Old-fashioned Potato-beef Casserole

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3 lbs red potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs

Recipe

• 1 place the potatoes in a large saucepan with water to cover by 1 inch.
• 2 add a generous pinch of salt and cook for 15 minutes, or until tender; do not overcook.
• 3 drain the potatoes and arrange them in a 9 x 9 inch casserole dish.
• 4 while potatoes are cooking, in large skillet, combine the beef and onion and cook together over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion softened, 12-15 minutes.
• 5 pour off excess fat.
• 6 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 7 melt the butter in a medium saucepan and whisk in flour to make a roux.
• 8 cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and the flour turns light brown in color.
• 9 gradually whisk in the milk and continue to stir while cooking over medium heat.
• 10 when the mixture thickens, whisk in the salt and pepper, then stir in the cheese and browned beef.
• 11 pour the ground beef mixture over the potatoes and bake the casserole for 20 minutes until heated through and bubbling.
• 12 stir the casserole gently.
• 13 sprinkle a little more cheddar cheese on top, if desired, and the bread crumbs on top of the casserole and bake until the crumbs are toasted, about 5 minutes longer.