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

Introduction

If you’re looking for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal that’s as easy as it is comforting, this Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole is your answer. With savory ground beef, soft potatoes, and melty cheese all baked together in a single pan, it delivers both flavor and convenience. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or prepping leftovers for the week, this casserole is bound to become a mealtime favorite.

Why Make this Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole?

What sets this recipe apart is its fuss-free preparation and irresistible flavor. The combination of golden potatoes, seasoned beef, and gooey cheese offers a perfect medley of textures, while the one-pan approach makes for effortless cleanup. It’s satisfying enough for picky eaters and flexible for weeknight meal planning.

The Key to Creamy, Flavorful Layers

The secret to the best casserole is layering—thinly sliced potatoes cook up tender and soak in the juices from the ground beef. A blend of cheddar and mozzarella creates a rich, cheesy sauce that ties everything together. For extra flavor, sauté onions and garlic with the beef, and don’t skimp on the seasonings! A touch of paprika and fresh parsley adds color and warm undertones.

Effortless One-Pan Assembly

Start by browning ground beef with aromatic vegetables, then layer it over a bed of sliced potatoes in your casserole dish. Pour a creamy mixture and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese on top. Bake until bubbly and golden, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs for that “just like home” touch.

How to Serve This Savory Casserole

Slice generous squares and serve straight from the baking dish. Pair it with a simple green salad, sautéed veggies, or steamed peas for a balanced meal. This casserole also makes excellent leftovers—just reheat and enjoy for a cozy lunch or dinner.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves about 6, with each portion offering approximately 430-480 calories depending on cheese and beef leanness. It’s a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin C, with plenty of ways to lighten or customize the dish for your preferences.

Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Casserole (Recap)

With layers of savory beef, velvety potatoes, and melty cheese in every bite, this easy, one-pan casserole promises a dinner everyone will look forward to. Big on flavor, low on dishes, and perfect for batch cooking—what’s not to love?

💡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 meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish or ovenproof skillet with olive oil.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
4. Season the mixture with paprika, salt, and black pepper. Remove from heat.
5. In a bowl, whisk together milk and cream of mushroom soup until smooth.
6. Evenly layer half of the sliced potatoes into the prepared casserole dish. Top with half of the beef mixture, then pour half of the soup mixture and sprinkle with half of both cheeses.
7. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, beef, soup, and cheeses.
8. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20-25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden and bubbly.
9. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, then garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This casserole is the ultimate time saver in weekly meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe to your weekly meal plan to auto-generate a smart shopping list—including overlapping ingredients from all your meals—saving time and reducing food waste.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically consolidates total ingredient amounts across multiple recipes
• Organizes your shopping list by store section
• Keeps your meal plan and grocery needs streamlined and efficient
• Prevents forgetting key ingredients and avoids duplicate purchases

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes for the week and let CookifyAI automatically optimize your shopping—leaving you more time for delicious dinners and less time in the store.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60-65 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes