Description
Hearty midwestern meat & potato casserole delivers pure comfort with layered ground beef, creamy potatoes, and golden cheese melting across the top. Family dinner memories simmer in this classic dish that welcomes you to savor every satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Protein:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 lb bacon, chopped
Potatoes & Vegetables:
- 4 large potatoes, sliced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
Seasonings & Binding:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a large casserole dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, crisp the chopped bacon over medium-high heat until golden and rendered, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Using the same skillet with bacon drippings, brown the ground beef until no pink remains, breaking it into small crumbles and seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Sauté the diced onions in the meat mixture until translucent and slightly caramelized, creating deeper flavor profiles.
- Layer the sliced potatoes across the bottom of the casserole dish, creating an even, overlapping foundation.
- Spread the browned meat and onion mixture evenly over the potato layer, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Scatter the mixed vegetables uniformly across the meat layer to distribute color and nutrition.
- Whisk together heavy cream, eggs, flour, and half the shredded cheese in a separate bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Pour the creamy mixture over the casserole, allowing it to seep between layers and create a rich, binding sauce.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese and crispy bacon pieces across the top for a delectable, crunchy finish.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes until potatoes are tender and top is golden brown.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, lower-fat version that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
- Replace heavy cream with Greek yogurt or unsweetened almond milk to reduce calories and create a lighter, more digestible sauce.
- Enhance vegetable variety by adding seasonal produce like zucchini, bell peppers, or spinach for extra nutrients and color contrast.
- Prepare casserole components ahead of time and assemble just before baking to streamline weeknight meal preparation and save precious cooking time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 677
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 49 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 151 mg