Quick and Easy Scalloped Potatoes with Ground Beef and Bacon
Ingredients:
- 1 box scalloped potatoes
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of potato soup
- 1 package bacon (8-12 slices)
- 1-2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Colby-Jack, or your favorite)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Additional seasonings (such as garlic powder, paprika, or your favorite seasoning blend)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the Ground Beef:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it’s no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet and continue to cook until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Season the beef and onion mixture with salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings you prefer.
- Once fully cooked, drain the excess fat from the skillet.
- Prepare the Beef Mixture:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground beef and onion mixture with the can of cream of potato soup. Stir until well mixed and set aside.
- Assemble the Scalloped Potatoes:
- In a 13×9 inch baking dish, spread the uncooked scalloped potatoes evenly across the bottom.
- In a separate bowl, prepare the sauce mix from the scalloped potatoes box according to the package instructions (this typically involves combining the sauce mix with a certain amount of water, milk, or both).
- Spread the beef and cream of potato mixture evenly over the scalloped potatoes in the baking dish.
- Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the top, ensuring it covers everything evenly.
- Bake:
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
- Cook the Bacon:
- While the casserole is baking, cut the bacon into small pieces.
- In a separate skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until they are crispy. This usually takes about 7-10 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove the bacon pieces and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add Toppings and Finish Baking:
- After the initial 25 minutes of baking, remove the baking dish from the oven.
- Sprinkle the cooked bacon pieces evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the bacon and casserole.
- Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
- Enjoy your quick and easy scalloped potatoes with ground beef and bacon!
Feel free to adjust the seasonings and cheese amount to your taste. Enjoy your meal!