Recipe: Scalloped Potato and ground beef casserole recipe

 I found a new recipe on Pinterest.  It has kind of a boring name and I'm not usually very creative but I will try.  Maybe in a couple months I will think of a better name for it.

This was a recipe that Derek loved.

TOTAL TIME

INGREDIENTSNutrition

SERVINGS 8UNITS US

• 1 1⁄2lbs ground beef (or use bulk Italian sausage meat, can increase the ground beef slightly)
• 1medium onion, chopped
• 1small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
• 4garlic cloves, finely chopped (or to taste)
• 1⁄2teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes (adjust to taste) (optional)
• 1teaspoon seasoning salt (or to taste) or 1⁄2 teaspoon white salt(or to taste)
• 1⁄2teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
• 5 -6russet potatoes (peeled and sliced thinly, or use as many as desired)
• 2cups shredded cheddar cheese (or to taste)

• SAUCE

• 2(10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted (using any other flavor of soup will not be as good)
• 1small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
• 3⁄4light cream
• 1⁄2cup sour cream
• 1⁄4cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄2teaspoon seasoning salt
• fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion, bell pepper and chili flakes (if using) until no longer pink; drain fat over a colander.
2. Return to pan and add in garlic, season salt and black pepper; cook stirring with a wooden spoon until the meat is lightly browned (I usually add in about 1-2 tablespoons bacon fat that I keep frozen in my freezer to the meat while browning for added flavor and it also helps to brown the meat) set aside.
3. For the sauce; in a medium bowl mix together the undiluted soup with onion, milk, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, seasoned salt and black pepper to taste; mix well to combine.
4. In a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish or a large oval casserole dish, alternately layer the sliced potatoes on bottom of the baking dish, then soup mixture (I like to sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top of the soup mixture) then the ground beef mixture on top.
5. Since this is a large casserole I strongly suggest to place the baking dish on a jelly-roll sheet in case of any spills.
6. Bake covered with foil for about 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
7. Uncover and continue baking for another 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender (baking time will vary depending on the thickness of your sliced potatoes).
8. Remove from oven then sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese; return to oven for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

***I used sausage and next time will subsitute the green peppers with corn.  Derek likes corn a lot better.  ****I also cut the potatoes in scaloped size and cooked them in boiling water for about 10 minutes so the baking didn't take so long and I knew that everything would be cooked.    So I ended up baking for only about 20 minutes.  Derek doesn't like too much sauce but I LOVE sauce so we just dish his portion up with less sauce***