Description
Cheesy Ground Beef Casserole Made With Frozen Potatoes is a quick dinner dream: tender diced potatoes, savory ground beef, and melty cheddar baked together in a creamy sauce for the ultimate easy recipe. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, cozy comfort food cravings, or when you need new dinner ideas that everyone will actually eat. This hearty bake also doubles as one of my favorite breakfast ideas for the next morning—leftovers reheat beautifully for a satisfying, no-fuss, healthy-ish snack or lunch. With simple ingredients and almost no prep, this dish is full of delicious food ideas that make getting dinner on the table feel effortless.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 cup diced green bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bag (32 ounces) frozen diced potatoes or hash brown cubes
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, olive oil, or butter.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil or butter. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula.
3. When the beef is about halfway browned, stir in the diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables are soft.
4. Drain excess grease from the skillet if needed. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
5. Season the beef mixture with salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, and paprika, stirring to coat the meat and vegetables evenly.
6. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, and sour cream until the sauce is smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
7. Place the frozen diced potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot beef and sauce mixture over the potatoes.
8. Add 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl and gently fold everything together until the potatoes are well coated in the creamy sauce.
9. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
10. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
11. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender, the edges are bubbling, and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden.
12. Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving so it can set slightly and is easier to scoop.
Notes
For the best texture, make sure the casserole mixture is well seasoned before it goes into the oven—under-seasoned sauce will taste bland once the potatoes absorb it, so always taste and adjust your salt and pepper after mixing the creamy beef sauce.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 40
- Category: Casserole, Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 85
Keywords: cheesy ground beef casserole, frozen potatoes, easy dinner, quick dinner, comfort food, casserole recipe, dinner ideas