Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole (One-Pan Dinner!)

Introduction

The Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole is your solution for a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that comes together with minimal fuss. In one pan, you’ll enjoy layers of seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and gooey melt-in-your-mouth cheese—making every bite a symphony of flavor and texture. This casserole is ideal for busy weeknights, potlucks, or whenever you crave a hearty, satisfying meal without a pile of dishes to wash afterward.

Why This Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole Stands Out

This casserole shines thanks to its perfect blend of savory ground beef, creamy potatoes, and an irresistibly cheesy topping. Its all-in-one-pan format means easy prep and cleanup, while the classic flavors appeal to both kids and adults. Plus, the simple ingredient list makes it a fantastic way to use pantry staples and stretch your grocery budget further.

Building Flavor with Simple Techniques

For maximum flavor, the ground beef is browned with onions and garlic, infusing every layer with savory depth. The potatoes soak up beef juices and seasonings as they bake, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Cheddar cheese (or your preferred blend) is generously sprinkled between layers and on top, creating a crispy golden crust that’s the hallmark of any great casserole.

Easy One-Pan Assembly

After browning the beef and sautéing aromatics, everything is layered right in the same skillet or transferred to a baking dish. Thinly sliced potatoes are nestled between the meat and a rich, creamy sauce, then finished with layers of cheese. The casserole bakes until bubbling and golden, ready to serve straight out of the oven for a truly satisfying dinner experience.

Serving Suggestions for Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole

For a complete meal, pair this casserole with a crisp green salad or steamed green beans. Garnish servings with fresh parsley, chopped chives, or a dollop of sour cream for extra richness. Leftovers reheat beautifully, making this dish a winning choice for next-day lunches or quick weeknight dinners.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 6 generous servings. Each serving contains approximately 420–480 calories, depending on cheese and beef fat content. The casserole offers a balance of carbs, protein, and fats—a filling meal that doesn’t sacrifice flavor for convenience.

Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole (Recap)

This casserole brings together the heartiness of potatoes, the richness of ground beef, and the melty goodness of cheese—all with easy, one-pan clean-up. It’s a comfort food classic that’s sure to earn a spot in your weeknight dinner rotation.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and seamless meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish (if not using an oven-safe skillet) and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and cook the diced onion until soft (about 3 minutes). Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking into crumbles, until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary. Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and dried thyme.
4. In a bowl, whisk together condensed cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth.
5. Layer half the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish or skillet. Top with half the beef mixture, then pour half the soup mixture over. Sprinkle with half the shredded cheese.
6. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, beef, soup mixture, and finish with the rest of the cheese.
7. Cover dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 20–25 minutes more, or until potatoes are fork-tender and cheese is golden and bubbly.
8. Let cool for 10 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives if desired. Serve warm.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole is tailor-made for meal planning and batch prep. Save and schedule this recipe to effortlessly add it to your week’s meal plan, generate a combined shopping list, and reduce weeknight stress.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient quantities across all saved recipes
– Consolidates and sorts your shopping list by store section
– Helps prevent overbuying or missing ingredients
– Simplifies weekly meal planning, making dinners smoother and more organized

Pro tip: Planning multiple meals? Schedule your recipes to let CookifyAI spot overlapping ingredients. For example, potatoes or onions used here and in other dishes are automatically combined—saving you money and reducing food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes