Description
This Southern Five Layer Beef Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish featuring layers of thinly sliced russet potatoes, browned lean ground beef, onions, fresh or canned tomatoes, and green bell peppers, all seasoned and baked to perfection. It’s an easy-to-make casserole that melds robust flavors and textures into a satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 3 large russet potatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 large onions, sliced and separated into rings
- 2 large tomatoes, sliced or 1 (15 ounces) can diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 green bell peppers, chopped
Meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and crumbled
Seasonings and Others
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, as needed for drizzling
- Butter or nonstick spray (for greasing the baking dish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the casserole evenly.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter or nonstick spray to prevent the casserole from sticking during baking.
- Layer the Potatoes: Spread a layer of thinly sliced russet potatoes evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes to enhance flavor and prevent drying out.
- Add the Beef Layer: Evenly distribute the browned and crumbled lean ground beef over the potato layer.
- Add the Onion Layer: Spread a layer of sliced onion rings on top of the beef, ensuring an even coverage.
- Add the Tomato Layer: Cover the onions with a layer of sliced fresh tomatoes or spread canned diced tomatoes evenly over the onions.
- Add the Bell Pepper Layer: Top the tomato layer with chopped green bell peppers, adding texture and fresh flavor.
- Season Each Layer: Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper over each layer according to your taste preferences to build a balanced seasoning throughout the casserole.
- Bake the Casserole: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil to retain moisture. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours so the flavors meld and all layers are cooked thoroughly.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing and serving, which helps the casserole set for easy portioning and enhances flavors.
Notes
- Make sure to slice the potatoes thinly for even cooking and texture balance.
- For a richer flavor, you may brown the ground beef with some chopped garlic and spices before layering.
- Substitute green bell peppers with other colored bell peppers if preferred for a sweeter taste.
- Covering the casserole during baking is important to prevent the potatoes from drying out.
- This dish can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated before baking to deepen the flavors.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste layer by layer to avoid over-seasoning.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
