While most of us would love to dedicate the better part of our day to cooking up a delicious 3-course meal for our family and friends, the fact of the matter is that doing so regularly is just not a reality for most people.
We’d love to, but with the 800 million and counting other things we have to attend to during the day- it’s just not in the cards.
But that doesn’t mean that we can’t still cook up something delicious for our fam to grub down on, am I right?
Enter the glory of the casserole!
They’re a beautiful thing, are they not? They can come loaded with basically just about whatever you have to hand and they’re always delicious.
More importantly- they get the job done! They will taste great, shave some serious time off your kitchen duties, and are sure to fill up every member of the family.
And while there are millions of casserole recipes out there, some of the best among them come packed with meat, cheese, and potatoes. How can you go wrong?!
With that being said, everyone knows that when it comes to the best casserole, the South is where it’s at.
There’s a reason that the term ‘Southern’ lands its own category of cooking- their crave-worthy creations come packed with flavor and flair. And this recipe is no different.
May we introduce you to the Southern hamburger and potato casserole?
This recipe comes to us from the hilarious Southern flavor-fanatic, ThePohto Southern Cooking, and we’ve gotta say- he’s definitely mastered the art of the hamburger and potato casserole.
Thankfully, now you can, too!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef
- 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper plus more to taste
- 1 sweet onion, chopped or diced
- seasoning blend of your choosing (this recipe uses hamburger seasoning)
- 2 teaspoons of flour
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 (10 1/2 oz.) can cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup
- 1 (15 oz.) can of pinto beans with pork
- 6 small to medium russet potatoes sliced 1/4″ thick
- butter for greasing
- 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- sour cream and green onion for garnish
Step 1- Cook the burger base
Start by preheating your oven to 375℉ and greasing a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with butter. Set aside.
Brown the hamburger over medium heat and as it’s cooking, season with salt and pepper, and whatever other seasonings you like. Then, add in your chopped onion.
Step 2- get your gravy on
After a few minutes have passed and the hamburger is completely browned, add in your 2 teaspoons of flour. Stir constantly for the next several minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the milk. Let it cook for about 1-2 minutes or until the gravy begins to thicken up.
Step 3- soup it up
After your gravy has thickened, reduce the heat to low and add in the cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup followed by the can of pinto beans with pork, juice and all.
Stir together thoroughly and allow the mixture to simmer for five minutes. Then, set aside.
Step 4- the taters
While your hamburger mix is simmering, place your sliced potatoes in a pot and cover them with water and season with salt. Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes.
You want to see the edges soften up and turn translucent, but still want them to be slightly firm in the middle for the best texture.
If it doesn’t work out that way and your potatoes come out a little soft, don’t worry. Our cook kindly assures us the casserole will still come out “MIGHTY FINE”!
Step 5- layers
Once your potatoes are done cooking drain them and add a layer to the bottom of your greased baking dish.
Follow the potatoes up with a thick layer (about half) of the hamburger mixture and cover with shredded cheese. Repeat this process with each layer once more, adding the final layer of cheese to the top.
Step 6- bake it
Put your casserole into the preheated oven and bake at 375℉ for 30-35 minutes, depending on your oven. When the cheese has melted and is starting to crisp up in places, you’ll know it’s done.
Step 7- plate it
Now all that’s left to do is pile a heap of it onto your plate. You can garnish it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of green onion for an added layer of flavor, but it’s “mighty fine” all on its own.
Get the full step-by-step tutorial in the video below!
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