Name: Beef Cheese Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced into thin pieces.; 2 tablespoons oil or butter for cooking.; 1 diced onion.; 2 minced garlic cloves.; 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh thyme.; 1 pound of ground beef.; 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.; 1 teaspoon of bouillon granules.; 1 teaspoon of salt.; 1 teaspoon of paprika.; 1 teaspoon oregano.; 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.; 1 cup beef stock.; 1/2 cup whole milk.; 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.; Chopped fresh parsley (optional).

Close-up of cheesy ground beef potato bake with fresh thyme in a white dish. | cookingkitchn.com

My simple hamburger and spud bake is total dinner comfort! This from-scratch ground beef and potato dish combines well-seasoned meat, soft potatoes, and tons of cheese swimming in the tastiest gravy. After one bite of this straightforward meat and potato bake, you'll add it to your regular dinner lineup.

What Makes This So Popular

This from-scratch meat and potato dish saves the day when you're swamped. My quick hamburger and spud bake uses basic stuff you've likely got in your kitchen already. The coolest thing about this ground meat and potato dish? You can get it ready beforehand and just stick it in the oven when dinnertime rolls around!

What You'll Need

Cheese: Plenty for that golden crust on top!
Gravy Stuff: Makes that smooth, rich sauce.
Seasonings: Brings this ground meat and potato dish to life.
Ground Beef: The main player in our from-scratch meat and potato bake.
Potatoes: Russets work nicely in this quick hamburger and spud dish.

Cooking Instructions

Oven Time: Wrap your from-scratch ground beef and potato dish with foil and bake until the potatoes turn soft. Then comes the fun bit - watching that cheese melt on top!
Build Those Layers: Here's the exciting part of our quick meat and potato bake! Spread half your potatoes, add the flavored meat, then do it again. Every layer makes the dish tastier.
Brown That Beef: This is where our from-scratch hamburger and spud bake gets its yummy taste! Cook the meat with onions and garlic till nicely browned. The trick to my ground meat and potato dish? Mix in those spices while the beef cooks.
Start With The Spuds: For the best quick hamburger and potato bake, cut those potatoes thin so they'll cook evenly. A good sharp knife does the job well here.

Customize It

Want to change up your quick hamburger and spud bake? Try throwing in some peas or carrots. My kids go crazy when I put corn in this from-scratch meat and potato dish. I sometimes jazz up my ground beef and potato bake with different cheese types or a splash of hot sauce.

Get Ahead

What makes this quick hamburger and spud bake even more practical? You can fix it beforehand! Set up your from-scratch meat and potato dish up to two days early, or stick it in the freezer for later use. This ground beef and potato bake warms up great - just what you need for hectic evenings.

Perfect Pairings

My quick hamburger and spud bake goes wonderfully with a fresh salad on the side. This from-scratch meat and potato dish fills you up by itself, but we can't resist sopping up that gravy with some warm bread. You'll see, this ground beef and potato bake will have everybody wanting more!

A fork lifts a portion of cheesy, loaded ground beef and potato casserole, garnished with parsley. | cookingkitchn.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why stack the ingredients in layers?: It makes sure they cook evenly and every bite has the perfect mix of meat and potatoes.
→ Can this be made ahead of time?: Sure! You can prep it, cover it, and chill it for up to a day. Add more time in the oven if it's cold.
→ What’s the resting time for?: Letting it sit for 10-15 minutes thickens the sauce and helps the flavors come together. Plus, it cools down enough to eat!
→ Could turkey replace the beef?: Absolutely, turkey’s a great swap! Just add extra spices since it’s leaner than beef.
→ Why undercook the beef at first?: It finishes cooking in the oven, so if it’s fully done beforehand, it could dry out.

Beef Cheese Bake

Tender potatoes layered with seasoned beef and melted cheese. This warm and tasty bake hits the comfort food spot for family dinners.

Prep Time

15 Minutes

Cook Time

45 Minutes

Total Time

60 Minutes

By: Sophia

Category: Meals for the Family

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced into thin pieces.

02 2 tablespoons oil or butter for cooking.

03 1 diced onion.

04 2 minced garlic cloves.

05 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh thyme.

06 1 pound of ground beef.

07 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.

08 1 teaspoon of bouillon granules.

09 1 teaspoon of salt.

10 1 teaspoon of paprika.

11 1 teaspoon oregano.

12 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

13 1 cup beef stock.

14 1/2 cup whole milk.

15 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.

16 Chopped fresh parsley (optional).

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 375°F and let it warm up.

Step 02

Slice the potatoes into even, thin slices after peeling them.

Step 03

Heat up the skillet, melt the butter, and soften the onion, thyme, and garlic together.

Step 04

Crumble ground beef into the skillet and cook until brown, breaking it apart.

Step 05

Mix in the paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and bouillon powder for flavor.

Step 06

Remove extra grease, sprinkle in the flour, and stir it for about a minute.

Step 07

Pour in milk and broth gradually, stirring until it thickens.

Step 08

Spray your baking dish with oil, then add a layer of half the potatoes followed by half the beef mixture.

Step 09

Use the rest of your potatoes and beef mixture to make another layer.

Step 10

Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 45 minutes until the potatoes soften.

Step 11

Take off the foil, sprinkle cheese on top, and bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes till bubbly.

Step 12

Let the dish sit for 10-15 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

Broil a little at the end for a crispy top.

Add the cheese only for the last bake.

Avoid cooking beef fully before it goes in the oven.

Let it stand so the sauce thickens up.

You can prep it in advance and bake it later.

Perfect for feeding a family.

Works well if you want to freeze it.

Tools You'll Need

A big skillet.

Oven-safe dish.

Aluminum foil.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.

Contains dairy from milk and cheese.
Includes wheat due to the flour.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.

Calories: 503
Total Fat: 26 g
Total Carbohydrate: 43 g
Protein: 24 g