Easy Cheesy Potato Ground Beef Casserole

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Cheesy Potato Topped Ground Beef Casserole is a deliciously comforting recipe, perfect for a family weeknight dinner. This recipe makes a large quantity of casserole, so if you’ve got meal prepping in mind, this is the perfect recipe for you!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s chock full of flavour – from the aromatic and savoury mince to the cheesy potato topping, this comfort-food ground beef casserole is banging with flavour!
• Super cheap to make – using the cheapest cut of meat and ingredients you probably already have lurking in your cupboard, this potato topped casserole is a budget-friendly recipe!
• Makes a ton – bulking out the mince with lentils stretches this massive casserole dish even further – getting more bang for your buck and feeding your family for more meals.
• Kids love it – easy to eat and not too wacky, this potato topped casserole will be a firm favourite for the whole family – from toddlers right up to your teenage boys!

Ingredients

• Onion – the base of any flavourful casserole or stew, onion is a crucial ingredient of this potato topped ground beef casserole dish. No need to finely dice, unless you want it to be imperceptible from those suspicious toddlers!
• Garlic – the more, the better, in my humble opinion! I would go so far as to put a whole bulb in, but you definitely need at least 4 cloves, since this makes a large batch of mince.
• Spices – cumin, smoked paprika and curry powder give this casserole the most amazing flavour. And yes, the smoked paprika definitely gives this casserole it’s defining flavour – don’t sub for ordinary paprika unless you have to!
• Mince – this recipe uses 1 kg of mince as it feeds a crowd!
• Tomatoes – When tomatoes reduce, they give a lovely, rich, and luscious mince sauce.
• Lentils – red lentils are used to make this mince mixture go even further. The lentils also thicken the mixture, making it easier to serve or potion for freezer meals.
• Apple Chutney – I used up leftover apple chutney because I had no tomato paste on hand, and I tell you that the result was phenomenal. The intense sweet/savoury flavour bomb from the apple chutney gave the mince so much oomph! No worries, though, if all you have is ordinary tomato paste.
• Potatoes – I prefer ordinary potatoes to sweet potato for any casserole topping, since they hold their shape better and just have a more neutral flavour.
• Cheese – not necessary, but definitely make this potato topped casserole next level comfort food.
• Salt and Pepper – use to season the mince mixture to taste, and to sprinkle on top of the potato layer before cooking.

Method

In a large pot, slosh in some cooking oil. Chop the onions and garlic, and add them to the heated oil. Fry till the onion is soft and starting to colour.

Add the cumin, paprika and curry powder and stir to coat the onion and garlic. Add the mince. Make sure you stir it so that it browns evenly and to mash out any clumps! You want the mince to be evenly coated in the spices and onions.

Once the mince is browned, add the lentils, apple chutney and tomatoes. Fill the tin of tomatoes to get any lingering sauce and add that tomato water to the mince, too. Stir until the liquids are fully incorporated. Cover with a lid and allow to simmer until the lentils are soft and mushy.

You want the mince mixture to be luscious and for almost all the water to have evaporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 180 Celsius. Wash the potatoes and finely slice into little disks. Pour the mince mixture into a large roasting dish. Top with the potato slices. Grate a generous amount of cheese, and sprinkle this on top of the potatoes.

Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Top Tips for The Perfect Casserole

1. Frying the onion till it’s starting to brown adds so much flavour. Do not hurry this step!
2. For the best flavour, start your mince mixture in the morning or even the day before, to allow the tomatoes to reduce fully. This will create a sauce that has a rich flavour and thick texture.
3. I do not bother to peel the potatoes, as I quite like the skin (plus am too lazy to peel them!), but by all means you can peel them if you are inclined to do so! The casserole will probably be all the better for it!