The Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

Are you looking for a single, perfect meal that has it all? A dish that is comforting, brimming with flavour, simple to prepare, and a sure-fire hit with the entire family? We completely understand. At the end of a busy day, no one wants to face a complex recipe with endless washing up. Thankfully, your search is over. We are excited to share our guaranteed recipe for the very best Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole—a wholesome bake that is like a comforting hug on a plate.

This dish is not just about food; it evokes the wonderful nostalgia of traditional home cooking. Picture tender, finely sliced potatoes layered with a rich, savoury beef mince gravy, all tucked beneath a glorious blanket of bubbling, melted cheese. It’s the type of delicious potato cheese dinner that gathers the family around the table, happy and ready to eat. Let’s begin!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The Ultimate Comfort Dish: This recipe truly defines what a comfort food casserole should be. The blend of savoury mince, tender potatoes, and melted cheese creates a wonderfully satisfying meal, ideal for a cool evening.
• A Hit with the Whole Family: It’s a guaranteed winner for adults and children alike. Its classic, straightforward flavours are simply irresistible, which makes it the perfect weeknight family meal.
• Economical and Filling: By using affordable staples like potatoes and beef mince, this dish is exceptionally budget-friendly. It makes a small amount of mince go a long way, feeding the entire family and ensuring everyone feels content.
• Ideal for Making Ahead: This casserole can be fully assembled in advance, making it a fantastic choice for hectic weeknights. Simply bake it from the fridge when you’re ready! Any leftovers are also delicious for lunch the following day.
• Easily Adaptable: Don’t hesitate to include your preferred vegetables or try different cheeses. We will provide lots of inspiration to help you personalise this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 500g lean ground beef (beef mince)
• 900g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 400ml beef stock
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs (like thyme and rosemary)
• 150g frozen peas or a tin of sweetcorn (optional)
• 250g mature cheddar cheese, grated
• 50g mozzarella cheese, grated (for that perfect cheese pull!)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step Guide to the Perfect Ground Beef Bake

Creating this fantastic ground beef bake is much easier than it looks. We have outlined the process in simple, clear steps to guarantee perfect results every time you make it.

1. Prepare the Potatoes

   To begin, we’ll prepare the potatoes. Put your thinly sliced potatoes in a large saucepan filled with salted water. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 5–7 minutes, until the slices are just beginning to soften but are still firm. It’s important not to cook them fully at this stage. Carefully drain the potatoes and put them to one side.

2. Cook the Savoury Beef Filling

   As the potatoes are par-boiling, warm the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for around 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for a further minute until it smells aromatic. Next, add the beef mince to the pan, using a wooden spoon to break it apart. Continue cooking until the mince is browned throughout, then drain away any excess fat.

3. Create the Rich Gravy

   Add the plain flour to the browned mince and mix it in thoroughly. Cook for one minute to cook out the raw flour flavour. Begin to pour in the beef stock a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then add the Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, and dried herbs. Allow it to simmer gently for 5 minutes, which will help the sauce to thicken into a beautiful, rich gravy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you’re including peas or sweetcorn, this is the time to stir them in.

4. Assemble Your Casserole

   Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C Fan/Gas Mark 5). Lightly grease a large, oven-safe dish (approximately 20x30cm). Begin by layering half of the par-boiled potato slices across the bottom of the dish, overlapping them slightly for full coverage. Spoon all of the beef mixture over the potatoes, spreading it into an even layer. Finish by arranging the rest of the potato slices on top, again creating a neat, overlapping pattern.

5. Bake to Golden Perfection

   In a separate bowl, combine the grated cheddar and mozzarella. Scatter this cheese mixture evenly over the final layer of potatoes. Transfer the dish to the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes. It’s ready when the top is a beautiful golden-brown, the cheese is bubbling, and the potatoes are perfectly tender when tested with a knife.

6. Rest and Serve

   After baking, we suggest allowing the casserole to stand for 5–10 minutes before you serve it. This short rest helps it to set, which makes for easier portioning. If you like, garnish with some fresh parsley and serve immediately while it’s piping hot!

Tips, Tricks, and Tasty Variations

While this recipe is wonderful just as it is, we always encourage a bit of culinary creativity! Here are some of our favourite ways to adapt this cheesy ground beef and potato casserole to suit your personal taste.

Choosing the Best Potatoes

To get the best results in a casserole, you need a potato variety that holds its form during both boiling and baking. We suggest a floury or all-purpose potato such as Maris Piper, King Edward, or Désirée. These varieties cook to a lovely tenderness without disintegrating.

Customise Your Casserole

• Incorporate More Vegetables: It’s easy to enhance the nutritional content by adding extra veg. Sautéed mushrooms, diced carrots, or chopped celery are all brilliant additions to the beef mince filling.
• Vary the Cheese Topping: Feel free to get creative with your cheese! A combination of Red Leicester and cheddar provides a vibrant colour, whereas a little Parmesan will add a satisfying salty note.
• Add a Little Spice: If you’d like a subtle hint of warmth, try adding a teaspoon of smoked paprika or a pinch of chilli flakes to the mince mixture as it cooks.

For those who enjoy trying new casserole recipes, we think you’ll also adore our comforting Low Carb Chicken Casserole and the lively flavours of our Southwest Chicken Casserole.

How to Create a Healthy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

If you’re looking for a lighter take, this recipe is simple to modify. To create a Healthy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole, choose 5% fat lean beef mince, switch to a reduced-fat cheese, and pack the filling with more vegetables like spinach, courgettes, or bell peppers. It’s also lovely served with a fresh side salad for a well-rounded meal. For further advice on healthy eating, the NHS Eatwell Guide is a fantastic resource.

FAQ

A Perfect Dinner, Every Time

And there you have it—our simple, wholesome, and incredibly tasty Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole, which we’re sure will become a regular feature on your meal plan. It is the type of meal that warms the soul and brings a sense of comfort and happiness to the dinner table, all with minimal effort.

We truly believe that wonderful food has a way of uniting people, and this recipe is a testament to that. It is forgiving to cook, easy to adapt, and always satisfying. So please, give this recipe a go this week! We have no doubt that you and your family will absolutely love it.

Should you decide to make our casserole, we’d be delighted if you left a comment below to share how you got on. We always enjoy hearing from our readers!

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Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 55 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 500g lean ground beef (beef mince)
• 900g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 400ml beef stock
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
• 150g frozen peas or sweetcorn (optional)
• 250g mature cheddar cheese, grated
• 50g mozzarella cheese, grated
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C Fan/Gas Mark 5). Par-boil the sliced potatoes in salted water for 5-7 minutes until slightly tender; drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan. Sauté the onion until soft, add garlic, then brown the ground beef. Drain fat. Stir in flour, then gradually add beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato purée, and herbs. Simmer for 5 minutes to create a thick gravy. Season and add optional peas or sweetcorn.
3. In a greased oven dish, layer half the potatoes, all the beef mixture, and then the remaining potatoes. Combine the cheddar and mozzarella and sprinkle evenly over the top.
4. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden-brown and the potatoes are fully cooked. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.