Description
Hearty meat and potato casserole promises comfort with layers of savory goodness. Classic midwestern dish delivers rich flavors and satisfying warmth you’ll crave during chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef (or venison)
- 3 cups (750 ml) thinly sliced potatoes (approx 5 potatoes)
- 1 ½ cups (375 ml) shredded cheese
- 1 ½ cups (375 ml) cream of mushroom soup (homemade or canned)
- ½ cup (125 ml) stock (any variety)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk or cream
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
- 1 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp rosemary (optional)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal thermal environment for the casserole’s transformation.
- Setup: Anoint an 11×7-inch glass baking vessel with cooking spray, establishing a non-adherent foundation.
- Meat Foundation: In a skillet, caramelize ground beef with onions, infusing the protein with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Render and drain excess lipids, developing a robust flavor profile.
- Liquid Harmony: Whisk cream of mushroom soup, beef stock, and whole milk into a silken emulsion, binding the casserole’s components.
- Layering Technique: Construct the first stratum by spreading potato slices across the dish’s base, cascading a quarter of the soup mixture to create a moisture-rich landscape.
- Protein Dispersal: Scatter seasoned ground beef across the potato terrain, lavishing the surface with a blanket of shredded cheese.
- Secondary Stratification: Repeat the layering ritual – potato slices, soup mixture, remaining beef, culminating in a final cheese coronation.
- Moisture Preservation: Shroud the casserole with aluminum foil, sealing in succulence and ensuring uniform heat distribution.
- Thermal Transformation: Bake for 1-1.25 hours, monitoring potato tenderness through gentle fork penetration.
- Resting Phase: Extract from oven, allowing a 10-minute interlude for flavor melding and structural stabilization.
- Serving Finale: Carve into portions, presenting a warm, comforting culinary embrace.
Notes
- Prep Efficiently: Slice potatoes and chop onions beforehand to streamline the cooking process and save valuable time in the kitchen.
- Control Fat Content: Thoroughly drain ground beef after cooking to reduce excess grease and create a lighter, less oily casserole.
- Cheese Selection Matters: Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and richer flavor compared to pre-packaged shredded varieties.
- Check Potato Doneness: Test potato tenderness by inserting a fork – it should glide smoothly through the layers without resistance, indicating perfect cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg