Ground Beef and Potato Casserole (Sour Cream and Milk)

hamburgerpotatotcasserolesourcreammilk This hamburger potato casserole recipe is a delicious and comforting meal. It's the perfect combo of hearty, creamy and cheesy that's gonna satisfy everyone at your dinner table. The best part? It's quick, simple and uses ingredients you likely already have on hand.

3 lbs Russet potatoes
1 lb lean ground beef
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
2 Tbsp. butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1¼ cups beef stock or chicken broth
½ cup milk
½ cup sour cream
2 cups cheese, shredded

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/160°C fan, Gas Mark 4).

Slice the potatoes into thin slices, about ⅛" thick. A mandolin slice works great for this. Place the potato slices in a bowl of cold water to prevent them from turning brown while you cook the ground beef.

Heat a large 12" skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Use a spoon or turkey baster to remove all but 1 Tbsp. of the grease.

Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is soft.

Add the butter and stir until melted then stir in the flour. Cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the Dijon, Worcestershire and tomato paste. Use the back of a spoon to mash the tomato paste and blend it into the mixture.

Slowly pour in the stock or broth while constantly stirring. Pour in the milk and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream and half of the shredded cheese.

Drain the water from the potato slices and pat them dry. Spread half of the potatoes over the top of the ground beef mixture. Sprinkle the potatoes with a bit of salt then stir them into the beef mixture. Repeat withe the rest of the potatoes.

Sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and slide it into the oven. Bake for 75 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, then remove the lid. Bake uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Cook's Notes:

Pat the potato slices dry before you stir them into the hamburger mixture. If they are still wet, the casserole will turn out soupy.
If you don’t have a lid for your skillet, you can cover it with aluminum foil.
If you don't have a large enough skillet, you can transfer everything to a 9x13" casserole dish to bake.