Description
Loaded Beef & Potato Casserole is a hearty comfort food dish featuring layers of thinly sliced potatoes, savory ground beef cooked with onions and garlic, and a creamy sour cream and milk mixture. Topped with crispy bacon and melted cheddar cheese, this casserole is baked to golden perfection, making it a satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 large potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
Other
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Beef Mixture: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic together until the beef is browned and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Season Beef: Stir in salt, black pepper, and paprika into the cooked beef mixture for added flavor.
- Prepare Cream Mixture: In a bowl, combine the sour cream and milk, mixing until smooth and well blended.
- Layer Ingredients: Grease a baking dish and layer half of the thinly sliced potatoes on the bottom. Spread half of the beef mixture evenly over the potatoes, then pour half of the sour cream and milk mixture on top.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the layering process with the remaining potatoes, beef mixture, and sour cream mixture to build the casserole.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer, followed by the crumbled cooked bacon for a savory crunch.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, allowing potatoes to soften and flavors to meld.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving to set the layers and enhance flavors.
Notes
- Use uniform thin slices of potatoes for even cooking.
- Drain excess fat from the beef to keep the casserole from becoming greasy.
- Covering with foil during the first part of baking helps soften potatoes without drying out the dish.
- Removing foil towards the end promotes browning of the cheese topping.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for an easy meal the next day.
