This Hamburger Potato Casserole is the most requested dinner in our house — creamy, cheesy, and loaded with ground beef and tender potatoes that bake into the ultimate comfort food. Simple ingredients, easy assembly, and it feeds a hungry family without a lot of fuss.
This is the recipe my daughter requests for her birthday every single year — not a cake, not a fancy dinner out, just this Hamburger Potato Casserole. She is completely obsessed with it and honestly I do not blame her because it is that good.
This is the BEST!! My kids call me Chef Ramsey when I make it. Then when it’s gone they ask for it every day after that!! I do add onions but that’s all I change!! Thank you!!
-Sara S
My kids devoured this the first time I made it and it has been on regular rotation ever since. It is the best beef casserole we have ever made and I think you will agree. It tastes great, and you can assemble it ahead of time and pop it in the oven when you’re ready — just like my cowboy casserole.
Plus we have a Gluten Free Hamburger Casserole Recipe for those that are gluten free. Make sure to also check out more comfort food when money is tight.
Ingredients
- Small Russet Potatoes – Peeled and sliced about ⅛ inch thick. Thin, even slices are the key to tender potatoes.
- Ground Beef – We used lean ground beef. Cook before adding to casserole
- Cream of Mushroom Soup – You can easily substitute with Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
- Milk – We use whole milk
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – We use a Colby Jack mix, but cheddar would be great too
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
How to Make Hamburger Potato Casserole
Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2 – Brown your ground beef, drain and set aside in a large skillet.
Step 3 – Peel and slice potatoes and set aside. We use this easy mandoline slicer to cut our potatoes quickly.
Step 4 – In a mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Set aside.
Step 5 – Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick spray. Layer in the pan, potatoes, beef, soup, and cheese. Then repeat. Top with remaining cheese.
Step 6 – Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven.
Step 7 – Remove the foil and bake another 30 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender.
Step 8 – Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, then cut and serve.
Hamburger Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 5 small potatoes
- 2 lbs ground beef browned
- 2 Cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese we used a colby jack mix, but cheddar would be great too
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease and set aside.
- Peel the potatoes and slice them into 1/8-¼ inch thick rounds for even cooking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Top with half of the cooked ground beef, half of the soup mixture, and half of the shredded cheese.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining potatoes, beef, soup mixture, and cheese, finishing with the cheese on top.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender and the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Tips
- Prepare Ingredients – When slicing the potatoes, try to make them about the same size so that it cooks evenly.
- Baking Dish – Prepare the baking dish by spraying with cooking spray to help with cleanup and serving the potato casserole.
- Cooking Time – Cooking time will vary based on your oven and the potatoes. You will know the casserole is done when the potatoes are fork tender.
Variations Ideas
- Cheese – Feel free to change the cheese to what you prefer. Monterey Jack, sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or pepper jack cheese.
- Meat – Ground beef works great in this recipe. But you can also use ground turkey, ground chicken or Italian Sausage.
- Onions and Peppers –Â Many readers add a chopped onion or bell pepper. Cool them right in the skillet with the ground beef.Â
- Sneak in Veggies –Â Stir a cup of frozen peas, corn, or mixed vegetables into the beef before layering.Â
- Creamy Soup – Instead of cream of mushroom soup use cream of chicken soup.
- Toppings – This ground beef casserole is delicious with your favorite toppings. Top with sour cream, diced avocado or salsa.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Suggestions
I personally like to serve it with a side salad because that makes dinner done with no extra work. However, steamed broccoli (see how to steam broccoli in the microwave easily) would also be amazing without any extra work.
Green beans also taste great and make a simple side dish as well. This meal is also good with asparagus.
This oven roasted asparagus is a family favorite and it is very simple and quick to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Raw potato slices don’t freeze well, they get watery and gray. If you want a freezer version, make our Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole instead. It’s the same idea made with frozen hashbrowns, and it freezes great. Leftovers of this casserole can be frozen in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For a single serving, microwave covered for 1 ½ – 2 minutes, until hot in the center. For a large amount, cover the dish with foil and warm at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this Hamburger Casserole Recipe, please leave us a comment or star review.
Can I use a box of scallop potatoes
Hi Rhonda! Boxed scalloped potatoes would need different liquid amounts and cooking times, so they wouldn’t be a direct swap. For an easy shortcut, I’d follow the box directions and add browned, drained ground beef and shredded cheese!
My husband chose this recipe. I was absolutely unenthusiastic, but I made it anyway although I did not use the exact amounts listed – used one and a half pounds ground beef, one can of cream of chicken mushroom soup, about four potatoes, milk and salt and pepper as recommended. I don’t know how something so simple can turn out so delicious! I love it with some shakes of green Tabasco on top. I will definitely make this again because it is easy and low cost and very definitely comforting. Thank you very much for a great recipe.
I love that you gave it a try, Danni! That’s one of my favorite things about this recipe—you can use what you have and still make a comforting, affordable dinner. The green Tabasco on top sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing!