Pioneer Woman's Hamburger Potato Casserole

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole is an old-fashioned, comforting and cheesy dish that is easy to prepare and a sure hit with the whole family! The layers of potatoes, beef, veggies, and corn are combined with a creamy cream of mushroom soup sauce and then topped with a cornflake topping for the ultimate cozy meal!

I will try to go through everything you need to know about Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole recipe, so make sure to take a look at all the info provided below as well as the recipe.

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What I Love About This Recipe

Casseroles are always a winner in my book! They’re fun for packing different flavors and ingredients in one easy-to-make dish. Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole recipe is no exception. It has:

A creamy, dreamy sauce.
Beef and potatoes that are cooked to perfection.
It is GREAT for hungry families.
It is easy to clean up.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

Ground beef: It is the “base” that provides the casserole with its main flavor and texture.
Onion and celery: Onion and celery add subtle flavor.
Corn: Gives a sweet pop of flavor to the casserole.
Condensed cream of mushroom soup and condensed cream of celery soup: These soups are the “binder” that holds Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole together and adds flavor.
Milk: It is used to thin the creamy white sauce.
Russet potatoes: Thickens the casserole by acting as an “extender.”
Cheddar cheese: Adding cheese will make the casserole tasty and cheesy!
Corn Flakes cereal: The cereal acts as a crispy, flavorful topping.
Butter: Butter helps the topping become crispy and golden brown.

What Kind of Potatoes Should I Use in Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

Yukon Gold is the best type of potato to use in Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole. The skins are so thin and delicate that you don’t even need to peel them, which saves a lot of time and effort. These potatoes are waxier than russets, which are used for baked potatoes. Due to their waxy texture, they cook up very tender but retain their shape without becoming mushy.

You can really use any type of potato in Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole recipe. However, make sure you cut the potatoes into similar-sized pieces.

Russet potatoes, or baking potatoes, have thicker, tougher skins. Some people find russet potato skins too tough to eat, even though they are packed with vitamins and nutrients. If you use russet potatoes in this recipe, you may want to peel them before you dice them.

Also, russet potatoes can become mushy when cooked for a long time. As a result, the potatoes may break apart during cooking.

Should I Peel The Potatoes?

I prefer my potatoes unpeeled, However, Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole recipe calls for peeled potatoes. As a result, you can either follow me and use unpeeled potatoes or follow Pioneer Woman’s recipe and use peeled potatoes for your version of this casserole.

How Should You Cut Potatoes for Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

You don’t have to boil the potatoes before layering them in the dish. Instead, peel and slice them very thinly (less than 1/4-inch thick) with a knife or with a mandoline slicer so that you can get the job done quickly and easily. Be sure that the potato slices are very thin and even in width so that they cook thoroughly and become tender during baking.

What Should You Serve with Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

This simple Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole goes well with just about any of your favorite sides. Here are a few easy options to try:

Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
Roasted Broccoli
Ramen Noodle Salad
Roasted Asparagus
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Creamed Peas

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole Ahead

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole is an excellent make-ahead meal. You can assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Let the dish sit on the counter for at least 30 minutes before baking so it can come to room temperature.

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole can be frozen before baking. Wrapped tightly, the assembled casserole can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Leftover Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

Recipe Variations

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole recipe can be made with any ground meat. Instead of ground beef, try ground turkey, ground pork or ground chicken.
You can replace the cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup with condensed cream of onion, cream of bacon, or cheddar cheese soup if you prefer.
Hamburger Bacon Potato Casserole: Make the casserole layers even more flavorful by adding crispy chopped bacon.
Add More Veggies: Add crisp-tender steamed, roasted, or sauteed broccoli, green beans, carrots, or even frozen peas to the casserole.
If you use frozen corn kernels instead of canned corn, you don’t have to thaw it before stirring it into the skillet. You’ll need about 1 3/4 cups of corn.
In case you don’t have Corn Flakes, you can use Ritz cracker crumbs or crushed potato chips instead. Bread crumbs aren’t recommended since they’re bland.

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
Crush the Corn Flakes and combine them with melted butter in a small bowl; set aside.
In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, cook the beef, onion, and celery until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the corn and stir it into the beef mixture.
Pour the condensed soups and milk into a bowl and whisk to combine.
Add half of the beef mixture to the baking dish in an even layer. Add half of the potatoes on top, season with salt and pepper, and pour half of the soup mixture on top. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Repeat the layers once more, ending with the cheese.
Cover the casserole with foil and bake it for 1 hour.
Remove the foil from the casserole, sprinkle the buttered Corn Flakes on top, and return to the oven (uncovered) for about 15 minutes more (until the topping is golden brown and the potatoes are tender).
Sprinkle fresh parsley on top of the dish just before serving.

Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole — Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole

Recipe Tips

The baking time will vary depending on the type of casserole dish that you use and how thinly you slice the potatoes. I use a mandoline to quickly and easily slice the potatoes very thinly so that they become tender and evenly cooked after about 70 minutes.
Depending on how thickly you slice the potatoes, you may need to increase the baking time. If the top gets too dark before the potatoes are done, tent the dish loosely with foil.
Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square dish. You can even prepare the full recipe but divide it between two 8-inch pans and freeze one casserole.
Feel free to add another cup of grated cheese to the sauce mixture if you prefer a cheesier casserole. You can use cheddar, American, Monterey Jack, Colby, Gruyere, or Pepper Jack!
If you have fresh herbs on hand (such as parsley, thyme, basil, or oregano), garnish Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole with them for a bright, fresh touch. Sliced green onions also work well.

FAQ Section

Can I use ground chicken or turkey in Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

You can use any ground protein that you prefer for Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole. Just make sure you add enough oil to the pan if you use chicken and turkey, since they have less fat than beef. Additionally, you should taste for seasoning before serving. As beef tends to have a more natural flavor, you may want to add a little more salt, oregano, or pepper if you use chicken or turkey, as they are more delicate. Otherwise, the cooking steps will be the same.

Can Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole be cooked in a slow cooker or crockpot?

Yep! Basically, follow the instructions as they are up until Cooking Step 5. Then, in Cooking Step 5, instead of using a casserole dish, add everything to a slow cooker insert and mix. Cook for 6 to 8 hours, depending on your schedule.

What should I serve as a side with Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole is a warm and hearty dish, so it would be nice to serve with a cool and refreshing side dish, like a simple tomato and cucumber salad with either a Basil Chive Yogurt Dressing or a Honey Mustard Dressing.

How can I reheat Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Potato Casserole?

If you would like to reheat the whole Pioneer Woman Hamburger Potato Casserole, you should cover the dish loosely with foil and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until heated through (about 20 to 30 minutes). However, you can heat individual portions in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.