Second only to slow cooker dishes, casserole meals are one of the easiest way to make a hearty and delicious dinner for the whole family—and you’re sure to have leftovers. These dishes are very versatile and basically stand behind the same principle as a slow cooker: just throw everything in a dish, let it cook and eat it when it’s done. Still, when they’re pulled off correctly, casseroles can be some of the tastiest dinners we ever eat.
Today, we’re making one of the heartiest casserole dishes we’ve had in a long time. This recipe for hamburger and potato casserole crosses off all the boxes on the checklist for what makes one of these dishes great. It comes with plenty of protein, the potatoes give it a full texture and it’s topped off with some delicious and gooey cheese. Overall, it’s a cross between an American hamburger and a shepherd’s pie… and it’s perfect for any big parties or potlucks you may have coming up. So let’s get started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
- 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 chopped yellow onion
- 2 minced cloves of garlic
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 8 ounces of frozen peas
- 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup of beef broth
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
Here’s what you do:
1. To get started, make sure to preheat your oven to 350 degrees. With that set, boil your potatoes in a large pot until they’re fork tender. Drain them and add milk, two tablespoons of butter and half a teaspoon of salt. Smash them together until they’re smooth and add half a cup of shredded cheese as well. When your potato mixture is ready, pour half of it into an 11×9-inch casserole dish.
2. Next, throw your ground beef in a skillet and season it with salt and pepper. Break it up and let it sauté until it’s cooked all the way through. When it looks good, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to take out some of the extra fat.
3. Using the same skillet, throw in your carrots and onions and cook those over medium heat until they turn soft. Add your ground beef back in and stir everything up well to combine it. Next, add the rest of the butter along with peas, garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper and salt. Keep cooking for about three minutes, until the garlic turns light brown. Add a little bit of flour and keep stirring to incorporate it. Add your beef broth as well and keep stirring until it thickens.
4. Finally, spoon the finished beef mixture on top of your potatoes and cover it with the rest of your potato mixture. Throw your cheese on top and let it cook in the oven for about 30 minutes. When it’s done, the top should be browned and bubbly. Enjoy!
As you can see, dinner recipes don’t get much simpler or more satisfying than this one does. The combination of meat, potatoes and cheese is sure to satisfy even the hungriest of parties and you’re sure to have leftovers. As always, have fun with this recipe and don’t be afraid to experiment with your own ingredients. Let us know how it turns out!
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