Hamburger Pie Casserole

Like most casseroles, hamburger pie casserole (or cheeseburger pie casserole if you opt for plenty of cheddar cheese) is quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The mashed potato crust can be as simple as boxed potato flakes, leftover mashed potatoes, or freshly made potatoes.

It's a great variation to cottage pie or shepherd's pie but you can try any of my ground beef casseroles for more satisfying dinners.

🥘 Ingredients

• Ground Beef - I like 80/20 ground chuck for most 'hamburger' recipes. This casserole is very forgiving, though! Use what you have. You could even try it with ground turkey for a lighter option or plant-based ground beef for an 'Impossible' cheeseburger pie.
• Onion - Finely minced yellow or white onion for flavor. Use 1 teaspoon onion powder if you don't have onion on hand.
• Green Beans - Use 2 16-ounce cans of green beans, drained, or use approximately 1½ to 2 pounds fresh green beans, or two 16-ounce bags of thawed frozen green beans.
• Tomato Sauce - The tomato sauce is flexible. You could also use condensed tomato soup, tomato paste, or any of these tomato Sauce substitutes that sound tasty.
• Salt & Pepper - With just a little salt and pepper to taste, this casserole has plenty of flavor. Opt for my homemade steak seasoning or use my seasoned salt to boost the flavor.
• Worcestershire Sauce - Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, or you could try one of my Worcestershire sauce substitutes.
• Cheddar Cheese - Shredded sharp cheddar is my preference. Cheese you grate yourself melts much better, although pre-shredded cheese will work ok if you're looking for something quick.
• Mashed Potatoes - Use my creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes recipe like I did, or use your favorite mashed potatoes or instant mashed potatoes. You'll need roughly 5-6 cups of potatoes.

🔪 How To Make Hamburger Pie

You’ll need a large skillet or frying pan, a casserole or baking dish (1.5-quart or 9x13), a mixing spoon, and a potato masher if making mashed potatoes from scratch.

This recipe makes about 6 servings, with each portion being a generous scoop from the baking dish.

Make the Mashed Potatoes

Prepare the potatoes. If you haven’t prepared your mashed potatoes yet, do that first. You can use any of my mashed potato recipes, or prepare boxed potato flakes according to the package instructions. Set aside.

Cook the Beef Mixture

Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 5) and lightly grease your casserole dish or baking pan.

Cook the beef and onions. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 pound of ground beef (photo 1) and ½ cup of minced onion (photo 2). Sauté onions and cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart with your spoon as it cooks (photo 3) , about 8–10 minutes. Drain any excess grease.

Seasoning, sauce, and green beans. Season the cooked beef with ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper (photo 4), then stir in 2 cups of drained green beans and 1 cup of tomato sauce (photo 5). Let the mixture warm through for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Assemble the Casserole

Layer the ingredients. Transfer the beef mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly to create the base layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the top in mounds (photo 6), then use the back of a spoon or spatula to spread them into an even layer (photo 7). Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the potatoes (photo 8).

Bake & Serve

Bake, cool, and serve. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden (photo 9), and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Remove from the oven, let it cool for 5 minutes, then serve hot.

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• Casseroles are versatile and great for using up food, that means that you have flexibility in your ground beef, green bean, and mashed potato amounts.
• Try out different flavor combinations. Try adding a tablespoon of horseradish for a bold, mouthwatering twist. Add mushrooms (as I did in the original recipe video), green peas, corn, or diced carrots. It's a hard recipe to mess up.
• Easy freezer meal. Assemble the casserole but skip baking it, then freeze it for later. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and bake as directed.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Keep any leftover hamburger pie casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheating

Warm individual portions in the microwave in 30-second increments until heated through. For larger portions, cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) for roughly 20 minutes, or until hot in the center.

Freezing

Cooked leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months and reheated in the oven. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating as explained above.

📖 Recipe Card

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