Family-Fave Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe

Hamburger potato casserole represents comfort food at its finest, offering a hearty and satisfying meal that warms your soul.

This classic dish combines rustic ingredients with rich, layered flavors that speak to home-style cooking traditions.

Hearty ground beef mingles with tender potato slices, creating a robust foundation for a deeply satisfying experience.

Creamy textures and melted cheese elevate this casserole from simple to spectacular, turning an ordinary dinner into something memorable.

This recipe promises a perfect balance of savory meat, soft potatoes, and melted cheese that will make mouths water.

Why Hamburger Potato Casserole Hits the Spot

• Create Comforting Layers: This casserole builds delicious depth by stacking potatoes, seasoned beef, and creamy soup mixture, offering a satisfying one-dish meal that feels like a warm hug from grandma's kitchen.
• Transform Simple Ingredients: Everyday pantry staples like ground beef, potatoes, and condensed soup magically combine into a hearty, filling dinner that transforms ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary.
• Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: With just basic chopping and layering techniques, home cooks can effortlessly create a restaurant-worthy meal that requires minimal cooking skills but delivers maximum taste satisfaction.
• Versatile Family Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or family gatherings, this casserole appeals to all ages and provides a complete meal in one convenient baking dish that everyone will love.

What Goes into This Meat-and-Potato Favorite

• Ground Beef: Hearty protein base that adds rich, meaty flavor to the casserole, best when lean for less grease.

• Potatoes: Starchy vegetable creating the base of the casserole, best when thinly and evenly sliced for consistent cooking.

• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: Creamy base that helps bind ingredients and adds rich, savory flavor.
• Milk: Helps thin the soup and creates a smooth, cohesive sauce for the casserole.
• Onion: Adds depth of flavor and aromatic base to the dish, preferably fresh and finely chopped.

• Salt: Essential seasoning that enhances overall flavor profile.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and complementary spice to the meat and potatoes.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp topping that melts beautifully and adds rich, tangy finish to the casserole.

How to Bake a Satisfying Hamburger Casserole

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to create the perfect cooking environment.

Step 2: Brown The Beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring until the meat crumbles and turns brown. Drain excess grease completely.

Step 3: Create Creamy Sauce

• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• Milk
• Chopped onion
• Salt
• Black pepper

Whisk ingredients until smooth and well-blended.

Step 4: Layer Your Casserole

• First layer: Thinly sliced potatoes
• Second layer: Creamy soup mixture
• Third layer: Browned ground beef

Repeat layers until all ingredients are used.

Step 5: Bake To Perfection

Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 1 to 1.5 hours. Check potato tenderness by piercing with a fork.

Step 6: Add Cheesy Topping

Sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole. Return to oven and bake until cheese melts completely, about 5-10 minutes.

Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole!

Tips That Keep This Casserole Rich and Savory

• Rest Before Cutting: Give your casserole 10-15 minutes after baking to settle, making slicing smooth and preventing crumbly edges.
• Boost Flavor Boldly: Sprinkle extra seasonings like garlic powder or smoked paprika between layers for deeper taste dimensions.
• Select Premium Beef: Grab ground beef with 80/20 fat content to guarantee rich, juicy meat that won't dry out during cooking.
• Slice Precisely: Grab a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniform potato rounds, ensuring perfect texture in every bite.
• Drain Meat Completely: Blot cooked ground beef with paper towels to eliminate excess grease, keeping the casserole crisp and appetizing.

How to Store Hamburger Casserole with Ease

• Freeze Individual Portions: Slice the casserole into single-serving portions, wrap each tightly in freezer-safe plastic wrap and aluminum foil. These compact meal preps can remain frozen for up to 3 months, providing convenient grab-and-go meals that reheat quickly in the microwave or oven.
• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Transfer leftovers into sealed glass containers with tight-fitting lids to maintain maximum freshness. Position containers toward the back of the refrigerator where temperature remains most consistent, preventing potential bacterial growth and preserving the casserole's delicious flavor profile for 3-4 days.
• Careful Reheating Technique: Revive refrigerated or thawed casserole portions by covering with aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss. Warm in a preheated oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.

Flavor Twists on This Classic Comfort Dish

• Spicy Southwest Potato Bake: Replace ground beef with spicy chorizo, add diced green chiles, and swap Cheddar for pepper jack cheese for a zesty Mexican-inspired version.
• Vegetarian Garden Potato Casserole: Substitute ground beef with plant-based crumbles or sautéed mushrooms, incorporate mixed vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini for extra nutrition and flavor.
• Lean Protein Power Casserole: Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, add fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary, and top with low-fat mozzarella for a healthier protein-packed alternative.
• Creamy Bacon Ranch Potato Layer: Sprinkle crispy bacon bits between potato layers, mix ranch seasoning into the soup mixture, and use a blend of sharp and mild Cheddar cheeses for rich, tangy depth.

Casserole That Brings Comfort Every Time

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole emerges as ultimate comfort cuisine, blending hearty ground beef with creamy potato layers and melted cheese.

Midwestern kitchens whisper nostalgia through this simple yet satisfying recipe.

Generations have cherished these rustic ingredients, transforming humble components into culinary magic.

Family dinners become memorable moments when this casserole arrives steaming from kitchen ovens.

Cheese bubbles create golden landscapes across potato terrain, promising deliciousness in each forkful.

Passionate cooks recognize this dish as more than nutrition – it’s heritage on ceramic plates waiting for hungry souls to savor tradition.

With enthusiasm sparkling in culinary eyes, you’ll want to share this recipe across social media platforms, tag beloved friends, and spread comfort through one delectable casserole creation.

Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe

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4.9 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole brings comfort to dinner tables with layered rustic charm. Savory ground beef, creamy potatoes, and melted cheese create a satisfying one-dish meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
• 3 cups (720 milliliters) peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
• 1 cup (240 grams) shredded Cheddar cheese

Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:

• 1 (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
• ¾ cup (180 milliliters) milk

Seasoning and Aromatics:

• ½ cup (75 grams) chopped onion
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and prepare a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Position a large skillet over medium-high heat. Introduce the ground beef into the pan, continuously breaking and stirring until the meat transforms into golden-brown crumbles, approximately 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together condensed cream of mushroom soup, whole milk, finely diced onions, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
4. Layer the casserole strategically: spread a thin foundation of sliced potatoes across the baking dish’s bottom, followed by an even distribution of the soup mixture and crumbled ground beef.
5. Repeat the layering process, ensuring each stratum is uniform and covers the entire dish surface, creating multiple interconnected layers.
6. Transfer the assembled casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 1 to 1.25 hours, or until the potato slices become fork-tender and develop a slight golden edges.
7. Sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese generously across the casserole’s surface during the final 5-7 minutes of baking, allowing the cheese to melt and create a delicately bubbling golden crust.

Notes

• Potatoes absorb flavors beautifully, making this casserole incredibly delicious and comforting.
• Consider using russet or Yukon gold potatoes for the best texture and taste.
• Cooking tip: Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
• Swap ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter protein option without sacrificing flavor.
• Make ahead and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking for convenient meal planning.
• Pair with a fresh green salad or steamed vegetables for a complete and balanced meal.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Easy to prepare with simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
• Freezer-friendly casserole that tastes even better the next day as leftovers.
• Layers of tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef, and creamy soup create a satisfying meal everyone will love.
• Classic one-dish meal perfect for busy weeknights and budget-friendly cooking.
• Hearty comfort food that brings warmth to any family dinner table.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 360
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 28 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 21 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg