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Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole

Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole

This Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole is the ultimate comfort-food bake — layers of tender potatoes, savory ground beef, and melty cheese all in one pan. Simple ingredients and family-friendly flavors make it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve it with a crisp salad or steamed veggies for a complete meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs ground beef 85–90% lean
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup milk whole or 2%
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 6 cups thinly sliced potatoes Yukon Gold or russet, peeled
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • Optional toppings
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • ¼ cup green onions sliced

Method
 

  1. Preheat & prep
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  3. Cook the beef
  4. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
  5. Add aromatics
  6. Stir in the diced onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
  7. Season & build the base
  8. Season with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme. Sprinkle in the flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  9. Create the creamy sauce
  10. Slowly whisk in beef broth and milk. Simmer 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened, then stir in sour cream. Remove from heat.
  11. Layer the casserole
  12. Spread half of the sliced potatoes into the baking dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the potatoes. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheddar. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, beef mixture, and 1 more cup of cheese.
  13. Top & bake
  14. Drizzle melted butter over the top and add mozzarella. Cover tightly with foil and bake 40 minutes.
  15. Uncover & finish
  16. Remove foil and bake another 12–15 minutes, until potatoes are tender and the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  17. Rest & serve
  18. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley or green onions if desired.

Notes

Shortcut: Use a mandoline to slice potatoes evenly.
Extra creamy: Add ¼ cup cream cheese to the sauce.
Make ahead: Assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 10–15 minutes to baking time.
Swap it: Ground turkey or chicken works too — just use chicken broth.