5-Ingredient Hamburger & Potato Casserole: A Comfort Food Classic with Minimal Effort

Introduction

Nothing says comfort food quite like a hearty casserole—especially one that’s quick to prepare and uses only a handful of ingredients. This 5-Ingredient Hamburger & Potato Casserole brings together simple pantry staples for a rich, satisfying meal that delights both kids and adults. Whether you need a weeknight dinner or an easy crowd-pleaser for your next potluck, this dish provides classic flavors with almost no fuss.

Why You’ll Love This Hamburger & Potato Casserole

It’s the ultimate easy meal: savory ground beef, tender potatoes, creamy soup, melty cheese, and a hint of onion. Each bite delivers layers of flavor and texture, all baked to bubbly perfection. With minimal prep and straightforward steps, this casserole is perfect for busy home cooks seeking delicious results without a lengthy ingredient list.

Simple Layering, Maximum Flavor

For best results, take a few moments to brown the ground beef and slice the potatoes thinly. This helps everything cook evenly and ensures a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The combination of condensed soup and cheese creates a luscious sauce, binding everything together and infusing the casserole with comforting flavors.

Effortless Casserole Assembly

Once your beef is browned and potatoes are sliced, it’s just a quick matter of assembling in layers. Beef adds heartiness, potatoes bring a starchy base, and the creamy soup and cheese mixture ties it all together. Sprinkle the final layer with cheese before baking, and you’re on your way to a piping-hot dinner that tastes like home.

Serving Suggestions to Make It a Meal

Serve your casserole straight from the oven with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or a dollop of sour cream for a fresh touch. Pair it with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced plate. This classic dish is perfect for sharing—everyone always comes back for seconds!

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 6 hearty portions. Each serving contains an estimated 400–500 calories, depending on the cheese and soup used. It’s a filling, well-balanced main dish that makes an ideal addition to any meal plan.

The 5-Ingredient Hamburger & Potato Casserole Recap

With its creamy texture, savory flavors, and short ingredient list, this casserole is a delicious solution for streamlined weeknight dinners. It’s a classic everyone loves—no complicated steps or specialty ingredients required.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and easy weekly meal planning!

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and onions are soft. Season with salt and pepper, then drain excess fat.
3. Arrange half of the thinly sliced potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half the ground beef mixture, then sprinkle with half the shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, beef, and cheese layers.
5. Spread the condensed cream of mushroom soup evenly over the top layer, smoothing gently with a spatula. Sprinkle extra cheese on top, if desired.
6. Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and the top is bubbly and golden.
7. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving for easier slicing and best flavor.

Weekly Meal Planning

This 5-Ingredient Casserole is a lifesaver for busy weeks. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to plan the best days to serve it, and create a smart shopping list that merges all your weekly meals.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across your meal plan
• Organizes grocery lists by store sections for streamlined shopping
• Reduces duplicate buys and forgotten ingredients
• Makes weekly meal prep efficient and stress-free

Pro Tip: When using CookifyAI to plan multiple meals, schedule your recipes to allow for ingredient overlap—so if you need onions or cheese for several dishes, the app totals them up for you, leading to less guesswork and less waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Enjoy this comfort food classic—and let CookifyAI help you breeze through your weekly meal planning and shopping!