Description
Hearty Rustic Ground Beef & Potato Bake celebrates comfort cuisine with bold Mediterranean flavors. Savory layers of seasoned beef, tender potatoes, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2–3 medium-sized Russet potatoes (peeled and thinly sliced)
- ½ cup yellow onion (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (1¾ oz or 50 grams)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- French fried onions (for topping)
- Sliced green onions (optional, for garnish)
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Meat Browning: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly cook ground beef until no pink remains, breaking it into fine crumbles while sizzling.
- Vegetable Integration: Incorporate diced onions, chopped bell peppers, and minced garlic into the browned meat, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and release their aromatic essence.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk condensed mushroom soup with sour cream, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to develop a rich, creamy binding sauce.
- Layer Assembly: Create a foundational layer of thinly sliced potatoes in the prepared baking dish, arranging them in an overlapping pattern to ensure complete coverage.
- Filling Distribution: Spread the seasoned ground beef and vegetable mixture evenly across the potato base, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coverage.
- Sauce and Cheese Application: Pour the creamy soup mixture over the casserole, allowing it to penetrate the layers, then generously top with shredded cheese for a golden, melty finish.
- Baking Process: Slide the casserole into a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until potatoes become tender and cheese melts completely.
- Final Touch and Resting: During the last 5 minutes, sprinkle crispy French fried onions on top, then remove from oven and let rest 5-10 minutes to allow layers to settle before serving.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Browning: Drain excess fat after cooking ground beef to prevent a greasy casserole and ensure a cleaner, more concentrated flavor profile.
- Layer Potato Precision: Slice potatoes uniformly thin to guarantee even cooking and prevent undercooked or crunchy potato sections.
- Cheese Melting Mastery: Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-packaged for superior melting quality and richer taste experience.
- Rest and Settle Technique: Allowing the casserole to rest helps ingredients meld together, enhancing overall dish cohesiveness and making cutting and serving much easier.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Sautéing, Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg