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This Hamburger Potato Casserole is the kind of comforting dinner recipe that never goes out of style. Layers of tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef, plenty of melted cheese, and a rich creamy sauce come together to create a hearty casserole the whole family will love.
It’s easy enough for busy weeknights, budget-friendly, and perfect for making ahead. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or looking for a cozy comfort food dinner, this cheesy hamburger potato casserole always disappears fast.
If you love classic family casseroles, be sure to try my hamburger rice casserole, hamburger casserole, beef noodle casserole, or Johnny Marzetti casserole? next.
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS HAMBURGER POTATO CASSEROLE RECIPE
- Creamy, dreamy sauce
- Beef and potatoes cooked to perfection
- GREAT for hungry families
- Easy cleanup
✨ Before You Begin
✨ Slice Evenly: Slice the potatoes as evenly as possible so they cook at the same rate. A mandoline makes quick work of this, but a sharp knife works well too.
✨ Drain The Beef: Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain any excess grease before assembling the casserole. This keeps the sauce creamy rather than oily.
✨ Shred Your Own Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded varieties, which contain anti-caking agents that can affect texture.
✨ Check Potato Tenderness: If your potatoes are especially thick or large, check for tenderness before removing the casserole from the oven. The potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork.
✨ Let It Rest: Allow the casserole to rest for 10–15 minutes before serving. This gives the creamy sauce time to thicken slightly and makes cleaner slices.
HAMBURGER POTATO CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS
Meat: I use 1 1/2 lb ground beef, 80/20. You can use lean ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey, but the flavor will be less intense.
Onion: I like yellow onion in this dish. Dice it into 1/4 inch pieces.
Garlic: Please use fresh garlic only. Garlic powder is okay in a pinch, but the flavor of fresh garlic is truly much better.
Salt + Pepper: Our foundational seasoning. Regular table salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
Worcestershire Sauce: Adds many layers of subtle flavor.
Canned Soup: I prefer cream of mushroom soup in this casserole, because it best complements the flavor of the beef, but any cream of soup will work. Even cream of chicken soup and cream of celery will work.
Sour Cream: Add creaminess to the casserole.
Tomatoes: I use petite diced tomatoes because their size works best. I hate getting a huge chunk of tomato in a bite.
Hot Sauce: I add very little. I don’t think it’s enough to add much heat. Feel free to add more if you prefer things spicy!
Italian Seasoning: I love this blend of herbs! I use McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning.
Thyme: This blends out the flavor of the spices in the dish.
Cheese: I like sharp cheddar or extra-sharp cheddar. You can switch up the cheese with other cheeses to change the overall flavor. We like it with mozzarella or Colby jack, too!
Milk: I use whole milk.
Potatoes: The type of potato you use in this hamburger potato casserole recipe matters! If you use one that’s too soft, it’ll disintegrate in cooking. That’s why russet potatoes are so great — they’re full of starch that’ll help them hold their shape! I like to hand-slice the potato slices about 1/4 inch thick.
Fresh Parsley: Optional garnish/
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY HAMBURGER POTATO CASSEROLE
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC).
- Cook the beef, onion, and garlic, then add salt and pepper over medium heat to medium-high heat.
- Stir in Worcestershire.
- In a mixing bowl, combine soup, sour cream, tomatoes, hot sauce, Italian seasoning, thyme, and a cup of cheddar cheese.
- Add milk and mix.
- Pour 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of the baking dish.
- Arrange a layer of half of the potatoes.
- Spread half the sauce on top.
- Spread half the ground beef mixture on top.
- Repeat with the second layer. Arrange potatoes.
- Spread the sauce on top.
- Spread the meat on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake.
- Sprinkle cheese on top, and bake again. Serve.
- See the full instructions below.
NOTES
- Baking Dish: You need to use an extra-deep 9X13 baking dish. Pyrex has a new product that fits the bill perfectly! My sister, Chrissy, told me about the Pyrex 9X13 deep glass casserole dish, which I bought at Target.
STORING + REHEATING + FREEZING + MAKE-AHEAD
How Long Can You Keep This In The Refrigerator? Any leftovers can be properly stored and sealed in the fridge for up to four days. I love portioning the casserole out so I have ready-to-grab meals! Be sure to store in an airtight container.
Reheating: For individual portions, microwave covered with a damp paper towel in 30-second intervals until heated through. To reheat a larger amount, cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in a 350°F oven for 20–30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. If the casserole seems a little dry after refrigeration, add a splash of milk before reheating.
Can You Freeze This Hamburger Potato Casserole? Definitely! Most casseroles are great freezer meals. You can freeze them before or after cooking —either way, they’ll store in your freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To thaw, let it sit in the fridge overnight, then pop it in the oven and either finish cooking it or heat it up!
Make Ahead Tips: See my note about freezing it above! Casseroles like this one make great freezer meals to have on hand when you just don’t feel like cooking. Whip it up, store it, and you’re ready to go!
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
I love serving this casserole with delectable side dishes like brown sugar glazed carrots, savory southern style green beans, amazingly sweet and salty Arkansas green beans, roasted broccoli, or broccoli cauliflower casserole.
It’s also great with Bisquick biscuits, beer bread, lusciously buttery crescent rolls, or Southern cornbread. All super yummy choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
◆ Can I make hamburger potato casserole ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove it from the refrigerator while the oven preheats and bake as directed.
◆ What potatoes work best in hamburger potato casserole?
Russet potatoes are my favorite because they become tender and help create a creamy texture. Yukon Gold potatoes are another excellent option and hold their shape slightly better.
◆ Can I use cream of mushroom soup instead?
Absolutely. Cream of mushroom soup is a common substitute and works well in this recipe. Cream of chicken or cream of celery soup can also be used.
◆ Why are my potatoes still firm?
The most common cause is slicing the potatoes too thick. For best results, slice them about 1/8-inch thick so they become tender during baking.
◆ Can I freeze hamburger potato casserole?
Yes. You can freeze the casserole either before or after baking for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
◆ Can I add vegetables?
Definitely. Frozen mixed vegetables, peas, corn, green beans, or diced bell peppers all work well and can be added along with the ground beef layer.
Still have questions? Drop them in the comments — I love helping you cook with confidence! 💗
MORE BEEFY CASSEROLE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!
- American Goulash
- Baked Ziti With Ricotta
- Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Cowboy Casserole
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Shredded Beef Enchiladas
- Dorito Casserole
- John Wayne Casserole
- Bisquick Taco Bake
- Mexican Casserole
- Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Runza Casserole
- Pierogi Casserole
- Cattle Drive Casserole
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Hamburger Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- salt
- pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 2 (10.75-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 (15-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 3 cups cheddar, divided shredded
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef (1 1/2 pounds) with onion (1 1/2 cups), garlic (4 cloves), 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, until there is no longer any pink in the beef. Drain off excess grease. Stir in Worcestershire (1 tablespoon).
- In a mixing bowl combine soup (2 cans), sour cream (1/2 cup), tomatoes (1 can), hot sauce (1/2 teaspoon), Italian seasoning (2 teaspoons), thyme (1/2 teaspoon), 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Add milk (3/4 cup) and mix until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of a deep 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Arrange a layer of half of the potatoes in the prepared baking dish then spread half the sauce and half the meat on top. Repeat with the second layer. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and place on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any spillover). Bake in preheated oven for about 90 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove from oven, uncover, top with remaining 2 cups cheddar and bake until cheese is melted about 10-15 minutes. Garnish and serve!
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Baking Dish: You need to use an extra deep 9X13 baking dish. Pyrex has a new product out that fits the bill perfectly! My sister, Chrissy, told me about the Pyrex 9X13 deep glass bakeware! I bought mine at Target.
- Potatoes: The type of potato you use in this hamburger potato casserole recipe matters! If you use one that’s too soft, it’ll disintegrate in cooking. That’s why russet potatoes are so great — it’s full of starch that’ll help them hold their shape!
Nutrition
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Is there another soup you can substitute the cream of mushroom for? My family will never eat that.
Hey Ann sure there is. Try it with cream of celery.
Cream of potato also works well.
Super Easy and wonderful dish!
Thank you, Michelle! 🙂
Delicious but using 3 lbs of potatoes is to much for one 9X13 inch pan. I ended up using two 9X13 inch pans. One is in the freezer and will make some nice future meals.
This was an incredible casserole! Only changes I made was I used seasoned salt and creole seasoning on the layers of potatoes. I also used colby and Monterey Jack in the meat mixture and topped with mozzarella and the Colby-Monterey Jack. Hand shredded because it makes all the difference! It is worth the extra effort. I also added green pepper. Thank you for sharing!
Wow, Kelly! That sounds so delicious 🙂
So happy you like this casserole. Thank you for sharing your review!
We absolutely loved the slice potatoes and hamburger casserole. But one thing I will do next time is pre cook the potatoes it took way to long for potatoes to cook
I’m so happy you enjoyed, Michelle. Did you cut them really thin?
When do you add the meat? I think the text of step 6 is garbled.
Hi Kelly. Yes, I updated the recipe. You add it in step 6
I soooo want to try this recipe. Could I use crushed tomatoes instead of diced?
Thanks, Jan
Hi, Janet! Yes, I think that will work 🙂 Enjoy!
Need to try this fir dinner.have very low income. Hamburger potatoes casserole.
Hi, Dawn. Thank you! I hope you enjoy this casserole <3
Same here with budget… I left out the tomatos and the woreceishire sauce , as well as the hot sauce… an everyone LOVED IT… BASICALLY I put potatoes, sour cream, beef, cream of mushroom ( Kroger brand) salt pepper,a tiny bit of red pepper flakes. I sprayed my 13×9 pan with pam an basically put it together like them only difference is I put potatoes on the bottom then sauce with beef and cheese. another layer of potato an the rest of the sauce. And extra shredded cheese on top it turned out so tasty an depends on how many people u feed and how much they eat, you can def get 2 meals outta this… id recommend making a 3rs layer if you feeding alot of people / pot luck or if you have a hungry family
.. that just means add a little bit more sour cream, an 2 can of the cream of mushroom is still enough an make 1 1/2- 2 pounds of ground beef. An of course you’ll need to stretch your cheese. But honestly it’s more then enough cheese in the org recipe
M hope this helped to stretch you meal… also they have new Velveeta hamburger helper… there a chicken, rice cheese an broccoli one… if you get the new family size knorre brand rcheeae Broc and rice. an add diced or shredded chicken youve for an awesome meal an way cheaper then the Velveeta box kind. It’s AMAZING, … hope I helped. Enjoy. Lisa