Hamburger and Potato Casserole

This hamburger and potato casserole is filled with everything you need for a delicious meal. Creamy potatoes with seasoned ground beef covered in cheese makes an ultimate comfort meal the whole family will love. No can of soup needed!

What’s for dinner? Have you run out of ideas? Add this scrumptious hamburger potato casserole to your weeknight rotation and with just a little prep, you’ve got dinner solved and enough for left overs.

If you like ground beef and cheesy potatoes, you’re going to love this dish. Flavored with mushrooms and cooked onions, this recipe is next level! A creamy sauce made with Worcestershire sauce and sour cream coats the potatoes and beef for a casserole that you’ll be making over and over again.

Normally ground beef and potato casseroles are made with canned mushroom soup, and while that is easier, making your own sauce just takes a few minutes and the flavor is so much better than what you can get in a can.

Serve this comfort meal for family dinners, pot lucks, or holiday gatherings and it will be gone before you know it. If you need a potato casserole for breakfast, then try a cheesy ham and potato casserole or an easy sausage casserole.

What type of potato should you use

Russet potatoes are the one to choose for casseroles. They are a high starch potato which means it will keep its shape when cooked. Some call them Idaho potatoes, but only potatoes grown in Idaho can use that name. They are often used in casseroles like au gratin potatoes because they will keep their shape.

Yukon Gold on the other hand are a medium starch potato and will get soft and creamy when baked whether in creamy mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes. They can be used interchangeably with russets, but the texture of your casserole will be different.

A potato casserole is normally a side dish, but with the addition of ground beef, you have an amazing main course. If you’re looking for a more complete meal, pair it with green beans or broccoli salad. It’s never a bad idea to add some green veggies with a hearty dish like this one.

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and bake when needed. Prepping a casserole in advance is such a great way to get dinner on the table during busy weeknights. You can even reheat the next day for a quick and delicious lunch.

Secrets for the best hamburger casserole

• Drain the meat – Drain your ground beef or soak up excess grease with a paper towel.
• Make now, bake later – Make this casserole ahead of time, refrigerate, and bake when ready. This is not only convenient, but it allows the flavors to absorb for a longer period of time.
• Use a shallow dish – A shallow dish will cook quickly and also allow more surface area for a crispy cheesy topping.
• High quality cheese is a good choice – Using a good quality cheese will melt better and taste better overall. I recommend grating your cheese at home instead of buying shredded cheese.
• Top it off – Feel free to add bacon, green onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, etc. to this casserole. Make it your own!

What makes this recipe great?

• Calls for simple ingredients and no soup needed
• The sour cream adds a tangy flavor and a creamy texture you’ll love
• It’s perfect comfort food for any time of year
• An easy meal you can serve with almost any side dish
• Make ahead, refrigerate, and serve when you’re ready
• It makes for easy and fresh tasting leftovers

Ingredients you’ll need

• Ground beef – 90% lean ground beef works best for this recipe because of the small amount of grease. If you’re using a fattier cut, make sure you drain the grease.
• Vegetables – Mushrooms and onions add so much flavor but feel free to add additional veggies as well.
• Spices – Thyme, salt, and pepper are musts.
• Potatoes – Russet potatoes are best for this casserole
• Sour cream – Full fat sour cream is the best kind! This will add tons of tangy flavors as well as an oh so creamy texture
• Cheese – Freshly grated Colby jack cheese will melt into a golden brown crispy topping on this dish. Add cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese if desired.
• Liquid – Since this recipe does not call for soup, you’ll need equal parts whole milk and chicken broth
• Pantry items – butter and flour

Let’s make ground beef and potato casserole

Step 1: Cook the ground beef

Brown the hamburger with mushrooms and onions and remove from the skillet.

Step 2: Add liquid

Whisk butter and flour together then add your liquids to make a roux. Remove from the heat and add the sour cream.

Step 3: Mix in potatoes

Mix potatoes and ground beef in a large bowl and drench with the liquid mixture.

Add some cheese to the mixture.

Step 4: Bake

Pour into a casserole dish and bake covered until the potatoes have cooked.

Step 5: Get cheesy

Add as much cheese as your heart desires then baked uncovered until the cheese is golden brown.

Pro tip: Don’t overcook the beef on the skillet, it will bake again in the oven. Make sure the beef is just cooked through so it’s not dry in the casserole.

Potato casserole FAQs

Can I use a different type of meat?

Yes you can use ground turkey or ground chicken! The flavor will be slightly different but it’s a great way to lower the calories and add more protein. In addition, you can use ½ hamburger meat and ½ ground sausage.

How do I reheat leftovers?

Let the casserole sit out while your oven preheats to 400º. Then baked covered for roughly 20 minutes or until warm all the way through. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave for 30 second intervals until warm.

Can I freeze this dish?

Yes this casserole will freeze. You can freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 month, let thaw before heating. You can also refrigerate for up to 3 days before baking.

Casserole recipes you’ll love

It’s always nice to have a list of easy casserole recipes ready to go for busy nights. Here are a few easy dinner recipes…

• Extra cheesy and flavorful spaghetti casserole is a recipe even picky eaters will like
• When you’re in the mood for tex-mex, try a one pot taco casserole
• A classic southern chicken pot pie covered with biscuits is a family favorite
• You can never go wrong with a tater tot casserole

More fabulous potato recipes to try

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.