Hamburger And Potato Casserole Recipe

Picture a bubbling casserole, golden-brown and steaming, promising comfort on a chilly evening. You're about to discover a classic dish that transforms humble ingredients into a hearty meal. Hamburger and potato casserole isn't just food—it's a nostalgic journey through American home cooking. Want to learn how to create a crowd-pleasing dinner that'll have everyone asking for seconds? Your culinary adventure starts right here.

Recipe Highlights

• Combine browned ground beef, sliced potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, and shredded cheddar cheese in layers for a hearty, one-dish meal.
• Brown ground beef in a skillet with salt and pepper, ensuring even cooking and draining excess grease for a flavorful base.
• Slice potatoes uniformly at 1/8-inch thickness and layer them in a baking dish, slightly overlapping to create a complete bottom coverage.
• Spread cream of mushroom soup evenly across layers and sprinkle cheese consistently, using about 1/2 cup per layer for balanced flavor.
• Bake covered, then remove foil to let steam escape, checking potato tenderness and allowing the casserole to rest before serving hot.

History

Although many comfort food dishes have murky origins, the hamburger and potato casserole emerged from early 20th-century American home cooking traditions.

You'll find its roots deeply embedded in rural farmhouse kitchens, where resourceful cooks transformed simple ingredients into hearty meals. Farmers and homemakers needed affordable, filling dishes that could feed large families with minimal effort.

This casserole represents a classic example of Depression-era cooking, where:

• Meat was stretched with affordable starches
• Every ingredient served a nutritional purpose
• Cooking methods maximized flavor and texture

Your grandmother might've learned this recipe from her mother, passing down a culinary tradition that celebrated efficient, economical meal preparation.

The dish reflects a time when home cooks prioritized sustenance and creativity over complex techniques.

Recipe

Hamburger and Potato Casserole is a comforting, hearty dish that brings together classic farmhouse cooking traditions with simple, satisfying ingredients. This one-dish meal combines seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and rich cheese into a crowd-pleasing dinner that promises warmth and flavor in every bite.

The beauty of this casserole lies in its straightforward preparation and ability to transform basic ingredients into a memorable meal that appeals to both kids and adults. By layering meats, potatoes, and creamy soup, home cooks can create a nutritious and filling dinner that comes together with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 medium onion, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Begin by preheating the oven to 350°F and greasing a 9×13 inch baking dish. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with diced onions over medium heat, seasoning with salt and pepper, until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are translucent.

Layer half of the thinly sliced potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, followed by half the browned beef mixture. Spread half the cream of mushroom soup over the beef and sprinkle with half the shredded cheese.

Repeat the layering process with the remaining ingredients, creating a second complete layer.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.

For best results, use a mandoline slicer to ensure uniformly thin potato slices that cook evenly throughout the dish. The casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking, though you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the total cooking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.

Cooking Steps

You'll start by browning the ground beef with onions in a skillet, creating a flavorful base for your casserole that'll make your kitchen smell amazing.

Next, you'll create beautiful, layered stacks of thinly sliced potatoes, spreading cream of mushroom soup and sprinkling cheese between each delectable layer.

Once you've built your casserole, you'll cover it with foil, bake until tender, then uncover to let the cheese turn a gorgeous golden brown, transforming your simple ingredients into a comforting, hearty meal.

Step 1. Brown Ground Beef

When preparing to brown ground beef for this hearty casserole, start by heating a large skillet over medium heat and adding the ground beef and diced onions. Break the meat into small, uniform crumbles using a wooden spatula, ensuring even cooking and preventing large clumps.

Season the beef with salt and pepper, stirring frequently to promote consistent browning and prevent sticking.

Key steps for perfect ground beef:

• Cook at medium heat
• Stir constantly
• Break meat into small pieces
• Drain excess fat if needed

Watch for visual cues like changing meat color from pink to brown. The meat's done when no pink remains and it's evenly browned.

This process typically takes 8-10 minutes, depending on your skillet and stove's heat intensity. Drain any excess grease to keep your casserole from becoming too oily.

Step 2. Layer Potato Slices

Perfectly uniform potato slices are the secret to a deliciously even-cooking casserole, so grab a sharp knife or mandoline and prepare to create beautiful, thin layers that'll transform your dish.

You'll want to slice potatoes approximately 1/8-inch thick, which ensures they'll cook evenly and absorb the rich flavors surrounding them.

Here's how to nail those perfect potato layers:

• Use medium-starch potatoes like Yukon Golds
• Keep slices consistently thin (no thick chunks!)
• Arrange first layer covering entire bottom of 9×13 dish
• Slightly overlap slices for complete coverage
• Press down gently to create compact, even surface

Your potato foundation sets the stage for a mouthwatering casserole that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Step 3. Add Soup Layer

Because cream of mushroom soup acts as the creamy binding agent in this casserole, spreading it evenly across each layer is crucial for achieving a rich, cohesive flavor profile. You'll want to use the entire can of soup, carefully spooning it over the meat and potato layers to create a smooth, consistent coverage.

Tilt the baking dish slightly to help the soup distribute evenly, ensuring that every bite gets a touch of creamy goodness.

Key soup layering tips:

• Use a large spoon for controlled distribution
• Aim for complete coverage of the meat and potato layers
• Don't pour too quickly to prevent uneven spreading
• Gently tap the dish to help soup settle into layers

Step 4. Sprinkle Cheese Evenly

Sprinkle your shredded cheddar cheese across the casserole layers with strategic precision, ensuring an even, mouthwatering cheese distribution.

You'll want to spread the cheese carefully, covering each layer uniformly to guarantee every bite is deliciously cheesy. Use about 1/2 cup per layer, gently patting the cheese down to create consistent coverage.

Key cheese-sprinkling tips include:

• Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting
• Distribute from the center outward
• Aim for light, gentle coverage
• Ensure no large bare spots remain

Watch for visual cues like complete layer coverage and slight cheese overlap.

The goal is a golden, melty top that's evenly distributed. Your careful approach will transform the casserole from good to extraordinary, creating a beautifully cohesive dish that'll have everyone asking for seconds.

Step 5. Remove Foil, Serve Hot

After carefully distributing your cheese, the casserole will emerge from the oven bubbling and golden, signaling it's time to transform your creation from baking dish to dining table.

Carefully remove the foil, allowing steam to escape without burning yourself. Use oven mitts and set the protective covering aside.

Check potato tenderness by piercing with a fork; they should yield easily without resistance. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes, which allows cheese to set and flavors to meld. This resting period helps maintain structural integrity when serving.

Use a large serving spoon or spatula to portion out generous, hearty scoops. Each serving should include a balanced mix of crispy-edged potatoes and savory ground beef.

Garnish with fresh parsley for a touch of color and added freshness.

Final Thoughts

While this hamburger and potato casserole might seem simple, it's a timeless recipe that'll quickly become a family favorite.

You'll appreciate how easily it comes together, transforming basic ingredients into a comforting meal that satisfies hunger and warms the soul.

The dish's versatility allows for creative modifications: try adding green beans, swapping cheddar for pepper jack, or incorporating fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary.

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

Whether you're feeding a hungry family or looking for a reliable potluck contribution, this recipe delivers consistent, delicious results.

It's a testament to classic home cooking that proves sometimes the simplest meals are the most memorable.