The Best Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe Everyone Will Love

Whipping up a delightful hamburger potato casserole always brings comfort and joy to hungry families.

Hearty ingredients combine in this simple one-dish meal that satisfies deeply.

Layered potatoes and seasoned ground beef create a classic combination everyone loves.

Midwestern home cooks have perfected this budget-friendly recipe through generations of kitchen wisdom.

Warm, cheesy, and packed with flavor, each forkful promises pure satisfaction.

Cheese melts beautifully over tender potatoes and savory meat, making this dish irresistible.

You won’t be able to resist seconds of this incredibly comforting casserole.

Why Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole Is So Filling

• Craft a Comforting Meal: This ground beef and potato casserole offers a delightful culinary experience that brings families together around the dinner table.
• Simplify Weeknight Cooking: Combine basic ingredients in one dish, reducing prep time and kitchen cleanup while delivering maximum flavor and satisfaction.
• Customize with Ease: Swap ingredients or add personal touches like extra cheese, different seasonings, or vegetables to make this recipe uniquely yours.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: Packed with hearty ground beef, creamy sauce, and cheesy topping, this casserole satisfies hunger and creates warm dining memories for all ages.

Everything Needed For Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole

• Ground Beef: A hearty protein that provides rich flavor and substance to the casserole.
• Potatoes: Starchy vegetables that create a comforting base and add texture to the dish.
• Cheddar Cheese: A sharp and melty topping that adds creamy richness and golden color.

• Cream of Mushroom Soup: Creates a creamy base that helps bind the ingredients together.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth, consistent sauce.
• Sour Cream: Provides tanginess and helps create a rich, creamy texture.
• Butter: Enhances flavor and contributes to the smooth, velvety sauce.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder: Essential spices that boost the overall flavor profile of the beef.
• Onions: Adds depth of flavor and aromatic complexity to the casserole.
• Aluminum Foil: Used for covering and controlling the cooking process and browning.

How To Make Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole

Step 1: Brown Ground Beef

Sizzle ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break the meat into tiny crumbles and cook until completely brown with no pink showing.

Step 2: Season Beef Mixture

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder

Stir spices thoroughly to distribute evenly throughout the meat.

Step 3: Prepare Potato Base

Slice potatoes into thin, uniform rounds to ensure consistent cooking and delicious texture. Create an even layer of potato slices across the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 4: Build Beef Layer

Spread the seasoned ground beef uniformly over the potato base. Sprinkle finely diced onions across the beef layer to boost flavor complexity.

Step 5: Create Creamy Sauce

• Cream of mushroom soup
• Milk
• Sour cream
• Butter

Blend until the mixture becomes smooth and perfectly combined.

Step 6: Pour Creamy Sauce

Drench the beef and potato layers with the creamy sauce, ensuring complete and even coverage across the entire casserole.

Step 7: Add Cheese Topping

Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top, creating a complete cheese layer that will turn golden and bubbly.

Step 8: Initial Baking

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

Step 9: Final Baking

Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes. Look for tender potatoes and a golden brown, bubbling top.

Step 10: Rest and Serve

Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven. This helps the dish set and makes serving much easier.

Helpful Tips For Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole

• Optimize Potato Beef Baking: Use a mandoline slicer for perfectly uniform potato rounds, ensuring even cooking and professional-looking layers.
• Boost Flavor Depth: Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the ground beef while seasoning for a rich, complex umami taste that elevates the entire dish.
• Prevent Soggy Bottom: Pat potato slices dry with paper towels before layering to remove excess moisture and maintain a crisp texture throughout baking.
• Cheese Melting Trick: Grate cheese directly from the refrigerator for more even melting and better coverage across the casserole surface.
• Storage Savvy: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, reheating in the oven to maintain the casserole's original crispy top and creamy texture.

Tasty Ideas For Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole

• Low-Carb Cauliflower Swap: Replace potatoes with thinly sliced cauliflower florets for a keto-friendly version that maintains the same creamy, comforting texture.
• Vegetarian Ground Beef Alternative: Substitute ground beef with plant-based crumbles or black beans for a protein-packed meatless option that keeps the casserole's rich flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free to make this recipe safe for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
• Mediterranean-Inspired Variation: Swap ground beef for ground lamb, add oregano and feta cheese, and include diced bell peppers for a Greek-inspired transformation of the classic casserole.

Good Pairings With Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole

• Pair with Robust Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to complement the rich, meaty flavors of the beef and creamy cheese layers.
• Serve with Crisp Garden Salad: Create a light, refreshing side with mixed greens, cucumber, and a tangy vinaigrette to balance the casserole's hearty and creamy profile.
• Match with Craft Beer Selections: Select a malty amber ale or hoppy IPA that can cut through the dish's richness while enhancing its savory ground beef characteristics.
• Accompany with Zesty Pickles: Add a crunchy, acidic pickle side to provide a sharp contrast to the smooth, creamy casserole texture and help cleanse the palate between bites.

How To Store Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole Right

• Transfer cooled casserole to an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Wrap completely cooled casserole in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, storing flat in the freezer for up to 2-3 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Place individual portions on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each to distribute warmth evenly.
• Thaw frozen casserole overnight in the refrigerator, then bake at 350°F covered with foil for 20-25 minutes, removing foil for the last 5 minutes to restore crispy cheese topping.

FAQs For Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole Simplified

• Can I use different types of ground meat in this recipe?

Yes, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based meat alternatives for a different flavor profile.

• Is it necessary to peel the potatoes before slicing?

No, you can leave the potato skins on for added nutrition and texture, just make sure to wash them thoroughly before slicing.

• How can I make this dish more nutritious?

Add frozen mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, or green beans between the beef and potato layers to boost the nutritional value of the casserole.

• What if I don't have cream of mushroom soup?

You can replace it with cream of chicken soup or make a homemade white sauce using flour, butter, and milk as an alternative base for the creamy mixture.

Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe

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4.6 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comfort meets convenience in this hamburger potato casserole, a hearty one-dish meal perfect for busy families. Layers of ground beef, creamy potatoes, and melted cheese create a satisfying dinner that brings warmth and flavor to your table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein and Starch:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 medium potatoes

Seasonings and Spices:

• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Binding and Moisture Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 2 tbsp butter

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and thoroughly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until no pink remains, approximately 7-8 minutes.
3. Drain excess fat from the beef and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, stirring to distribute the spices evenly.
4. Thinly slice the potatoes into uniform rounds, ensuring consistent cooking and texture throughout the casserole.
5. Layer half of the potato slices across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating an even base for the casserole.
6. Sprinkle the seasoned ground beef over the potato layer, distributing it uniformly.
7. Dice the onions finely and scatter them across the beef layer for added flavor and texture.
8. In a mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, and butter until smooth and well-combined.
9. Pour the creamy mixture evenly over the beef and potato layers, ensuring complete coverage.
10. Top the casserole with shredded cheddar cheese, spreading it to create a complete cheese layer.
11. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.
12. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown and bubbly.
13. Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps it set and makes portioning easier.

Notes

• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a leaner, healthier alternative that still delivers robust flavor.
• Slice potatoes uniformly using a mandoline slicer to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
• Add diced bell peppers or mushrooms to boost nutritional value and introduce extra layers of complexity to the dish’s flavor profile.
• For a gluten-free version, replace cream of mushroom soup with homemade white sauce or a gluten-free condensed soup alternative.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 470 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 780 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg