Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin Recipe
This Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin is a comforting and hearty casserole featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, thinly sliced russet potatoes, savory onions, and a rich cheddar cheese sauce. Perfect for an effortless family dinner, this dish combines the convenience of slow cooking with classic au gratin flavors for a creamy, cheesy, and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Layer
- 2 pounds ground beef
Potato Layer
- 3 pounds peeled russet potatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick (about 7 cups total)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup thinly sliced onion
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup beef broth
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Mix Seasonings: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper thoroughly to create the seasoning blend.
- Layer Potatoes: Add half of the sliced potatoes evenly into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add Cheese Soup: Pour the condensed cheddar cheese soup evenly over the potato layer and mix gently to coat the potatoes.
- Add Onions, Seasonings, and Meat: Sprinkle half of the sliced onions over the potatoes, then evenly distribute half of the seasoning mixture, half of the browned ground beef, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat layering with the remaining potatoes, cheese soup (if any left), onions, seasoning, ground beef, and cheese to form a second layer.
- Add Broth: Drizzle the beef broth evenly over the top of the layered casserole.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 4 hours, or until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: After cooking, carefully scoop portions onto plates and serve hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- For best results, slice potatoes evenly to ensure uniform cooking.
- You can substitute reduced-fat cheddar cheese and soup for a lighter version.
- Be sure to brown and drain the ground beef well to avoid excess grease in the casserole.
- If your slow cooker runs hot, check for doneness at 3.5 hours to prevent overcooking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or oven.
Keywords: slow cooker beef au gratin, slow cooker potatoes and beef, crockpot beef and potato casserole, cheesy beef potato bake
