Just Layer Potatoes and Ground Beef for the Easiest, Coziest Dinner Ever
Forget about standing over the stove — this cheesy, baked comfort food practically makes itself.
Skip the stressful kitchen cleanup with this simple, all-in-one baking dish. All it takes is tossing thinly sliced potatoes in a quick creamy sauce, stacking them with seasoned ground meat, and letting the oven do the heavy lifting. The meat stays perfectly juicy under a blanket of golden, bubbly cheese that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Here’s what you need: 2.2 pounds of potatoes, 1.1 pounds of ground beef, 1 white onion, 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of sour cream, 2 ounces of hard cheese (shredded), 1 tablespoon of your favorite meat seasoning blend, and salt and black pepper to taste.
To start, peel, rinse, and dry your potatoes and white onion. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, finely diced onion, salt, black pepper, and your meat seasoning blend, mixing thoroughly with your hands before setting it aside for a few minutes to let the flavors absorb.
Slice your potatoes into paper-thin rounds, using a mandoline slicer if you have one to keep the slices perfectly uniform. In a separate bowl, whisk the sour cream and mayonnaise together, then toss the potato slices into the mixture along with a pinch of salt and pepper, stirring well to ensure every single slice is fully coated in the white sauce.
Grease a large baking dish and arrange about half of your coated potato slices in a thick, even layer along the bottom. Spread the seasoned ground beef mixture smoothly across the potato base, then cover the meat completely with the remaining potato slices, finishing with a tiny pinch of salt and black pepper on top.
Slide the dish into an oven preheated to 180°C (350°F) using the conventional top-and-bottom heat mode, and bake for about 50 minutes until the potatoes feel completely tender when pierced with a fork.
About 10 to 15 minutes before the timer goes off, carefully pull the hot casserole out, scatter the shredded cheese evenly across the top layer, and return it to the oven until the cheese turns bubbly and deeply golden brown. Serve the dish piping hot alongside a crisp side salad or fresh garden greens.
