Description
This Crockpot Hamburger Potato Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for a family meal. Tender layers of thinly sliced russet potatoes, savory browned ground beef, and onions are slow-cooked with a creamy blend of mushroom and chicken soups, then topped with melted cheddar cheese. Cooked low and slow in a crockpot, this casserole delivers rich flavors and a satisfying texture with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and sliced thin (about 1/8 inch)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping and Miscellaneous
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Cooking spray or butter for greasing the crockpot
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and optionally a pinch of smoked paprika for extra depth. Drain any excess fat.
- Prepare the Potatoes and Onion: Peel and thinly slice the russet potatoes about 1/8 inch thick for even cooking. Finely chop the onion. Using a mandoline can speed up this step and ensure uniform slices.
- Grease the Crockpot: Lightly grease the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking and facilitate cleanup.
- Layer the Ingredients: Begin layering with potatoes, then sprinkle chopped onions, followed by a scoop of cooked ground beef. Repeat the layering process until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of potatoes on top.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, onion powder, and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Pour this sauce mixture evenly over the layered ingredients in the crockpot.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on LOW setting for 6–7 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Add the Cheese: About 20 minutes before serving, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the casserole. Cover and allow the cheese to melt into a gooey topping.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the flavors meld and allows the casserole to set, making it easier to serve.
Notes
- Use a mandoline slicer for quick and even potato slices.
- Adding a pinch of smoked paprika during beef browning adds smoky depth.
- Ensure potatoes are sliced thinly so they cook fully in the crockpot.
- Resting the casserole before serving improves texture and flavor integration.
- For a creamier texture, you can substitute part of the milk with sour cream.
