Description
Hearty midwestern hamburger potato casserole combines ground beef, potatoes, and creamy cheese in a comforting one-dish meal. Midwestern home cooks will appreciate this simple, satisfying dinner that brings families together around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
- 3 cups (450 g) peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup (180 ml) milk
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped onion
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat: Set oven to 350°F, establishing the perfect thermal environment for a hearty casserole transformation.
- Meat Preparation: In a large skillet, sear ground beef over medium-high heat, fragmenting and browning thoroughly. Drain excess fat completely to ensure a lean, flavorful foundation.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk condensed mushroom soup with milk, blending finely chopped onions, salt, and pepper into a smooth, cohesive sauce that will bind the casserole’s components.
- Layering Technique: Arrange thinly sliced potatoes as the base, methodically alternating with seasoned beef and creamy soup mixture. Ensure even distribution for consistent flavor and texture throughout the baking dish.
- Baking Process: Slide casserole into preheated oven, allowing ingredients to meld and potatoes to become tender and golden. Bake for 1 to 1½ hours, watching for a perfectly caramelized surface and fork-tender potato layers.
- Cheese Finale: During the last cooking moments, generously sprinkle Cheddar cheese across the surface, returning to oven until cheese melts into a bubbling, golden-brown crust.
- Resting Stage: Extract from oven and let casserole stand briefly, enabling flavors to intensify and layers to harmonize before serving a comforting, robust meal.
Notes
- Potato Precision: Slice potatoes uniformly thin to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Fat Management: Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent excess grease and maintain a lighter, more appetizing dish.
- Cheese Timing: Add cheese during the last 10-15 minutes of baking to prevent burning and achieve perfect melting consistency.
- Resting Ritual: Allow the casserole to rest 10-15 minutes after baking, which helps the layers set and makes cutting and serving easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg