Description
Cheesy hamburger hash brown casserole brings comfort and hearty flavors to dinner tables with its perfect blend of ground beef, crispy potatoes, and melted cheese. Families will savor each satisfying bite of this classic midwestern comfort dish that promises warmth and deliciousness in every forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 30 ounces (850g) thawed frozen hash browns
- 3 cups freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 10.5 ounces (298g) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 2/3 cup half and half
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 3/4 cup sweet yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, incorporating diced onions and minced garlic until meat is thoroughly browned and crumbled.
- Drain any accumulated fat from the meat, then return skillet to stove.
- Blend cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, half and half, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and black pepper into the meat mixture.
- Gently fold thawed hash browns into the creamy beef mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese throughout the mixture, stirring carefully to incorporate.
- Pour the entire contents into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Top the casserole with remaining cheese, covering the surface completely.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes until the cheese turns golden and the edges become crispy and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to help set the ingredients.
Notes
- Customize the heat by adding chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Use ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter, lower-fat version of the casserole.
- For a gluten-free option, select a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and verify all ingredient labels.
- Enhance the nutritional profile by mixing in frozen mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli during the mixing stage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 447 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg