Casseroles are meals that are usually cooked in one dish. Many people enjoy preparing a ground beef and potato casserole because the main ingredients are typically inexpensive and often already on hand in the kitchen. A ground beef and potato casserole can be made in many different ways and a number of other ingredients can be added to provide a variety of flavor profiles. When making this type of casserole, the potatoes can be sliced, cubed, or mashed; some recipes may call for hash browns.
When making a ground beef and potato casserole, the best results will be achieved if the ground beef is browned before being combined with the other ingredients in the casserole. Browning the beef beforehand makes it easier to drain the meat and prevent the casserole from being greasy. While cooking the beef, spices can be added to the meat to enhance the flavor.
Shepherd's pie is a hearty ground beef and potato casserole. Ground beef is combined with vegetables — such as carrots, peas, and onions — and gravy and then topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. Some recipes may call for shredded cheese to be placed over the top of the mashed potatoes.
There are a number of casserole recipes that call for the layering of ground beef and potatoes. These recipes are very versatile and any number of ingredients can be used. Vegetables or cheese can be added, and gravy or condensed cream soup can be mixed with the ground beef. A layer of raw sliced potatoes are placed on the bottom of a casserole dish, followed by the ground beef, and then cheese if it is being used. The layers are repeated until the casserole dish is full and then the casserole is baked in the oven.
Hash browns, which are grated, fried potatoes, are often used when making a ground beef and potato casserole. The recipes vary, with some calling for the hash browns to be placed on the bottom of a casserole pan while others have the hash browns topping the ground beef. Vegetables can be added if desired.
Stroganoff is a popular type of casserole that works well with ground beef, and the addition of cubed or sliced potatoes make it a very filling dish. The meat and potatoes are combined with onions, mushrooms, and a sour cream sauce. Egg noodles are commonly added to the casserole. A variation of this recipe is to place a layer of mashed potatoes on the bottom of a casserole dish and top them with the ground beef, mushrooms, and sauce.