Ground Beef and Hash Brown Casserole
This extra cheesy Ground Beef and Hash Brown Casserole offers a creamy ground beef base and crispy parmesan studded hash brown topping. It’s an easy from-scratch hamburger potato casserole that you can make midweek with a side salad for a complete meal or as a comforting side for larger gatherings. No cream of mushroom soup or packaged hash browns needed!
My Ground Beef and Potato Casserole and Tater Tot Casserole have been popular recently, so I wanted to share another delicious, yet easy beef and potato bake my family loves, especially the kids! It’s budget-friendly, easy to make, and super comforting – a simple casserole recipe I keep coming back to, not just during the winter months.
The cheesy hamburger hash brown bake is made with a flour based roux and mozzarella creamy sauce, while the crispy topping is made with seasoned shredded potatoes and parmesan cheese. A comforting cheesy hash brown casserole, that you can make from scratch with only 15 min of hands-on prep time – no cream of chicken soup, or packaged hash browns needed.
If you’re after a beef potato bake with extra protein, use my cottage cheese Alfredo sauce for the hamburger mixture. Sub the hash brown layer with mashed potato such as my mashed potatoes and peas, to make a creamy shepherd’s pie. For a complete meal, serve the beef potato bake with a simple side salad such as my Insalata Mista or steamed greens including green beans or broccoli.
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Ground Beef and Hash Brown Casserole
Ingredients
Hash brown topping
- 2 lb potatoes peeled and grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
Creamy ground beef mixture
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
- Peel the potatoes and grate them. Add them to a sieve and rinse them with cold water, removing the starching outer later. Drain the grated potatoes through a clean kitchen towel and add the salt. Mix to combine and set aside for more moisture to be released.2 lb potatoes, 1 tsp salt
- Meanwhile, in a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil followed by the diced onion and ground beef. Cook briefly for 2-3 minutes, breaking up the ground beef into small chunks. The beef and onion don't have to be fully cooked at this stage.2 tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef, 1 yellow onion
- Add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1-2 minutes until softened and fragrant while stirring.2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp Italian herbs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and sprinkle the flour over the beef mixture. Stir to combine as the mixture will thicken. Slowly pour in the milk while stirring. Add the mozzarella cheese and mix to combine. Transfer the creamy beef mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.1 cup milk, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- Again, drain any liquid out off the grated potatoes through the kitchen towel. Add the olive oil, pepper, garlic powder, and grated parmesan cheese. Mix to combine.1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Add the shredded hash brown mix evenly on top of the creamy beef. Make sure not to flatten it too much. You want the hash brown layer to have crispy peaks. Bake for 35 minutes and switch on the grill or broiler for the last 5 minutes for the hash brown layer to be crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the beef and hash brown casserole from the oven and let it set for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Beef – Ground beef with a fat percentage of about 15% works well but lean ground beef can be used too. Budget-friendly and protein-packed, hamburger meat makes a great choice for this hearty casserole.
- Potatoes – Yukon gold, red potatoes, or russet potatoes work well for hash browns.
- Cheese – Fast melting mozzarella cheese adds a creamy texture to the beef mixture while the grated parmesan cheese crisps up nicely as part of the hash brown layer. You can use sharp cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack as well.
- Seasonings – Italian herbs and garlic give this casserole a Mediterranean flavor.
- Milk – Whole milk works best you can try lighter options as well. Substitute half with heavy cream or half and half for a richer sauce.
- Flour – All-purpose flour creates a simple roux and helps thicken the sauce. You can also use corn starch as a gluten-free alternative.
Step-by-step: hamburger hash brown casserole
1. Grate the potatoes and rinse with cold water. Drain them through a clean kitchen towel and season with salt. Set aside.
2. Add olive oil, diced onion, ground beef, and seasonings to a heated pan over medium-high heat. Brown the beef lightly, breaking it up into small pieces.
3. Sprinkle over the flour and mix to combine. Add the milk and simmer until thickened.
4. Add the mozzarella cheese and mix to combine until the cheese has melted.
3. Drain any excess liquid off the grated potatoes again and add seasonings and grated parmesan. Mix to combine.
4. Add the cheesy “semi” cooked ground beef mixture to a large casserole dish.
3. Place grated hash brown mixture evenly on top. Make sure not to flatten it too much.
4. Bake in a preheated oven for 35 minutes. Switch the broiler or grill on during the last 5 minutes for a golden crust.
My top 5 beef hash brown casserole tips
- Rinse grated potatoes: Rinse the grated potatoes and drain them through a clean kitchen towel before adding salt. Drain them again before adding the other hash brown seasonings.
- Undercook the beef: Avoid dry and rubbery ground beef by undercooking it initially when making the creamy sauce with hamburger meat.
- Oven temperature: Make sure the oven is up to temperature for the potatoes to cook properly and crisp up. Watch the casserole for the last 5 minutes when the broiler or grill is switched on to avoid it from getting burnt.
- Add veggies: Make it a complete meal by adding vegetables to the creamy beef sauce, such as mushrooms, corn, carrots, bell peppers, peas, or green beans.
