Hearty Ground Beef Potato Casserole | Easy Budget Family Meal

Why We Keep Making This Casserole

This hearty ground beef potato casserole has been a staple in our home for years. It’s simple, filling, budget-friendly, and made with ingredients most families already have in the pantry. During times of rising grocery prices, this is one of those comfort meals that stretches ground beef while still feeding a hungry family.

This potato casserole is one of my family's favorite dishes. If you haven't tried any of my recipe's, don't pass this one up. It's easy to make, economical, and a staple!


Ingredients

• 1–3 pounds ground beef, browned and drained
• Potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (enough to line the pan and cover the top)
• 1 family-size can cream of mushroom soup
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable shortening or cooking spray for greasing the pan

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Brown the ground beef and drain excess grease.
3. Mix the cooked ground beef with the cream of mushroom soup.
4. Grease a casserole dish.
5. Line the bottom of the dish with a layer of thinly sliced potatoes.
6. Spread the beef and soup mixture evenly over the potatoes.
7. Add another layer of potato slices on top and around the sides of the dish if desired.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Bake for 1 to 1½ hours, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is lightly browned.
10. Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Ground as much beef as you need. 1 - 3 lbs, cook and drain.

Peel potatoes and thinly slice.

Mix in a family sized Cream of Mushroom soup with the ground beef.

Grease pan with vegetable shortening and line entire pan bottom with potato slices.

Pour mixture into pan.

Layer potato slices on top of mixture, and along sides of pan. Salt and pepper. Bake at 350 -400 for 1 to 1.2 hours (depending on how crispy you want the potatoes.)

 

Tips

Double this recipe for large meals and gatherings. For a heartier casserole, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top during the last 10–15 minutes of baking.

Food Storage Variation

For long-term food storage, this recipe can be adapted using home-canned ground beef, dehydrated potato slices, or commercially canned beef. During emergencies or periods of rising grocery prices, having shelf-stable ingredients on hand makes it possible to prepare familiar comfort foods without an extra trip to the store.

This is one reason I enjoy keeping potatoes and canned meat in my preparedness pantry. They can be turned into a variety of hearty meals, including this family favorite.

Keystone Ground Beef - for food storage