is ideal for busy families.
- Freezer-friendly: If you have extra portions or want to prepare ahead, hamburger potato casseroles can be frozen for future use. You can divide the casserole into individual portions and store them in freezer-safe containers. This makes it a convenient option for meal prepping and helps minimize food waste.
Considering these factors, a hamburger potato casserole can be a delicious, satisfying, and affordable choice for a family meal.
Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
For the casserole body
- 3 lb potatoes
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 cup cheddar, shredded
For the sauce
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups mushroom sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ cup cheddar
Preparation Directions
- Add the ground beef to a hot pan and cook for 5 minutes until it is no longer pink.
- Add the onion and garlic and continue to cook for another 5 minutes
- Step 3
- Season with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes or until the meat becomes little brown.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring with a whisk.
- Add the milk and continue cooking for another 2 minutes
- Add the chicken broth and cook for another 2 minutes
- Now it’s time to season the sauce, and you can add dried thyme, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes
- At the end, add ½ cup of cheddar and melt it for 1 minute, then remove the pan from the heat
- Add the mushroom sauce and mix well
- Wash the potatoes and cut them into ¼-inch thick slices
- In a 9×13 inch baking pan, put ½ cup of the cheddar sauce, then add half of the sliced potatoes, pour ½ of the amount of cheddar sauce, pour on top of ½ of the cooked meat, then make a second layer and put the rest of the sliced potatoes, the rest of the cheddar sauce and the rest of the cooked meat. Finally, put 1 cup of cheddar on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F
- Remove the pan from the oven, remove the foil, and bake for another 20 minutes at 350 degrees F
Serve and enjoy!
Servings
Makes 10 servings
