Description
Hearty hamburger potato casserole delivers comfort with ground beef, potatoes, and creamy cheese layers. Midwest home cooks cherish this simple, satisfying dish that warms souls and pleases families with its straightforward ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 3 cups (720 ml) potatoes, thinly sliced (about 3 medium potatoes)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp (5 ml) garlic powder
- 1 tsp (5 ml) paprika
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease the slow cooker with butter or non-stick spray to facilitate easy serving and cleaning.
- Foundation Layer: Create a uniform base of thinly sliced potatoes across the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Distribute finely chopped onions evenly over the potato layer to infuse depth of flavor.
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a skillet until fully cooked, developing a rich caramelized exterior and eliminating any pink coloration.
- Layering Process: Construct alternating layers of potatoes, onions, browned beef, and shredded cheese, ensuring even distribution and concluding with a generous cheese topping.
- Sauce Creation: Combine condensed cream of mushroom soup with milk, whisking until smooth and seasoning with salt and pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
- Liquid Integration: Pour the creamy soup mixture evenly over the layered ingredients, ensuring complete coverage and moisture distribution.
- Slow Cooking: Cover and cook on low temperature for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, allowing ingredients to meld and tenderize.
- Resting and Serving: After cooking, let the casserole rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle, then serve hot alongside a fresh garden salad or steamed vegetables for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Potato Slicing Technique: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to cut potatoes uniformly thin, ensuring even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Beef Browning Tip: Drain excess fat after browning ground beef to prevent a greasy final dish and enhance the overall flavor concentration.
- Cheese Selection Strategy: Choose a medium-sharp cheddar or blend of cheeses for maximum flavor complexity and optimal melting properties.
- Moisture Management: Avoid using watery potatoes by patting sliced potatoes dry with paper towels to prevent excess liquid accumulation in the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg