Potato and Meat Casserole

Golden mashed potatoes, savory seasoned ground meat and a blanket of melted cheese — this potato and meat casserole is the kind of cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner that turns an ordinary weeknight into something special. It is simple to assemble, bakes up bubbling and golden, and tastes even better the next day. If you love hearty baked dinners, you will also enjoy our cheeseburger pie, another family favorite made with pantry staples.

Ingredients

• 1 kg potatoes
• 500 g ground meat
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 100 g cheese, grated
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp butter or oil
• 1 cup milk, boiled

Instructions

1. Peel the potatoes, cut into pieces, salt, and boil until tender.
2. Meanwhile, sauté the chopped onions in hot oil until soft.
3. Add the ground meat, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Stir, add a splash of water and the bay leaf, and simmer covered about 10 minutes.
4. Mash the potatoes with the butter and hot milk until smooth (stir in some fried onion if you like).
5. Layer the meat mixture and mashed potatoes in a baking dish.
6. Top with grated cheese and bake until golden and bubbling.

Tips

• Use leftover mashed potatoes to make this casserole even faster on a busy night.
• Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking so it slices cleanly.
• Swap the cheese for mozzarella or a sharp cheddar, and add a pinch of paprika for extra warmth.

For more ideas on building a great casserole, the cooking guides at Serious Eats are a wonderful place to start.

Nutrition (per 100 g): 134 kcal | Protein 9 g | Fat 7 g | Carbs 8 g

Serve this potato and meat casserole straight from the oven with a crisp green salad or pickled vegetables. For more cozy baked dinners, try our chicken, potato and mushroom bake or the comforting egg and green onion pie.