North Dakota Potato & Ground Beef Casserole

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

A hearty, one-pot casserole featuring tender potatoes and savory ground beef in a creamy sauce, baked to golden perfection — a true taste of the Midwest. This American one-pot recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs ground beef, russet potatoes, and yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Build a week of meals around this recipe" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into small pieces with a wooden spoon (5-7 minutes), then drain excess fat. Add 1 large yellow onion, finely diced, and 2 cloves garlic, minced, and cook for 2 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in 1 cup beef broth and 1/2 cup whole milk until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (3-4 minutes).
3. Step 3: Add 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes, along with 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir to combine, then transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden.