Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole Recipe: Comfort Food at Its Best

#### Instructions:

1. **Preheat the Oven**:
Start by preheating your oven to **375°F (190°C)**. This ensures that your casserole will cook evenly and come out nice and bubbly.

2. **Cook the Ground Beef**:
In a large skillet, cook the **ground beef** over medium heat until it’s browned and fully cooked through. Break it apart as it cooks, so you have crumbled pieces of beef throughout. Once the beef is browned, **drain any excess fat** to keep the dish from becoming too greasy.

3. **Add the Onion**:
Add the **diced onion** to the beef and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the onion softens and becomes translucent. This adds a nice depth of flavor to the beef and creates a savory foundation for your casserole.

4. **Prepare the Casserole Dish**:
While the beef and onions are cooking, grease a **9×13-inch casserole dish** with cooking spray or a little bit of butter to prevent sticking. This will make serving and cleanup much easier.

5. **Layer the Potatoes**:
Arrange the **thinly sliced potatoes** in an even layer at the bottom of the casserole dish. You can overlap them slightly, but try to keep the layer as even as possible for consistent cooking.

6. **Combine the Soup and Milk**:
In a bowl, mix the **cream of mushroom soup** and **milk** until smooth. You can also add a little salt and pepper to this mixture for extra flavor. Pour the soup mixture evenly over the layer of potatoes.

7. **Add the Ground Beef and Onion Mixture**:
Next, spread the cooked **ground beef and onion mixture** evenly on top of the potatoes. Make sure it covers the potatoes as evenly as possible.

8. **Top with Cheese**:
Sprinkle the **shredded cheese** generously over the top of the casserole. This will melt beautifully in the oven and create a gooey, cheesy topping.

9. **Bake the Casserole**:
Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for about **45 minutes**. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional **10-15 minutes** or until the top is golden brown and bubbly, and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

10. **Serve and Enjoy**:
Once the casserole is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Cut into squares and enjoy the cheesy, comforting goodness of your homemade Hamburger Potato Casserole.

### Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This **Hamburger Potato Casserole** is perfect for so many reasons:

– **It’s easy to make**: With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy.
– **It’s comforting**: Potatoes, cheese, and ground beef are the perfect combination to create a dish that feels like a warm hug.
– **It’s filling**: This casserole is hearty enough to feed a crowd, making it ideal for family dinners or meal prepping for the week.
– **It’s versatile**: You can tweak the recipe by adding vegetables like carrots or bell peppers, or even swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or sausage to change up the flavor.

### Tips for Perfect Hamburger Potato Casserole

– **Slice the Potatoes Thinly**: Thin slices ensure that the potatoes cook through evenly in the casserole. If your slices are too thick, they may take longer to cook.

– **Use a Sharp Knife or Mandoline**: For even potato slices, use a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. This will ensure that the potatoes cook at the same rate.

– **Add Extra Seasonings**: If you like a little extra flavor, consider adding **garlic powder**, **paprika**, or **herbs** like thyme or oregano to the ground beef or soup mixture.

– **Make Ahead and Freeze**: This casserole can be made ahead of time and frozen for later. Just assemble the casserole, cover it tightly, and freeze. When you’re ready to bake, simply thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.

### Variations to Try

While the classic Hamburger Potato Casserole is delicious on its own, you can get creative with the ingredients. Here are a few variations to consider:

– **Add Vegetables**: Toss in some **frozen peas**, **corn**, or **sautéed bell peppers** for added nutrition and color.

– **Swap the Cheese**: Try using a different type of cheese like **mozzarella**, **Swiss**, or **Colby Jack** for a different flavor.

– **Top with Crispy Toppings**: For added texture, sprinkle some **breadcrumbs** or **crispy fried onions** on top of the casserole in the last 10 minutes of baking.

### Conclusion: Comfort Food at Its Best

This **Easy Hamburger Potato Casserole** is truly comfort food at its finest. With minimal ingredients, minimal effort, and maximum flavor, it’s the kind of dish that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or anytime you need a warm, filling meal. The combination of savory ground beef, creamy potatoes, and melted cheese is irresistible, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.

So, the next time you’re looking for a cozy meal that everyone will love, give this easy Hamburger Potato Casserole a try—you won’t be disappointed!