There are certain recipes that feel like they were stitched straight into your childhood. The kind that show up at every family gathering, sit steaming in the center of the table, and somehow taste even better the next day. Dairyland Casserole is one of those recipes for me — the kind of comfort food that doesn’t just fill your stomach, but fills the room with warmth, conversation, and that unmistakable feeling of home.
Ingredients
- 1 lb 450 g ground beef
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes about 4 medium
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter for greasing and topping
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with onion until browned and crumbly. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Drain excess fat.
- Season the beef mixture with salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme. Remove from heat.
- In a bowl, whisk together milk, cream, and flour until smooth.
- Layer half of the sliced potatoes evenly in the baking dish. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Spread the cooked beef mixture evenly over the potatoes. Sprinkle with half of the cheddar cheese.
- Add the remaining potatoes on top. Pour the milk mixture slowly over everything.
- Top with remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Dot the surface with small pieces of butter.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes, until the top is bubbly, golden, and potatoes are fork-tender.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.