This easy Meat and Potato Casserole is pure comfort food at its finest. Seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, and a rich, creamy sauce all baked together under a blanket of melted cheese — this is the kind of hearty, wholesome dinner that the whole family will be asking for again and again!
This is one of those recipes that just hits different on a cold weeknight. I literally have all the ingredients on hand pretty much all the time, which makes it one of my go-to dinners when I need something budget-friendly and filling without a whole lot of fuss. It uses simple, humble ingredients and boom — dinner is served!
I love that this is the kind of dish you can throw together ahead of time, pop it in the oven, and walk away. And the leftovers? Absolutely fantastic the next day. This one is right up there with my Baked Ziti and Ground Beef Stroganoff on the comfort food list, and that is saying something!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of potatoes work best for this casserole?
I really like using Yukon Gold potatoes because they have a naturally buttery flavor and they hold their shape well during baking. Russet potatoes also work great and are usually the most budget-friendly option. Just make sure you slice them thin — about ¼ inch — so they cook all the way through. You can also use red potatoes if that’s what you have on hand.
Can I use a different meat?
Absolutely! Ground beef is my go-to here but ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground Italian sausage all work really well in this recipe. Want an extra kick? Try mixing half ground beef with half spicy Italian sausage. So good!
⏱️ Prep Time: 20 mins
🍳 Cook Time: 65 mins
🍽️ Servings: 8 generous portions
🔢 WW Points: 5 Points per serving (Only 3.6 Points if using 99% fat-free ground turkey!)
🛒 Ingredients
1 ½ lbs lean ground beef (96/4) or 99% fat-free ground turkey
1 ½ lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick (about 4 medium potatoes)
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (10.5 oz) Low-Fat / Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup
½ cup beef broth (low sodium)
½ cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt (our secret swap for sour cream!)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt (plus more for layering)
½ tsp black pepper (plus more for layering)
1 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
Nonstick cooking spray
👩🍳 Instructions
1 Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2 Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef (or turkey) and diced onion. Cook until the meat is fully browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Drain any excess grease.
3 Mix the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, fat-free Greek yogurt, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Stir in half of your cooked meat mixture and half of the shredded cheese.
4 Layer the Casserole: Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Season lightly with an extra pinch of salt and pepper. Spread the remaining plain browned meat over the potatoes, then top with the rest of the sliced potatoes.
5 Pour & Bake: Evenly pour the creamy soup and meat mixture over the top layer of potatoes. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
6 Bake: Bake covered for 50–60 minutes, or until the potatoes are completely tender when pierced with a fork.
7 Melty Cheese Finish: Remove the foil, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of reduced-fat cheddar cheese over the top, and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.