My aunt made this for Sunday supper and it completely steals the show every time. It is perfectly fork tender and takes just 4 ingredients.

This oven baked 4-ingredient ground beef and potato casserole is the kind of Sunday supper my Midwestern aunts built their reputations on: cozy, unfussy, and surprisingly elegant for how little effort it takes. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes and well-seasoned ground beef bake together in a simple cream of mushroom sauce, turning fork-tender and richly savory under a blanket of melted cheddar. It’s a classic church-basement style casserole—born from pantry staples and busy weekends—that somehow always steals the show from everything else on the table.

Serve this casserole hot, straight from the glass baking dish, with something fresh and crisp on the side to balance the richness—think a simple green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or some steamed green beans with a squeeze of lemon. Warm dinner rolls or crusty bread are great for catching the extra sauce in the bottom of the dish. If you’d like a little more color, add a side of roasted carrots or a quick cucumber salad for contrast. A light-bodied red wine or an iced tea fits right in with this homestyle, Sunday-supper feel.

Servings: 6

1 1/2 pounds russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced (about 1/8 inch)

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray or a thin film of oil. Using a glass dish helps you see the layers and promotes even browning along the sides.

Prep the potatoes by scrubbing them well and slicing them into thin rounds, about 1/8 inch thick. You can peel them if you prefer a smoother texture, but leaving the skins on adds a bit of rustic character and saves time. Aim for even thickness so everything cooks at the same rate and turns fork-tender.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble in the ground beef. Season generously with salt and pepper as it cooks. Brown the beef, breaking it into small crumbles, until no pink remains and most of the moisture has cooked off, 7–9 minutes. Drain off excess fat if there is a lot; you want the beef flavorful but not greasy.

In a medium bowl, stir the condensed cream of mushroom soup just to loosen it. You’re not adding water or milk here—the concentrated soup will melt into the beef and potatoes as they bake, creating a rich, clinging sauce that keeps everything moist.

Build the first layer: Spread half of the sliced potatoes in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared glass baking dish, overlapping slightly like shingles. Season this layer lightly with salt and pepper; this is important so the potatoes themselves are well seasoned all the way through.

Scatter half of the browned ground beef evenly over the potatoes. Spoon half of the cream of mushroom soup over the beef in small dollops, then gently spread it so it roughly covers the surface. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it will melt and settle in the oven.

Repeat the layering with the remaining potatoes, another light sprinkle of salt and pepper, the rest of the ground beef, and the remaining cream of mushroom soup. Gently spread the top layer of soup so most of the potatoes and beef are covered; exposed bits will brown nicely.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45–55 minutes, until the potatoes are mostly tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Keeping it covered at this stage traps steam, which is what makes the potatoes and beef become perfectly fork-tender instead of drying out.

Remove the foil and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for a final touch. Return the uncovered casserole to the oven and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the edges are starting to brown and caramelize.

For extra color and flavor, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar over the top and switch the oven to broil for 1–3 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is spotty golden brown and the top looks deeply savory. This is what gives you that browned, photo-worthy finish with roasted-looking potatoes peeking through.

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for at least 10–15 minutes before serving. This short rest allows the bubbling sauce to settle and thicken slightly, so each scoop holds together and you can see the layers of potato, beef, and cheese. Serve warm, straight from the glass baking dish, with plenty of big spoons for generous, show-stealing portions.

To keep the spirit of a 4-ingredient casserole, think of these as optional tweaks rather than requirements. For a slightly lighter version, use leaner ground beef and a reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup; you can also cut back the cheese to 1 1/2 cups total and still get a lovely browned top. If you prefer a bit more onion flavor without adding a fifth main ingredient, choose a cream of mushroom soup labeled “with roasted garlic” or “with onion” to build in that extra depth. For a cheesier, stretchier topping, swap half the cheddar for mozzarella or Monterey Jack. If you like a little crunch, broil an extra minute or two to get deeper browning on the cheese, or sprinkle a small handful of crushed plain potato chips over the top for the last few minutes of baking (this technically adds an ingredient, but it’s a very classic Midwestern move). To make this ahead, assemble the casserole up to the point of baking, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; add 10–15 minutes to the covered bake time if starting from cold. Leftovers reheat well in the oven at 325°F, covered, until warmed through, and the flavors often deepen by the next day.