Hamburger and Hash Brown Casserole Is My From-Scratch Funeral Potatoes With Ground Beef

There are nights when you need dinner to feel like a hug, not a project. The kind of night when everyone drops their bags, sighs a little, and you can tell they need comfort food more than they need something fancy.

That is where this hamburger and hash brown casserole comes in. It tastes like the hash brown casseroles that show up at church potlucks and funeral luncheons, but with seasoned ground beef and a quick-from-scratch cheese sauce instead of canned soup. Same cozy flavor, a little extra care.

A serving spoon holds up cheesy ground beef and noodle casserole topped with crispy potato chips, with a plate of the casserole beneath and a baking dish in the background. this for later
You will love this hamburger and hash brown casserole because it gives you from scratch flavor without fussy steps, bakes up into a creamy, cheesy hash brown and ground beef casserole that actually feels special
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I pull this out for small group, meal trains, and those Sundays when I want lunch ready to pop in the oven the minute we walk in the door. (Yes, you can make this ahead) If you’re ever coordinating meals for someone who needs to feel cared for, How To Start A Meal Train is a helpful read.

It stirs together in one pot, bakes in a 13 x 9 dish, and easily feeds a crowd. Even my grandkids love this, probably because it’s topped with potato chips. 😅 They get creamy potatoes, savory hamburger, plenty of cheese, and a salty potato chip crunch on top. And listen, if you’ve got extra chips on the counter (because we all do), stir up Quick Creamy Sour Cream Dip and call it your “cook’s snack” while the casserole finishes.

If you have been hunting for a comforting hamburger hash brown casserole that feels like the classic Southern funeral potatoes with ground beef, this is what you want.

Ingredients for a casserole recipe arranged on a light surface, including shredded cheese, ground beef, chopped onions, hash browns, potato chips, broth, cream, spices, flour, butter, and cream cheese.
This casserole hits all the cozy funeral-potatoes vibes with ground beef. It feeds a generous crowd so you can serve your people with one pan, and still uses simple, budget-wise ingredients you can grab at any grocery store.

Key Ingredients

Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, jump to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Hamburger: One pound of ground beef. I like 80/20 or 85/15. You will drain the fat, so you get good flavor without a greasy casserole.
  • Onions: One cup of finely chopped onion. Yellow or sweet both work. Frozen chopped onion is a perfectly fine shortcut on a busy day.
  • Half and half: One cup of half and half for a rich, creamy base. Whole milk will work if that is what you have. This is not the night for skim..
  • Monterey Jack cheese: Two cups of shredded Monterey Jack. It melts smooth and creamy and gives you that stretchy, comforting texture in every bite.
  • Frozen shredded hash brown potatoes: Any brand will do. They go in frozen and soften in the warm sauce before baking.
  • Sour cream: One half cup of sour cream stirred in at the end for tang and that familiar funeral potatoes flavor.
  • Potato chips: Four cups of crushed potato chips. Use your favorite plain chips for a salty, crunchy topping that tastes like every old church cookbook in one pan.

Smart Substitutions

If you are working with what you have, because you don’t want to make a grocery store run, you have options. Swap some or all of the Monterey Jack for sharp cheddar if your crew likes a stronger cheese flavor. Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter but still cozy dinner. Frozen cubed hash browns work in place of shredded; the texture will just be a little chunkier. To keep things gluten-free, reach for a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend.

Hamburger and Hash Brown Casserole Essentials

And if you want something to nibble on while this casserole bakes (because 45 minutes can feel long when everybody is hungry), set out Cream Cheese Pepper Jelly Dip (Easy Make-Ahead Appetizer). It’s the kind of “little something” that makes an ordinary weeknight feel warm and welcoming.

How To Make Hamburger and Hash Brown Casserole

1

A green Dutch oven with sautéed chopped onions sits next to a black skillet filled with cooked ground beef on a light countertop.
Cook the hamburger over medium heat until browned, drain the fat, then in a dutch oven melt the butter and sauté the onions until soft and translucent.

2

A pot filled with creamy soup sits on a trivet, surrounded by a skillet of cooked ground beef, a bowl of shredded cheese, and a bowl of frozen hash browns on a white surface.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook for about 1 minute, then whisk in the broth and half and half, add the salt, thyme, and pepper, and simmer until slightly thickened before stirring in the cheese. Stir in the frozen hash browns and cooked hamburger until coated, then cook on low until the potatoes are thawed.

🛑 Tip: Wait to add the sour cream until the pot is off the heat so it stays smooth and creamy instead of curdling in a bubbling-hot sauce. Gentle heat keeps the sauce velvety instead of turning grainy.

3

A casserole dish filled with a creamy mixture topped halfway with crumbled ridged potato chips, with a small bowl of additional potato chips beside it on a light-colored surface.
Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Scrape the mixture into the dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle the crushed potato chips evenly over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes.

4

A rectangular baking dish filled with a casserole topped with crushed ridged potato chips. A bowl of chips, two stacked plates with forks, and a black-and-white checkered napkin are nearby on a light surface.
You can have a little fun with the topping and use flavored potato chips here, too, like sour cream and onion, BBQ, or cheddar. Just know they’ll add their own salty twist to every bite.

Make It Ahead: You can assemble this casserole up to 2 days ahead. Spread the potato and hamburger mixture into the baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate. When you are ready to bake, remove it from the fridge while the oven heats, bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncover, add the crushed potato chips, and continue baking 45 to 50 minutes, until hot and golden.

Variations and Recipe Tips

Once you know the base, this cheesy hamburger hash brown casserole is very easy to tweak for whoever is coming to the table.

Add a couple of cups of frozen peas and carrots, corn, or mixed vegetables with the hash browns if you want more color and veggies baked right in. Use half Monterey Jack and half sharp cheddar for a stronger flavor that leans even closer to funeral potatoes with ground beef. Swap the potato chips for crushed butter crackers, panko breadcrumbs, or French fried onions if that is what is already open in the pantry.

If you know someone needs dinner as much as you do, double the recipe and bake it in two dishes. Serve one at home and deliver the other to a family who needs to feel taken care of. And always remember to let the finished casserole rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. It will still be warm and creamy but will hold together on the plate instead of sliding into a cheesy heap.

Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen hash browns?

You can. Grate russet potatoes on the large holes of a box grater, then rinse and pat them very dry before adding them to the sauce. Fresh potatoes release more starch, so the casserole may be a bit thicker and may need a few extra minutes in the oven.

A baking dish filled with a casserole topped with crinkled potato chips, with one serving on a white plate nearby. A small bowl of chips, a checkered cloth, and utensils are also visible.
Hamburger and hash brown casserole with creamy potatoes, ground beef, and a crunchy chip topping, perfect make-ahead comfort food for family or church suppers.

A Simple Way to Practice Hospitality

A pan of funeral potatoes with ground beef is not fancy, but when you show up at someone’s door with a warm, creamy casserole in your hands, you are reminding them that they are cared for and loved.

If you make this recipe, consider making two pans and a side of Creamy Cucumber Onion Salad for something cool and fresh next to all that cheesy comfort

Keep one for your table, then pray about who might need the other one. A widow eating alone. A family in treatment. New parents who are running on fumes. Let God bring a name to mind, then text to say you are leaving dinner on their porch, and add a simple note.

When you make it, come back and tell me how you served it and who you shared it with. I would love to cheer you on.

This is one of those recipes that feeds a crowd, travels well, and makes people feel cared for, all without making you feel stretched thin. If you have any questions about making this recipe, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help! You can also snap a photo and tag @intentionalhospitality on Instagram.💛 I love seeing your creations!

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A rectangular casserole dish filled with a baked hash brown casserole topped with crispy potato chips, with a portion served on a white plate nearby. A checkered cloth and forks are beside the dish.
5 from 1 rating
by Gina Dickson

Cheesy Hamburger and Hash Brown Casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
This hamburger and hash brown casserole is my from-scratch take on funeral potatoes with ground beef, oszing with a creamy, cheesy center and crunchy chip topping. I enjoy making it when I need an easy, make-ahead pan of comfort to feed family, small group, or a friend who needs dinner handled.

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Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound hamburger
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup onions, white or yellow work great, chopped fine
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1 ¾ teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups monterey jack
  • 8 cups hash brown potatoes, frozen shredded
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 4 cups potato chips, crushed

Instructions
 

Cook the Hamburger

  • Cook the hamburger in a skillet over medium heat until fully browned.
    1 pound hamburger
  • Drain off excess fat and set aside.

Prepare the Oven and Base

  • Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    4 tablespoons butter
  • Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
    1 cup onions

Build the Sauce

  • Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 1 minute.
    ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, half-and-half, salt, thyme, and pepper.
    1 ½ cups chicken broth, 1 cup half-and-half, 1 ¾ teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
  • Simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and whisk in the cheese until smooth.
    2 cups monterey jack

Add Potatoes and Hamburger

  • Stir the frozen hash brown potatoes and cooked hamburger into the sauce.
    8 cups hash brown potatoes
  • Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are thawed, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream until fully combined.
    ½ cup sour cream

Bake

  • Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick spray and then scrape the mixture into the dish.
  • Sprinkle the crushed potato chips evenly over the top.
    4 cups potato chips
  • Bake until golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Gina’s Notes and Tips

Storage, Freezing, Reheating Instructions

Room temperature: For food safety, do not let the casserole sit out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. At church events I like to quietly set a timer so I remember to tuck leftovers into the fridge instead of getting distracted by conversation.
Refrigerator: Cover the cooled casserole tightly in the baking dish or transfer leftovers to airtight containers. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. The flavors settle in even more and the texture stays creamy.
You can also assemble the unbaked casserole up to 2 days ahead. Spread the potato mixture in the baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.
Freezer: For the best texture, freeze it unbaked. Assemble the casserole through spreading it in the baking dish and skip the potato chip topping for now. Wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Label and freeze for up to 2 months.
When you are ready to bake, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator. Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, then uncover, add the crushed potato chips, and continue baking 45 to 50 minutes, until hot and golden.
Reheating: For the best texture, reheat leftover hamburger hashbrown casserole in the oven. Place the casserole in an oven safe dish, cover loosely with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, until warmed through.
For single servings, reheat in the microwave in 30 second bursts until hot. If you want that crunch back, sprinkle on a few fresh chips after heating.

Make Ahead

The potato mixture can be refrigerated in the baking dish, covered with aluminum foil, for up to 2 days.
To finish, bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncover, top with potato chips, and continue baking until golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 621kcal, Carbohydrates: 80g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 1139mg, Potassium: 1117mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 345IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 320mg, Iron: 4mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Comfort Food, dinner, Main Course
Author: Gina Dickson
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A plate of cheesy casserole with ground beef, topped with crispy potato chips, sits on a light blue plate. A serving spoon lifts a portion above the plate. A checkered cloth and blue dish are in the background.