Description
Hearty potato and minced meat casserole delivers comfort straight from Eastern European kitchens. Layers of creamy potatoes and seasoned ground beef create a satisfying meal that warms souls and brings families together at the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 500 g / 1.1 lb ground beef
- 2 pieces chicken breast
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1 large onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 0.5 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly oil a casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Carefully slice potatoes into thin, consistent rounds. Finely chop onion, mince garlic, and dice red bell pepper into small, uniform pieces.
- Heat skillet over medium-high heat and brown ground beef, breaking it into crumbly texture for about 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate onions, garlic, and red bell pepper into the beef. Sauté until vegetables become tender and release aromatic flavors, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Blend tomato paste, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano into the meat mixture, ensuring even seasoning distribution.
- Pour beef broth into skillet, allowing the liquid to simmer and develop a rich, concentrated sauce.
- Create the first potato layer in casserole dish, covering the bottom with half of the potato rounds in an even, slightly overlapping arrangement.
- Distribute the seasoned beef mixture uniformly across the potato base, ensuring complete and consistent coverage.
- Complete the casserole by layering remaining potato slices on top, arranging them in an attractive, slightly overlapping pattern.
- Generously sprinkle grated cheddar cheese over the potato surface, creating a golden, melty topping.
- Cover casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes to allow flavors to meld and potatoes to soften.
- Uncover and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until potato edges turn crisp and golden, and cheese melts completely.
- Remove from oven and let casserole rest for 10 minutes to set. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for the best texture and even cooking.
- Pat potato slices dry with paper towels to prevent excess moisture and achieve crispy edges.
- Consider pre-boiling potato slices for 2-3 minutes to reduce overall baking time and ensure tender potatoes.
- For a leaner version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Enhance flavor by adding smoked paprika or cumin to the meat mixture for extra depth.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like mozzarella or gruyère for varied taste profiles.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free tomato paste and checking beef broth ingredients.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-60 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg