Cheesy Hamburger Casserole

Preheat oven to 350F.

Lightly butter or spray a 2 1/2 quart covered casserole dish (I use the 9×13 Stoneware pan from Pampered Chef.

In a medium saute pan, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter. Add in onions and saute until transluscent. Add in garlic and stir for one minute. Add in ground beef breaking up and cooking until just lightly browned. Remove pan from heat and drain the grease. Return the pan over low heat and add in worcestershire sauce and your seasoning blend. Stir for 2 minutes to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.

Next make the yummy cheesy sauce. Melt 3 Tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 3 Tablespoons of flour, the salt and pepper and ground mustard. Stir quickly to blend. Add 2 cups milk; stir with whisk to incorporate the butter/flour mixture. Reduce heat to medium, stir till thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add in the worcestershire sauce and hot sauce (to your taste)

In your prepared casserole dish, place a layer of raw sliced potatoes, top with a third of the hamburger mixture. Salt and pepper to taste (it kind of depends on how salty your cheese sauce is – you can always salt it later if it needs it). Top with 1/3 of the cheese sauce.

Repeat layering of potato slices and hamburger mixture (and salt and pepper if desired) topping with cheese sauce. I usually get 3 layers.

Cover with foil and place in oven. Bake for about 1 hour, till potatoes are starting to get tender. Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes so the top starts to brown.

*Alternates: I also use this as Mac & Cheese by replacing the potatoes with a pound of cooked elbow mac, layer it the same with the cheese sauce and hamburger mixture. If I am really adventurous I fry up a 1/2 pound of bacon and crumble that in with the hamburger mixture. Remember, this is your dinner – MAKE IT YOUR OWN!! The possibilities are endless . . .