Description
A cozy, budget-friendly comfort food casserole made with ground beef, potatoes, and a creamy cheddar sauce. This one-pan meal is simple to make, kid-approved, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 3 large yellow potatoes (Yukon Gold or red, about 2 pounds), diced into half-inch cubes
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: ½ cup frozen peas
- Optional: ½ cup corn
- Optional: ¼ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Peel and dice potatoes into half-inch cubes. Place in a bowl of cold water to prevent browning while prepping other ingredients.
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains, then drain excess fat if desired.
- Push beef to one side (or remove if pan is small). Add butter to the pan. Once melted, add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Return beef to the pan. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Drain the potatoes and add them to the skillet. Stir gently to coat potatoes in the sauce, ensuring they are submerged as much as possible.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.
- Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken.
Notes
Cut potatoes uniformly for even cooking. Shred your own cheese for better melting. If the casserole looks watery after baking, bake uncovered for an extra 5-10 minutes. Can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking. Freezes well unbaked for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: ground beef casserole, potato casserole, cheesy beef, comfort food, easy dinner, family meals, budget-friendly recipes, weeknight dinner