Description
Hearty “Cheesy Ground Beef and Potatoes” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen, blending savory beef with melted cheese and crispy potato layers. Home cooks savor this classic one-pan meal that promises satisfying warmth and flavor in every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup (113 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (57 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Aromatics and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Liquid and Creamy Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) beef broth
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a toasty 375°F (190°C) and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
- Sizzle olive oil in a heavy skillet, then introduce ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic. Cook until the meat transforms into a rich, caramelized brown. Enhance with aromatic salt, cracked pepper, and smoky paprika. Carefully drain any lingering fat.
- Create the first foundation layer by arranging potato slices across the baking dish, allowing them to slightly overlap. Dust the surface with fragrant thyme leaves.
- Distribute the seasoned beef mixture evenly across the potato landscape, creating a hearty base layer.
- Blanket the beef with a generous cascade of sharp cheddar and creamy mozzarella cheeses, ensuring complete coverage.
- Replicate the layering process: another stratum of potato slices, followed by remaining beef, concluding with a final cheese avalanche.
- Whisk beef broth and tangy sour cream into a silky sauce, then delicately pour over the entire casserole, allowing the liquid to seep between layers.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and nestle into the preheated oven for 40 minutes of transformative cooking.
- Remove the foil and return to the oven, allowing the top to develop a golden, crispy cheese crust for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Extract from the oven and permit the casserole to rest and settle for 5 minutes before serving, allowing flavors to harmonize.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent excess grease from making the dish soggy and heavy.
- Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for better structure and creamy interior when baked.
- Consider swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, leaner protein option suitable for different dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg