This ground beef hashbrown casserole has a savory layer of ground beef mixed with onions and cheese and topped with a crispy, golden layer of hashbrowns. It's so good and great for breakfast or dinner!
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This hearty hamburger hashbrown casserole recipe brings together all the family favorite foods. With savory ground beef, onions, and a creamy cheese blend, all topped with crispy shredded hash browns.
It's one of our favorite breakfast casserole recipes, that's both hearty and comforting. Although this makes a delicious dinner idea too!
And if you enjoy this recipe, make sure to check out our other delicious ground beef recipes, like our easy homemade hamburger helper recipe or our cheeseburger egg rolls.
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What You'll Love About This Recipe
- Satisfying Comfort: With its hearty layers of ground beef, cheese, and hashbrowns, this casserole is the ultimate comfort food.
- Easy to Make: Simple and straight forward means a no fuss meal.
- Customizable: Easily swap out ingredients to your families likings.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This recipes is kid friendly and perfect for a family dinner idea.
Ingredients
Ground Beef: Choose high-quality, lean ground beef for the best flavor and texture. Look for fresh, pink meat with a firm feel.
Onions: Opt for yellow onions for their ideal balance of sweetness and sharpness.
Garlic: Fresh, finely minced garlic will provide the best flavor. If you don't have fresh garlic, you can substitute it with a few teaspoons of garlic powder.
Scallions: Adds a mild, slightly peppery taste; ensure they are fresh and green.
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning, adjust according to your taste preferences.
Dried Oregano: Adds a subtle hint of earthiness and warmth to the dish.
Chicken Broth: Select a low-sodium version to control the saltiness of your casserole.
Sour Cream: Provides creaminess and tang; full-fat sour cream is recommended for the richest flavor.
Cheddar Cheese: Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and flavor; choose between sharp or mild based on your preference.
Hash Brown Potatoes: Thawed frozen shredded hash browns work best for achieving that perfect crispy topping. You could also uses fresh shredded potatoes.
See recipe card for quantities.
Equipment
- Large Skillet: Needed for browning the beef and sautéing the onions and garlic. A cast-iron skillet is ideal for even heat distribution.
- 9x13 Baking Dish: The perfect size for assembling and baking the casserole. If unavailable, any large, oven-safe dish will do.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F and get your 9x13 baking dish ready by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. This ensures your casserole won’t stick and will serve easily.
Start with a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble in the ground beef and let it cook. Add in your onions and garlic and cook until You’ll want to stir it around so it browns evenly and doesn’t clump together.
Once it's fully cooked, drain off the extra fat (except about 2 tablespoons), which helps keep your casserole from being too greasy.
Add in the onions and garlic to the cooked ground beef. Saute until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant and tender, usually about 4 minutes.
Add in the scallions and season the mixture well with salt, pepper, and oregano, then pour in the chicken broth. Let everything simmer together, which allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Fold in the sour cream and half of the cheese, stirring until you've got a creamy, cohesive mixture. Then, remove the skillet from the heat; this is your rich, savory casserole base.
Layer half of your hash browns in the prepared baking dish, seasoning them with a bit of salt and pepper.
Next, spread your beef mixture over these hash browns.
Top the ground beef layer with the remaining hash browns and season the top layer as well, which ensures every bite is flavorful.
Tip* If you want really flavorful potatoes add them to a bowl first and salt and pepper them there and mix well before adding to your casserole dish.
Bake the casserole for 40-50 minutes. You're looking for the hash browns to become wonderfully golden and crispy. Finishing the dish with the remaining cheese adds a deliciously melty topping.
And that's it! Your hamburger hashbrown casserole is ready to serve! Enjoy hot.
Top Tip
For the crispiest topping, ensure your hash browns are fully thawed and patted dry before layering them in the dish. This helps achieve that perfect golden crust!
Substitutions
- Ground Turkey: For a lighter version, ground turkey can be used instead of beef.
- Greek Yogurt: If you're out of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute that still adds creaminess. This will change the flavor though.
- Mozzarella Cheese: If you prefer a milder cheese flavor, mozzarella can be used in place of cheddar.
Variations
- Spicy Kick: Add some chopped jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the beef mixture for a bit of heat.
- Vegetarian Twist: Omit the ground beef and add a mix of sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini for a veggie version.
Storage Instructions
Have leftover casserole you want to store? Here are our suggestions.
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container; they’ll keep well for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot.
Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the cooled casserole in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: Warm in a preheated oven at 350°F until heated through, or microwave individual portions for a quick option. If the casserole is frozen, extend the reheating time and cover with foil to prevent drying out.
Other Casserole Recipes
Enjoying this hashbrown hamburger casserole recipe? Looking for more delicious casserole recipes? Try some of our favorites.
Recipe
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Ground Beef Hashbrown Casserole
SaveIngredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup onions chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic finely minced
- ¼ cup scallions sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 1 bag shredded hash browns 30 ounce, thawed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until browned. Drain the excess grease from the meat. Return the empty skillet to medium heat, leaving about 2 teaspoons of the beef fat in the skillet.
- Add the onions and garlic and sauté for 4 minutes until tender. Add the scallions and the browned ground beef, stirring to combine. Season with salt, pepper, and stir in the oregano and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the sour cream and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Simmer for 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is blended. Set aside.
- Place half of the hash browns into the prepared baking dish and season with salt and black pepper. Press into an even layer.
- Over the hash browns, spread the beef mixture.
- In a bowl, toss the remaining hash browns with salt and black pepper.
- Evenly distribute the hash browns over the ground beef mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until the hash browns are tender and browned on top.
- Sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded cheese on top of the hash browns and return the casserole to the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Notes
Nutrition
FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the casserole in advance and refrigerate it. Just cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, you might need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time if it's cold from the fridge.
Yes, it's important to thaw the hash browns completely to ensure they cook evenly and get crispy on top. Pat them dry to remove any excess moisture.
Absolutely. Grate peeled potatoes, rinse them in cold water, and then pat them dry before using them as a substitute for frozen hash browns.
Yes, once cooled, you can freeze the casserole for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until hot.
Sure, you can replace the ground beef with a plant-based meat substitute or extra vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, and zucchini.
Definitely! Feel free to stir in additional veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach into the beef mixture for extra nutrition and flavor.
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