Cheesy Ground Beef And Potatoes Recipe
Imagine whipping up a hearty dinner that'll have your family racing to the table: cheesy ground beef and potatoes. You'll love how quickly this classic comfort dish comes together, transforming simple ingredients into a satisfying meal. With just a few kitchen staples and about 30 minutes, you can create a crowd-pleasing dinner that's both economical and delicious. Want to know the secret to making this recipe truly unforgettable? Keep scrolling to unlock the culinary magic.
Recipe Highlights
- A classic one-pan dish combining seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and melted cheese that delivers a hearty, satisfying meal in under 30 minutes.
- Brown ground beef thoroughly in a large skillet, adding diced onions and uniform potato pieces seasoned with salt and pepper for maximum flavor development.
- Simmer the beef and potato mixture covered with a tight-fitting lid until potatoes are tender, ensuring even cooking and trapping essential moisture and flavor.
- Customize the recipe by experimenting with different cheese varieties, additional seasonings, or incorporating vegetables to create a personalized twist on this comfort food classic.
- Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe offers minimal prep time, easy cleanup, and a crowd-pleasing meal that represents quintessential American home cooking traditions.
History
While many comfort food dishes have murky origins, the cheesy ground beef and potatoes recipe represents a quintessential American home cooking tradition.
You'll find this dish deeply rooted in mid-20th century culinary practices, where home cooks prioritized affordable, filling meals that could feed large families quickly. Its evolution stems from:
- Post-World War II economic constraints
- Growing popularity of convenient, one-pan recipes
- Increased availability of ground beef and cheese
- Midwest and Southern home cooking influences
The recipe likely emerged during the 1950s and 1960s, when processed ingredients and budget-friendly meals became staples in American kitchens.
Home economists and food manufacturers encouraged simple, nutritious dishes that could be prepared rapidly.
Your grandmother might've learned this recipe from magazine clippings, community cookbooks, or family traditions passed down through generations.
Recipe
Cheesy Ground Beef and Potatoes is a classic comfort food that transforms simple ingredients into a hearty, satisfying meal. This one-pan dish combines the rich flavors of seasoned ground beef with tender, creamy potatoes and melted cheese, creating a crowd-pleasing recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights.
With just a few basic ingredients and minimal prep time, home cooks can whip up a delicious dinner that will have the whole family asking for seconds. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and versatility, making it an ideal option for those seeking a quick and filling meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt and pepper blend
- 2-3 tablespoons water (optional)
Begin by heating a large skillet over medium heat and browning the ground beef with chopped onions until the meat is fully cooked. Drain any excess fat from the pan to ensure the dish isn't greasy.
Add the diced potatoes to the skillet and season with the salt and pepper blend, stirring to combine all ingredients evenly. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low, cooking for 15-20 minutes and stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. If the potatoes are taking longer to soften, add 2-3 tablespoons of water and cover tightly to create steam.
Once the potatoes are tender, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the mixture and cover again, cooking for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
For the best results, cut potatoes into uniform, small pieces to ensure even cooking and reduce overall preparation time. The dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheats well in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Feel free to customize the recipe by adding additional seasonings or vegetables to suit your taste preferences.
Cooking Steps
You'll want to start by thoroughly browning your ground beef in a large skillet, making sure to break it into small, even pieces while adding chopped onions for extra flavor.
Next, toss in your uniformly diced potatoes, seasoning generously with salt and pepper, then cover the skillet and let everything simmer until the potatoes become tender and golden.
Finally, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese over the top, allowing it to melt completely and create a bubbling, golden-brown surface that'll make your mouth water.
Step 1. Brown Beef Thoroughly
Fire up your skillet and prepare to master the art of browning ground beef for this delectable dish.
Start with a large, heavy-bottomed skillet and heat it over medium-high temperature. Break the ground beef into small, even chunks as you add it to the pan, avoiding large clumps that prevent proper browning. Let the meat sizzle without immediately stirring, allowing a delicious caramelized crust to form.
After 2-3 minutes, begin breaking the beef into smaller pieces with a wooden spatula or metal turner.
Key browning tips:
- Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor
- Drain excess fat after cooking
- Aim for a deep, golden-brown color
- Season with salt and pepper during browning
Continue cooking until no pink remains.
Step 2. Add Diced Onions
Once the ground beef has browned and been drained, it's time to add those aromatic diced onions to amplify the dish's flavor profile.
Sprinkle the chopped onions directly into the skillet, distributing them evenly across the surface. Sauté the onions over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning and ensure uniform cooking. The onions will gradually become translucent and release their sweet, pungent aroma, which will infuse the ground beef with deeper, more complex flavor notes.
- Watch for a golden, slightly softened texture
- Stir consistently to prevent scorching
- Cook approximately 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent
- Listen for a gentle sizzling sound indicating proper heat
The onions will create a flavor foundation that elevates the entire dish.
Step 3. Add Potatoes, Season
After sautéing the onions to golden perfection, scatter the diced potatoes evenly across the skillet, transforming the ground beef mixture into a hearty one-pan meal. Aim for uniform, bite-sized potato pieces around 1/2-inch cubes to ensure consistent cooking.
Sprinkle the salt and pepper blend generously, using about 1 teaspoon total, and gently fold the seasonings into the mixture with a wooden spoon.
- Cover the skillet tightly with a lid
- Reduce heat to medium-low
- Cook for 15-20 minutes
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking
Watch for visual cues: potatoes should turn golden and become tender when pierced with a fork.
If potatoes seem dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to help steam and soften them quickly.
Step 4. Cover and Simmer
Since the ground beef and onions are now beautifully browned, you'll want to create a perfect steaming environment for your potatoes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and carefully add your diced potatoes to the skillet, ensuring even distribution.
Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid, trapping moisture and heat to help the potatoes cook evenly and quickly.
Set your timer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and promote uniform cooking.
Watch for visual cues: potatoes should become tender and slightly golden. If the pan seems dry, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to help steam the potatoes.
The lid acts like a mini-oven, creating gentle, consistent heat that transforms your raw potato cubes into soft, flavorful morsels ready for the final cheesy touch.
Step 5. Sprinkle Cheese, Melt Thoroughly
Those perfectly tender potatoes have now transformed your skillet into a canvas ready for the ultimate flavor finale.
Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the surface, ensuring complete coverage of the beef and potato base. Use approximately 2 cups of cheese, spreading it methodically with gentle hand movements to create a uniform layer.
Cover the skillet immediately, trapping heat to facilitate even melting. Set your burner to low-medium heat, allowing the cheese to transform from solid to a luxurious, molten blanket. Watch for visual cues: bubbling edges, glossy appearance, and complete coverage indicate the cheese has reached perfect melting consistency.
After 5 minutes, remove the lid and marvel at your beautifully cheesy creation.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a busy parent or a home cook looking for a satisfying meal, this Cheesy Ground Beef and Potatoes recipe offers a foolproof solution for weeknight dinner challenges.
You'll find this dish not only saves time but also delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. The simple one-pan technique means less cleanup and more enjoyment, transforming basic ingredients into a crowd-pleasing comfort food.
Key takeaways for guaranteed success:
- Use uniform potato cuts
- Drain excess beef fat
- Cover while cooking for even heat distribution
- Check potato tenderness before adding cheese
Master this recipe, and you'll have a reliable go-to meal that's adaptable to your family's tastes.
Experiment with additional seasonings or swap cheeses to make it your own signature dish.
