Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe

Just like a culinary time machine transporting you to mid-century American kitchens, the Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole represents comfort food at its finest. You'll want to master this classic dish that transforms humble ingredients into a mouthwatering meal. With simple techniques and pantry staples, you'll create a casserole that promises warmth, nostalgia, and satisfaction. Curious about how a few strategic layers can elevate everyday ingredients into something extraordinary? Keep reading to uncover the secrets behind this beloved family recipe.

Recipe Highlights

• Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole is a classic one-pan comfort food meal combining ground beef, potatoes, and melted cheese in a simple, hearty dish.
• Brown ground beef with onion soup mix, layer uniformly sliced potatoes in a greased 9×13 baking dish, and cover with cream of mushroom soup.
• Bake the casserole at 350°F for one hour, initially covered with foil, then uncovered for the last 15 minutes to achieve golden-brown cheese.
• Essential ingredients include lean ground beef, potatoes, cheddar cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and optional herbs for customizing flavor and texture.
• This versatile casserole serves 4-6 people, freezes well, and pairs perfectly with a green salad or crusty bread for a complete meal.

History

Although casseroles have roots in French cuisine, the Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole represents a quintessential American comfort food innovation.

You'll find its origins deeply connected to mid-20th century home cooking, where resourceful cooks transformed simple ingredients into hearty meals. The casserole emerged during a time when convenience and affordability were paramount in American kitchens.

Family cookbooks and community recipe collections from the 1950s and 1960s frequently featured similar one-dish meals that combined ground beef, potatoes, and cheese. These recipes reflected post-war economic practicality and the growing popularity of packaged soup mixes.

Home cooks prized dishes that could feed large families quickly and economically. Your grandmother might've learned this style of cooking from church potluck gatherings or neighborhood recipe exchanges, where such casseroles became cultural culinary touchstones.

Recipe

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food that brings together hearty ground beef, tender potatoes, and melted cheese in one irresistible dish. This Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole is more than just a meal – it's a satisfying culinary experience that transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing dinner.

Perfect for busy families and casual gatherings, this casserole offers a delicious one-pan solution that requires minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor. The combination of seasoned beef, creamy soup, and layers of potatoes creates a rich and filling main course that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 6 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 package onion soup mix
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, draining excess fat, and stir in the onion soup mix to enhance the meat's flavor. Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Begin layering the casserole by placing half the thinly sliced potatoes on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half the browned beef mixture and half the shredded cheese. Spread the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the cheese layer, then repeat the layers with remaining potatoes, meat, and cheese.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. After the initial baking time, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is golden and bubbly. Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving to help the layers set and make cutting and serving easier.

When preparing this dish, ensure potatoes are sliced uniformly thin for even cooking, and consider using a mandoline slicer for consistent thickness. For added variety, experiment with different cheese types or include diced vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms in the layers to customize the casserole to your taste preferences.

Cooking Steps

You'll start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet, ensuring it's thoroughly cooked and well-seasoned with the onion soup mix.

Next, you'll create beautiful layers in your baking dish, carefully arranging thinly sliced potatoes, the seasoned meat, and generous handfuls of shredded cheddar cheese, spreading cream of mushroom soup between each delectable stratum.

Finally, you'll bake the casserole, watching it transform from a humble collection of ingredients into a golden, bubbling masterpiece that promises comfort and satisfaction.

Step 1. Brown Ground Beef

Fire up your skillet and get ready to transform ground beef into a delicious foundation for your Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, letting it warm up for about a minute. Crumble the 2 pounds of ground beef directly into the hot pan, breaking it into small, uniform pieces with a wooden spatula.

Cook the beef, stirring frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even browning. Watch for visual cues: the meat should turn from pink to a rich, brown color, which typically takes 8-10 minutes.

• Drain excess fat using a colander
• Return beef to the skillet
• Stir in the onion soup mix thoroughly
• Mix until seasoning is evenly distributed

The goal is perfectly browned, well-seasoned ground beef that'll add incredible depth to your casserole.

Step 2. Layer Potato Slices

After browning and seasoning the ground beef, your next step will transform those thin potato slices into the golden, layered foundation of this comforting casserole.

Grab your mandoline or sharp knife and slice potatoes uniformly, aiming for 1/8-inch thick pieces that'll cook evenly and create a tender, consistent texture.

Grease your 9×13 baking dish, then carefully arrange the first layer of potato slices, slightly overlapping them to create a solid base. This initial layer should cover the entire bottom of the dish, creating a sturdy potato platform for your meat and cheese layers.

The key is even distribution – each slice should sit flat and touch its neighbors, ensuring uniform cooking and maximum flavor absorption throughout the casserole.

Step 3. Add Cream of Mushroom

When spreading the cream of mushroom soup across your layered casserole, ensure an even, gentle distribution that will act as a moisture-rich binding agent for the entire dish.

Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to carefully spread the soup in a thin, uniform layer, covering the cheese completely. This creamy element serves multiple purposes:

• Adds moisture to prevent dryness
• Creates a smooth texture between layers
• Enhances overall flavor profile
• Helps bind ingredients together

Pay special attention to reaching the edges and corners, making sure no potato slice or meat section remains uncovered. The soup should look like a light, creamy blanket gently draped across your casserole's surface.

A consistent layer will guarantee that every bite is equally delicious and perfectly moist.

Step 4. Top With Cheese

Once you've spread the cream of mushroom soup evenly across your layered casserole, you'll want to generously top the dish with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.

Sprinkle the cheese in an even, thick layer, ensuring complete coverage of the underlying ingredients. Your goal is a golden, melted cheese blanket that will create a deliciously crispy, bubbly top when baked.

Key cheese topping tips include:

• Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting
• Cover entire surface uniformly
• Aim for about 2 cups of cheese total
• Distribute cheese evenly to prevent dry spots

The final cheese layer will provide a rich, tangy finish that perfectly complements the savory beef and creamy potato base.

When baked, the cheese will transform into a gorgeous, slightly crisp topping that adds both visual appeal and incredible flavor to your casserole.

Step 5. Bake Until Golden Brown

The final transformation of your Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole begins with careful baking techniques that'll turn your layered creation into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.

You'll want to cover the dish with foil initially, creating a steam environment that'll help cook the potatoes evenly. Bake at 350°F for one full hour, ensuring uniform heat penetration and tender potato layers.

After the initial covered baking, remove the foil to allow direct heat and browning. This critical 15-minute uncovered phase will:

• Crisp the potato edges
• Melt cheese to a perfect golden hue
• Create a slightly crusty top layer
• Develop rich, caramelized flavor notes

Watch for visual cues: golden-brown cheese, slightly bubbling edges, and potatoes that pierce easily with a fork signal your casserole is perfectly done.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're cooking for a family dinner or prepping for a potluck, this Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole will become a staple in your recipe collection.

You'll love how simple it's to customize with extra herbs or vegetables, making it perfect for using up ingredients in your fridge. Consider adding diced bell peppers or swapping cheddar for a different cheese blend to keep things interesting.

The dish freezes beautifully, so you can make multiple batches and save some for later.

Pro tip: let the casserole cool for 10-15 minutes after baking to help it set and make serving easier.

With minimal prep and maximum flavor, this one-dish wonder will quickly become a go-to meal that'll have everyone asking for seconds.