Description
A quick, one-pan comfort food casserole that combines savory ground beef, sharp cheddar cheese, and hash browns in a rich, homemade cheddar sauce. It delivers the taste of a high-end pub burger with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) 80/20 ground beef
- 2 cups (200g) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups (300g) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed and patted dry
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain excess grease if necessary, but leave some for flavor. Season with salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the condensed cheddar soup and milk. Whisk vigorously until smooth. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and garlic powder. Simmer for 2 minutes to thicken slightly, then remove from heat.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the beef and onion mixture, stirring to coat evenly.
- Toss the thawed hash browns with half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Spread the beef and sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the hash brown and cheese mixture, then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. If browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 5 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to set. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
Notes
Shred your own cheese to ensure smooth melting. Ensure hash browns are thoroughly dried to prevent a watery bake. Resting the casserole for 5 minutes helps the sauce set for cleaner serving. For a crispy top, broil for the last 2-3 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the casserole
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 45
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: burger bake, cheddar casserole, one pan meal, quick dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipe, hash brown casserole, weeknight dinner