Description
This Cheesy Ground Beef & Potato Dinner Casserole features browned ground beef combined with creamy cheese soups, frozen potatoes with onions and peppers, and melted cheddar cheese for a deeply satisfying, comfort-food dinner. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping for the week, this casserole is ready from stovetop to oven in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend recommended for best flavor
- 1 (28 oz) bag frozen cubed potatoes with onions and peppers, no thawing needed
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of celery soup, or cream of mushroom if preferred
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping if desired
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, optional, for extra depth
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, optional, adds a subtle smoky note
- 1/4 cup sour cream, optional, stirred in at the end for creaminess
- Fresh chives or parsley, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks for about 5-7 minutes until it's completely browned and no pink remains.
- Drain Excess Fat: Pour the cooked beef into a fine-mesh strainer or use a spoon to remove any excess grease, then return the beef to the skillet.
- Season the Meat: Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and any optional seasonings like garlic powder or paprika, stirring well to distribute evenly.
- Combine Soups: Add both the cheddar cheese soup and cream of celery soup (or mushroom) directly to the skillet with the cooked ground beef, stirring until well mixed.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and incorporated, creating a creamy, cheese-forward sauce.
- Fold in Potatoes: Add the frozen cubed potatoes with onions and peppers to the mixture and stir everything together until the frozen potatoes are well coated and distributed throughout.
- Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Pour the entire beef and potato mixture into a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Top with Extra Cheese: If desired, sprinkle an additional 1/2 to 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top for an even cheesier finish.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges, then allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes