Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole [+Video]

Casseroles are such a great dinner option! This cheesy ground beef and potato casserole is creamy, comforting and perfect for a busy day.

We had received so many messages about our readers making our mega viral busy day casserole with potatoes instead of rice that I just had to try it for myself. This casserole is full of creamy potatoes, seasoned ground beef and melted cheese for days.

We are giving you two versions of this recipe…a quick version with cream of mushroom soup and a totally made from scratch version where you make the creamy sauce yourself. You can choose whatever you have time for!

Now if you force me to choose between the rice version and the potato version of this casserole, I will have to give the slightest edge to the original rice version. It’s probably nostalgia for me, but I just like it a little better. This potato version is pure comfort food and it reminded me of camping and eating a tinfoil dinner. It tastes so similar!

What Ingredients Go in Cheesy Hamburger Potato Casserole?

For the quick version, you’ll only need 7 simple ingredients. For the homemade version, you’ll need a few more ingredients to make the cream of mushroom soup from scratch, but all the ingredients are easy to find. Here is what you will need for both versions:

Quick Version

• Cream of Mushroom Soup, Russet Potatoes, Milk, Carrots, Ground Beef, Onion, and Cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack)

From Scratch Version

• Sauce: Butter, Onion, Garlic, Mushrooms, Flour, Cream, Chicken Broth, Pepper, Salt, and Milk
• Casserole: Ground Beef, Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion, Carrots, Cheese (Cheddar or Colby Jack), and Russet Potatoes

PRO TIP: You can also make this recipe with frozen hash browns to make it even easier!

The measurements of all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. Keep scrolling to see all the details!

What Potato is Best to Use?

We prefer Russet potatoes in this recipe. They are starchy and soak up a lot of the flavors of the ground beef, carrots and creamy sauce. You could honestly use any p

Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks

A sweet potato recipe that is cheesy and buttery with a burst of fresh thyme! If you want a recipe for sweet potatoes that is a little outside the box but glorious, you have to try these Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks!

Every Christmas we make a cheesy potato dish with gruyere cheese. They are stacked high in a muffin tin and get all crispy and wonderful. This year we decided to make them with sweet potatoes, and we are obsessed with the sweet and salty flavor of these Cheesy Gruyere Sweet Potato Stacks!

I know when we think of sweet potato side dishes, we think of brown sugar and marshmallows, but I’m telling you, friends, the sweetness of the sweet potatoes paired with the saltiness of the cheeses makes the angels sing! And that fresh pop of thyme…I’m happy dancing around the kitchen! Arms waving, eyes closed, licking my lips and my bootie shakin’…you get that visual?!

How to Make Sweet Potato Stacks

I like to get the sweet potatoes prepared first. Peel two large sweet potatoes and then slice them. We always use our favorite mandoline to get those thin perfect slices, but you could totally do it by hand if you don’t have a mandoline. Let’s see those mad knife skills!

When your sweet potatoes are prepped, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a muffin tin with cooking spray. You will use all 12 cups of the muffin tin. Place the sweet potatoes in a bowl and add the melted butter. Stir thoroughly, separating the sweet potato slices by hand if needed. You want everything deliciously coated in butter!

Combine the cheeses, salt, garlic and thyme in a medium bowl or plastic bag. Place two slices of sweet potato into each cup and scoop one teaspoon of the cheese and spices mixture into each cup and repeat the layers until you reach the top of each cup. Be sure your last layer is cheese! You’ll want that yummy cheesy goodness on top!

Place the pan in the oven carefully (you don’t want those perfectly constructed stacks to tip over)! Tent the muffin pan with a piece of foil and be sure the foil does not touch the top of the potatoes. The cheese will stick and then you’ll lose that top cheesy layer (tragedy!). Bake for 15 minutes with the foil and then remove it and bake an additional 30 minutes or until the cheese is starting to turn golden. Scoop those golden delicious stacks from the pan with a large spoon and and serve them hot!

What to Eat with this Sweet Potato Recipe?

This is a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Try it along side our Turkey in a Bowl for Thanksgiving or with Prime Rib for Christmas! But you don’t need a holiday to make these! They go great with just about any meal…steak, Read more

The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had

I had no idea that an easy cheese ball recipe could be this good. Last year I had the best cheese ball I ever had and now I get to share how crazy easy this appetizer is!

Our neighbor, Michelle thought up the most genius idea, she cancelled neighbor gifts at Christmas. Can we all have a moment of cheering for Michelle? Now, I’m not against neighbor gifts, but I don’t know that I’m for pouring out all of that extra stress for a bunch of cookies the neighbors throw away. Don’t worry, I’m going to tie it all together so you know what it has to do with The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had. 

We were so impressed with not just Michelle, but how the neighbors responded. Michelle sent out a big letter announcing that instead of doing neighbor gifts, what if we donated to a cause. Everyone could come visit at a little Christmas gathering at her house, bring a donation for a family in need or a reputable charity and visit with each other, which is more of what Christmas is about.

Oh it was such a success!! So much money earned, and we stuffed our faces, I mean, we all got into the Christmas spirit so much more!

What is a Good Cheese Ball Recipe?

Another dear friend, Angie was there. I casually walked over to her and seeing the food said, “oh what is a good cheese ball recipe? I’m never as in love as I want to be.” And there we were, standing at the food table, shoveling crackers with the best cheese ball I ever had into our mouths. I finally said, “my gosh, who made this?!!!” And Angie says, “Oh, I did.”

What?! How have I never tasted of this goodness before and how could she stand there so nonchalant?! I mean, it looked like a classic cheese ball recipe, but something about it was different.

Look, I’ve had some pretty good cheese balls in my day. Our BBQ Bacon Cheese Ball and German Chocolate Cheese Ball are pretty dang amazing, but now I am sitting here making a humble pie because Angie’s is the best cheese ball I ever had!

Secret Ingredients in the the Best Cheese Ball

I think it’s the secret, artery clogging ingredient that you all are going to use and not complain a lick about because it’s just that worth it.

Kraft Old English Jarred Cheese.

Yes, it’s cheese in a jar. I’ve linked to it so you can see what to look for.

No, it probably isn’t real cheese. I can’t fight you on that one. Can you pretend it is? Just this once?

The rest of the ingredients are the norm, but I’ll do you a favor and give a quick overview because I love seeing a quick list of ingredients.

Read more

Baked Cheesy Onion Dip

This delicious, easy baked onion cheese dip is great for a last minute appetizer. You guuuuyyyyssss, it’s SO good, I almost ate the whole pan myself! Serve it with tortilla chips, fresh bread, or pita chips.

Five different cheeses go into this fabulous hot onion dip, and there is no such thing as too much cheese!

Help!!

Ok, awhile back a darling reader reached out to me and shared her baked onion cheese dip which I’ve been holding onto to try. The problem is, I can’t remember her name!! So, if this recipe was from you and you DM’d it to me on Instagram:

1. Tell me who you are!
2. THIS IS THE BEST DIP!!

I adjusted things a bit to my family’s likes but my goodness, you weren’t kidding, this dip is everything.

Recommended Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Hand Mixer

Before You Begin…

Slice up the onion and get them caramelizing and then pull out all your cheeses to prep. The cream cheese needs to be softened, so get that out on the counter so it can come to room temperature. You’ll also want to grate the parmesan, Swiss and sharp cheddar cheeses yourself if you can. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well as cheese you grate yourself. The Mexican blend will always be a pre-shredded bag.

The Secret to Onion Dip

Caramelized onions.

Do not just throw those onions in there, caramelize them first! And in fact, if you want to really make your caramelized onions top notch throw in a little Worcestershire sauce. It adds a depth of flavor to those onions that you will love!

What Do I Need for Baked Onion Cheese Dip?

You will need cheese, cheese and more cheese!! Grab a sweet onion, a few simple ingredients and you’re on your way! Here is what you will need:

• Onions: Sweet Onion, Butter, Worcestershire Sauce
• Cheeses: Cream Cheese, Swiss Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Mexican Blend Cheese
• Dip: Mayonnaise, Sour Cream
• Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Herbs (thyme and chopped chives)

Keep scrolling to see the complete recipe card with all the measurements for each ingredient.

How to Make Cheesy Onion Baked Dip

1. Caramelize Onions: Preheat a cast iron skillet on the stove and add the butter to melt, then add the onions that let them get tender. Season them with a little salt and let them cook. Add Worcestershire sauce and allow the onions to caramelize stirring every few minutes.

Pina Colada Hawaiian Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe

Hawaiian pulled pork nachos…crispy tortilla chips topped with tender pulled pork, loads of melty cheese, pinto beans, sauteed peppers and a creamy pina colada sauce! It’s what every nachos recipe should be!

Whether you eat them as an appetizer on gameday or a quick weeknight meal, these nachos will get devoured by all the people. My kids think they’ve died and gone to heaven when they get to eat chips for dinner!

This pork nachos recipe will knock your boots off. In fact, they will probably knock you naked. And it will be worth it. They are the best dang nachos I’ve ever had. EVER. And that’s saying a lot because I really thought we loved our Italian nachos with chicken, wontons, and that yummy alfredo sauce…mmmmmm. Seriously though, these rocked our world.

Ingredient for Pulled Pork Nachos

Here is what you will need to make this nachos recipe:

• Pork Butt: 3-4lbs, if you have leftover pulled pork from the night before, that works perfectly
• Pinto Beans: drained and rinsed, and heated through in a pan on the stovetop
• Colby Jack Cheese: you could really use any cheese you want, but colby jack has such a delicious flavor for nachos and gets so creamy and melty
• Tostitos Scoop Chips: I love using scoops because they make the perfect nacho bites, but you could us any type of tortilla chip you prefer.
• Mini Sweet Peppers: I like to chop them into thin strips and then saute them.
• Olive Oil: helps saute the peppers
• Pina Colada Sauce: see recipe below…so creamy with the perfect blend of pineapple and coconut!
• Other toppings: You can load these up as much or as little as you want. Feel free to add more toppings such as tomatoes, diced red onions, fresh pineapple chunks, chopped cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, black olives, jalapenos, etc.

For the Pina Colada Sauce

• Crushed Pineapple: Be sure it is crushed and not the tidbits or chunks and no need to drain it. You want that yummy juice in there for flavor!
• Cream Of Coconut: You can find this by the margarita mixes and alcohol. It is usually in a can.
• Sour Cream: creates the creaminess for the sauce, you could substitute plain Green yogurt if you want

The measurements for all the ingredients and the instructions for making this recipe can all be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. You can also save or print the recipe from there. If you save it, it will be saved in “My Recipe Box” which you can access from the top right corner of any page on the blog. So convenient!

What is the Best Pulled Pork?

These nachos, are super easy to make, and I love that you can make a fresh roast or just use leftovers from dinner the night before. BOO-YAH.  We’ve include a recipe for making the pulled pork here, b