5-Ingredient “Poor Man’s” Hearty Dinner
This sounds like the kind of cozy budget meal many families made with simple pantry ingredients. Here’s a delicious version that fits the description perfectly:
Creamy Beef & Potato Bake
Ingredients
1 lb (450g) ground beef
4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 small onion, sliced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional pantry extras
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, or paprika for more flavor.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the beef
In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion until fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Layer the casserole
Grease a baking dish. Add half the sliced potatoes, then half the beef mixture, then a little cheese. Repeat layers.
Add soup
Spread the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the top. You can thin it with a few tablespoons of milk or water if desired.
Bake
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Finish with cheese
Remove foil, top with remaining cheese, and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Why people love it
Extremely filling
Cheap ingredients
Tastes even better the next day
Comfort-food flavor with almost no effort
