Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole - Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

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When you need an ultra-comforting, family friendly dinner, try this Hamburger Potato Casserole, featuring layers of tender potatoes and ground beef in a cheesy cream sauce.

If you're looking for a short cut version of ground beef and potato casserole, you'll want to check out our Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole!

Comfort Food at its Finest

Nothing says cooler weather and holiday gatherings like a hearty casserole. This recipe has all the elements of a good casserole: meat, veggies, and a cheesy cream sauce.

Casseroles get a bad name for being boring or mushy--all those ingredients blending into one bland bite--but that's not the case with this recipe! We've elevated the standard meat and potato casserole with plenty of garlic, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a hint of tang from sour cream!

Here’s what makes this casserole so good:

• Simple ingredients. If you love meat and potatoes, this is the dish for you! No fancy or expensive ingredients are needed, just good old ground beef, potatoes, and a few pantry staples.
• A full meal in one pan. Some days, a simple casserole is all you have energy for. With this recipe, you have all the makings of a great meal in just one dish. Pair it with some rolls or an easy garden salad, and you’re good to go!
• Make ahead friendly. You can assemble this casserole in advance and bake it whenever you're ready!

Key Ingredients for Hamburger Potato Casserole

• Ground beef. The star of the show! It's hearty, it's affordable, it's a casserole standard. (See also Walking Taco Casserole and Baked Spaghetti Casserole).
• Worcestershire sauce. Whether or not you can pronounce it, you definitely don’t wanna skip the Worcestershire sauce in this recipe. It adds a tangy rich flavor and brings the whole casserole together.
• CHEESE. What would a casserole be without cheese? I used shredded cheddar and Monterey jack, but you can experiment with different cheeses—as long as they’re easily melted.
• Cream of Mushroom Soup- I don't often cook with canned soups, but they're a go-to for ultra creamy casseroles.
• Sour Cream- Your ticket to tang town. Just kidding, it only adds a teeny bit of tang--just enough to cut the richness of the soup.
• Potatoes. This is where we get the structure of our casserole and so much good texture. I used Yukon gold potatoes, but russets or even red potatoes would work well. Just be sure to thinly slice them-- a mandoline slicer or food processor is great for this!

How to Make a Ground Beef Casserole with Potatoes

This casserole dish has three main components: sliced potatoes, cooked ground beef, and the cheesy cream sauce. Here's how you'll make it!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the inside of a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Cook the ground beef and onion until no longer pink, 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat, drain off any excess grease. Stir in garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
3. Whisk together the sauce. Stir condensed soups, milk, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl.
4. Layer! Spread half cup of the soup mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
5. Arrange a third of the sliced potatoes in a shingled layer on top of the soup. Top with half of the meat, then pour on half of the remaining sauce, spreading it evenly. Add another layer of potatoes, the rest of the meat, the rest of the sauce, then the final layer of potatoes. Sprinkle the top with cheese.
6. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, place on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 80 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender and cheese is melted.
7. Allow to sit for 10 minutes, then garnish with parsley and serve.

Here's a visual to help with the layering!

Can you make hamburger potato casserole ahead of time?

This recipe is ideal for making ahead of time. You can cook and layer the casserole ingredients up to two days in advance, then refrigerate until you're ready to bake. This recipe takes over an hour to bake, so I prefer to make it the night before or morning of the day we'll be eating it for dinner. It's also perfect to take to new moms to bake when they're ready!

Can you freeze this casserole?

Yes, with some caveats. Sliced potatoes can get a touch soft in the freezer, so they're not likely to have quite as nice of a texture as the fresh baked casserole does, but other than that, this freezes really beautifully!

Assemble the casserole as usual, but do not bake. Instead, wrap it in foil, then wrap it again in saran wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake as usual.

More Comforting Ground Beef Casseroles

If you love the combo of ground beef and potatoes, you have to try this Skillet Ground Beef and Potatoes! It's got all the flavors of a hearty casserole but made on the stove top in half the time!

We also love this Mexican Cornbread Casserole with Ground Beef and, of course, Mom's Best Easy Meatloaf Recipe.

When you need to feed a crowd, check out my Company Casserole, a super creamy and cheesy ground beef and pasta casserole. We also love this Johnny Marzetti, a classic Midwestern pasta casserole that could feed an army.

📖 Recipe