Baked Ground Beef and Potato Casserole For Two

Baked Ground Beef and Potato Casserole is the perfect comfort food dinner when you want something warm, filling and easy to make. With layers of tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef and plenty of melted cheese, this small-batch casserole is just the right size for two people.

It is one of those simple meals made with everyday ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen. Ground beef, potatoes, onion and cheese come together to make a hearty dinner without requiring anything fancy or expensive.

Best of all, everything gets layered into a small baking dish and baked until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is hot and bubbly. Add a simple vegetable or side salad and dinner is complete!

An Easy Baked Ground Beef and Potato Casserole For Two

Ground beef is one of my favorite ingredients to use when making dinner for two. It is easy to cook and can be used in everything from casseroles and pasta dishes to soups and skillet meals.

However, many ground beef casserole recipes are designed to feed a large family. Although leftovers can certainly be helpful, sometimes you simply don’t want a casserole dish sitting in the refrigerator for the next several days.

That is why this Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole is made specifically for two people. You get all the comfort of a traditional meat-and-potatoes casserole without making an enormous amount of food.

Depending on your appetite, you may even have enough left for one lunch the next day.

What Type Of Potatoes Are Best For Baked Ground Beef And Potato Casserole?

Although you can use several varieties of potatoes for this recipe, I prefer to use Yukon Gold potatoes.

They have a naturally creamy texture and hold their shape well as they bake. Their thin skins also mean that you don’t necessarily have to peel them before slicing.

Russet potatoes can also be used. However, because their skins are thicker, I recommend peeling them first.

Regardless of which variety you choose, the most important step is to slice the potatoes thin and as evenly as possible.

Aim for slices about 1/8 inch thick. If some slices are significantly thicker than others, the thinner potatoes may become tender while the thicker slices remain firm.

A mandoline slicer works great for making even slices. However, a sharp knife works just fine as long as you take your time.

Brown The Ground Beef First

Although the casserole will spend plenty of time in the oven, you need to brown the ground beef before assembling it.

Place the ground beef in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onion begins to soften.

Break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks. Smaller pieces make it easier to distribute the beef evenly throughout the casserole.

Once the beef is cooked, drain off any excess grease.

This step is especially important if you aren’t using lean ground beef. Too much grease can make the finished casserole oily rather than creamy.

Season the meat with salt, pepper and garlic powder before setting it aside.

The Creamy Sauce

The sauce is what turns the basic combination of ground beef and potatoes into true comfort food.

For this recipe, a small amount of cream of mushroom soup is combined with milk to create a creamy sauce that surrounds the potatoes as they bake.

If you aren’t a fan of cream of mushroom soup, you can substitute cream of chicken or cream of celery soup.

Whisk the soup and milk together until smooth before adding it to the casserole. This makes it much easier to distribute the sauce evenly between the layers.

How To Assemble The Casserole

Lightly grease a small baking dish. A 1 1/2-quart casserole dish or an 8 x 6-inch baking dish works well for this recipe.

Arrange half of the thinly sliced potatoes in an even layer across the bottom of the dish. It is fine if the slices overlap slightly.

Sprinkle half of the cooked ground beef mixture over the potatoes.

Then pour half of the creamy soup mixture over the beef and potatoes and sprinkle a portion of the shredded cheddar cheese over the top.

Repeat the layers with the remaining potatoes, ground beef and sauce.

Don’t add the final layer of cheese just yet. Waiting until later prevents the cheese from becoming too dark or overcooked while the potatoes soften.

Cover The Casserole While It Bakes

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil before placing it in the oven.

This is an important step because the trapped steam helps cook and soften the potatoes.

Bake the casserole covered until the potatoes are fork tender. Because ovens and potato thickness can vary, begin checking them near the end of the recommended baking time.

Once you can easily pierce the potatoes with a fork, remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top.

Return the casserole to the oven uncovered and continue baking until the cheese melts and begins to bubble.

If you like browned cheese, you can place the casserole under the broiler for a minute or two. Just be sure to watch it closely.

Let It Rest Before Serving

As tempting as it may be to scoop into the ground beef and potato casserole as soon as it comes out of the oven, give it a few minutes to rest.

The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools, making the casserole much easier to serve.

Five to ten minutes is usually all it needs.

Then divide the casserole between two plates and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Once you’ve made the basic recipe, there are plenty of ways to change it up.

• For a little extra flavor, add sliced mushrooms to the ground beef and onions while they cook.
• You can also add frozen peas, corn or mixed vegetables to turn the casserole into even more of a complete meal.
• If you like a little heat, add diced jalapeños or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
• And don’t feel limited to cheddar cheese. Colby Jack, Monterey Jack or a cheddar-Jack blend all work well.
• You could even sprinkle a little Parmesan over the top before baking for another layer of cheesy flavor.
• Want to skip the baking process? Make my Crock Pot Ground Beef and Casserole Recipe instead!

Storing And Reheating Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers, let them cool and transfer them to a covered container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

To reheat a single serving, place it on a microwave-safe plate and heat until warmed through.

You can also reheat the casserole in a covered baking dish in a 325°F oven. Adding a small splash of milk before reheating can help loosen the sauce if it has thickened in the refrigerator.

Enjoy! Mary

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