Ground Beef Baked Potatoes

Ground beef baked potatoes are a hearty and comforting meal made with potatoes, juicy ground beef, onions, cream, parmesan cheese, and a blend of spices. It is easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend gathering.

This Ground Beef Potato Bake is a hearty, filling dish that’s great on its own or with a simple salad on the side for a bit more balance.

What I love about this recipe is how you can play around with it. Feel like adding more veggies? Toss in some bell peppers or carrots. Want a bit of a kick? Spice it up with extra seasonings or chili flakes. If you’re watching the dairy, swap out the cream for a non-dairy option.

Whether it’s a casual dinner or something a bit more special, this dish is a crowd-pleaser.

Ready to give it a go?

🥘 Ingredients and Substitutes

• Potatoes. If you want a healthier option, you could use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.
• Ground Beef. You can replace it with another type of minced meat. Such as pork, chicken, or turkey.
• Onions. I used onions to give extra taste and juiciness to the meat. Besides the onion, instead of the onions, you could use grated carrot, pumpkin, leeks, or cabbage.
• Olive Oil. If you use fatty meat, you can omit the oil.
• Cream. I used 18% single cream. You could replace it with milk or heavy cream (36% fat).
• Broth. I used beef broth, but you can replace it with another type of broth you prefer or substitute it with water.
• Seasonings. I used a simple mix of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. You could also add any other spices that you like to use in combination with the meat and potatoes. Some recommendations would be cumin, paprika, chili flakes, dried oregano, or rosemary.
• Cheese. I used freshly shredded Parmesan cheese to add an extra crust and flavor. If you don’t have parmesan cheese at hand, you could replace it with another type of cheese that you like when baking.

👩‍🍳 Step-by-step Directions

First up, chop your onions really fine. Grab a big bowl to mix the meat with those onions and all the spices. Toss the ground meat in there, add the onions, the spices, and half the salt (½ teaspoon).

Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over it, mix everything well, and let it sit to marinate.

Now, onto the potatoes. Slice them up into even ⅓” thick pieces. Throw them in a bowl with a tablespoon of olive oil and ¼ teaspoon of salt, and give them a good toss to coat.

Oil a casserole dish to keep everything from sticking. When you lay out the potatoes and meat, try to get each slice of potato touching some meat for the best flavor. I stood mine up vertically for a bit of a different look.

Quick Note: I used a casserole with a diameter of 8 inches.

Pour the broth on top of the potatoes and ground beef.

Right after that, pour the single cream.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep the top from burning and to bake everything evenly. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 40 minutes.

Then, take off the foil and let it go for another 15 minutes to get those potatoes nice and crispy on top.

Finish by sprinkling shredded parmesan over the top and pop it back in the oven just until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

What you get are beautifully browned potatoes with a cheesy crust.

Serve them as is, or with a salad on the side for a complete meal.

🏆 Expert Tips. What to Pay Attention To?

• When picking potatoes, Russet potatoes are a solid choice, but really, any type will do. Just make sure to slice them thin and evenly so they cook through at the same pace.
• If you’re swapping in sweet potatoes or using chicken or turkey instead of beef, cut down the cooking time since they tend to cook up quicker.
• Ovens can be tricky and vary a bit, so keep an eye on your dish. You’re aiming for tender potatoes with cheese that’s melted and turned a nice golden brown.
• Dig into the Ground Beef Potato Bake as soon as it comes out of the oven to enjoy it at its cheesy, piping-hot best.

♻️ Make Ahead, Storage, and Heating:

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