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You’ll love this hearty and comforting cheesy crockpot Hamburger Potato Casserole. It’s loaded with Italian sausage, ground beef, and tender potatoes all smothered in a creamy cheesy sauce. This dinner is easily made in a slow cooker so you can set-it-and-forget-it.
Why You’ll Love Hamburger Potato Casserole
You know those childhood meals that just warms the soul? This slow cooker recipe is full of nostalgic flavor and really says ‘I love you’ to anyone you’re making it for. It’s a meal that your family with ask for again and again.
If you’re like me, you are always looking for inexpensive meals that can be stretched far. This hamburger and potatoes casserole only needs minimal ingredients and it’s relatively cheap.
It can be prepared in the crockpot or in the oven. Whichever method you prefer it’s a very simple recipe that’s super easy to prepare for busy weeknights.
Since it freezes and reheats well (it can be frozen baked or unbaked), this makes a wonderful meal to gift a new mom, a neighbor, or a sick loved one.
Key Ingredients
You’ll love how simple this list of ingredients are for this crockpot cheesy hamburger and potato casserole!
Potatoes – russet potatoes are the perfect choice.
Beef – just a standard 80/20 ground hamburger beef.
Italian Sausage – I prefer spicy Italian sausage but mild works as well.
Onions & Garlic – these aromatics add tons of flavor
Cheese – cheddar cheese is best shredded by hand right off the block for better meltability.
Cream of Chicken Soup – this is the base of the creamy sauce that the potatoes will simmer in as they cook in the crock pot.
Milk – to help loosen up the cream of chicken and create a perfect simple sauce.
Seasonings – all we need is salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
How to Make Hamburger Potato Casserole
In just a few easy steps, you can have this hearty, incredibly flavorful dish on your dinner table.
Sauté the Meat
In a large skillet over medium heat (or use the sauté function of your crock pot) add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Brown on each side then add the onions and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Use a paper towel to absorb the excess grease.
Combine in the Crockpot
Transfer the meat mixture to a crockpot. Add in the cream of chicken, milk, and seasonings. Stir together with the meat then add in the potato slices and combine, tossing everything together and submerging the potatoes into the mixture as much as possible.
Slow Cook for 3-6 Hours
Cover and slow cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 2 hours. Stir the mixture, ensuring the potatoes are nestled under the liquid. Top with shredded cheese and continue cooking until potatoes are tender. It takes about 3 hours on high or 6 hours on low. This hamburger potato casserole is ready to enjoy!
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Alternative Cooking Method
Oven Preparation for Hamburger Potato Casserole
Please note the ingredient measurements are slightly tweaked in this version. I also recommend slicing the potatoes to 1/8 inch thickness rather than 1/4 inch. They need to be thicker for the slow cooker so they don’t turn to mush.
Follow the recipe instructions for sautéing the meat, onions and garlic.
In a greased 9×13 baking dish add a layer of sliced potatoes, top it with half the meat mixture, half the shredded cheese, then repeat with a second layer with remaining potatoes and meat, reserve the cheese for the final step.
In a large bowl, combine just 1.5 cans of cream of chicken with 12 oz of milk and the seasonings. Whisk together until smooth then pour it evenly over the ingredients in the dish.
Top with the remaining cheese. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the top is browned and bubbly. Let casserole stand for 15 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Variations and Substitutions
There are lots of ways to modify this crockpot hamburger potato casserole to make it your own. Here are some variations and substitutions:
Cheese: The type of cheese you select is up to you. I think cheddar or colby jack is the perfect fit but if you prefer a meltier cheese like mozzarella that works great. You can also use habanero jack or pepper jack to add a kick of heat.
Meat: Instead of ground beef you can swap it out for ground turkey or chicken. You can also leave out the sausage altogether (just add more of your preferred meat in it’s place) but it adds incredible flavor to this dish.
Dairy Free: you can swap the milk for oat milk or your preferred choice. Just be sure it’s plain and not vanilla flavored.
Additions: There are lots of other ingredients you could add into the hamburger potato casserole to make it your own. Red peppers, green peppers, corn, banana peppers, etc.
Storage Recommendation for Hamburger Potato Casserole
Much like any casserole or crockpot recipe, this hamburger potato casserole is pretty easy to store. Once it cools, place it in an airtight food storage container and refrigerate up to 4 days. You can also place it in a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
If you’re looking for a meal that freezes well, you’ll love this casserole just for that. You can freeze this casserole baked or unbaked for up to three months. Be sure to wrap it tightly before freezing. To reheat it, cover and bake in the oven.
I hope you enjoyed this easy crockpot recipe for how to make hamburger potato casserole! I look forward to your questions and feedback below.
Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe and I will feature you on my story! Plus, I LOVE to see your baking accomplishments.
Hamburger Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 lbs russet potatoes cleaned well and sliced to 1/4 inch thick
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 can cream of chicken soup
- 1.5 cups milk
- 1/2 tsp each: salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat (or use the sauté function of your crock pot) add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Brown on each side then add the onions and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a crockpot. Add in the cream of chicken, milk, and seasonings. Stir together with the meat then add in the potato slices and combine, tossing everything together and submerging the potatoes into the mixture as much as possible.
- Cover and slow cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. Stir the mixture, ensuring the potatoes are nestled under the liquid. Top with shredded cheese and continue cooking until potatoes are fork tender (about 1-2 additional hours). Serve warm
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made casserole for dinner last week and my son and I absolutely enjoyed it! I used ground turkey instead of ground beef, added more cheese and added 12 oz of cream cheese. This casserole will definitely be one of my of comfort foods to make again and again. Thanks so much Mallory for sharing!
HI Deborah – I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed and even happier to see this works just as well with ground turkey! Thank you for sharing your feedback 🙂
What can you use instead of garlic?
You can skip the garlic and just use onion. If you want to ramp up garlic powder feel free but if you don’t like garlic just skip it 🙂
I made this recipe, today. I made it exactly as the recipe calls for, but by half.
it was ve ry good. Easy Pantry Pull. Thank you.
how can I make this with a turkey meat if I don’t eat red meat love to try it
thank you
Of course! Just swap the equal amount (1 lb.) of ground turkey instead of ground beef. Then just follow the same instructions as written 🙂
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