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Slow Cooker Layered Hamburger Casserole

This slow cooker layered hamburger casserole is a one-pot meal that is easy and delicious. It’s hearty enough to satisfy even the hungriest family member.

Ground beef is a natural main ingredient for any Crock Pot meal. It blends well with so many other ingredients and adds a rich flavor and texture to whatever you cook it with.

Crock Pot and a plate with layered hamburger casserole

I used my 6 quart Crock Pot for this dinner. However, if you’re making a smaller amount, you may use a 3 quart slow cooker.

Crock Pot Meals

Ever since I got my first slow cooker, I’ve been hooked. After all, what else works so hard for so little effort on your part?

As with most of my Crock Pot meals, all I had to do was a very small amount of prep work, put everything into the pot, and turn it on. Come suppertime, dinner is ready.

I make a variety of slow cooker meals. One of our other favorites is this chicken stroganoff. It has the same basic flavor as its beef counterpart. So if you like one, chances are, you’ll like the other.

We also like these slow cooker ranch pork chops. Granted, this isn’t a one-pot meal, but it’s so delicious that you can keep the side dishes very simple.

Another slow cooker meal we like is this chili con carne. This one is perfect for dinner at the end of a long, cold day. However, I actually like it any time of year.

Slow Cooker Layered Hamburger Casserole Ingredients

This list of ingredients is flexible, so you can swap out anything you don’t care for. Then, substitute what you do like.

ground beef, onion, and rice

What you’ll need:

  • 1 pound of your favorite ground beef
  • 1 medium onion cut into strips
  • 1/3 cup of uncooked white rice
  • 2 cups of diced potatoes
  • One 15-ounce can of red kidney beans, drained
  • One 15-ounce can of tomato sauce
  • 2/3 cup of water
  • One 15-ounce can of green beans, drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
  • Splash of Worcestershire sauce (approximately 1 tablespoon or more if you like)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (I use about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper)
diced potatoes, tomato sauce, and kidney beans

I’ve noticed that some cans of beans and tomato sauce are 14.5 ounces or 16 ounces. That’s fine because in this case, it doesn’t have to be exact.

If you prefer more onions, rice, or potatoes, go ahead and add them. Also remember to add more liquid if you do so they’ll cook properly.

Any kind of canned beans will work in this recipe. For example, if you have great northern beans, you can use those instead of kidney beans.

You can also adjust the seasonings to taste.

Worcestershire sauce, green beans, chili powder, salt, and pepper

You can substitute or add sliced carrots, broccoli, or any of your favorite vegetables if you want.

Another thing that I sometimes do is add a dash of cinnamon to punch up the flavor a bit. You don’t need much … just about 1/4 teaspoon will give it that extra oomph your family will love.

How to Make a Layered Hamburger Casserole

First, brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet.

Drain the grease.

raw ground beef and onions in a skillet

I use 85% lean grass-fed beef, so there’s always a little bit of fat.

However, if you use leaner ground beef, you might need to add some fat to the skillet to keep it from burning and sticking.

Spray the bottom of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. This makes cleanup so much easier.

Next, pour the browned ground beef and onions into the bottom of the skillet. This makes the bottom layer of the casserole.

Cooked meat and onions provide a foundation for the slow cooker layered hamburger casserole

Add the uncooked rice on top of the ground beef mixture. I use my hands and sprinkle it evenly over the top.

Next, pour the diced potatoes over the rice. I prefer a single layer of potatoes, but you can add more if you like.

If you only want potatoes and no rice, double the amount of potatoes. Or if you want just rice, double the rice and eliminate the potatoes.

Remember that this is your recipe, so make it however you want.

Now back to the recipe. Add the kidney beans in the next layer.

Pour the green beans over the kidney beans.

Now pour the tomato sauce over everything.

Splash the Worcestershire sauce over all of the layers.

Pour the water and sprinkle the chili powder over everything. 

Finally, salt and pepper the casserole to suit your family’s taste.

All of the ingredients in the layered hamburger casserole in the slow cooker

Pop the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. It’s ready when the potatoes and rice are done.

You can serve this delicious casserole with a side salad and bread. Or you can serve it all by itself because it’s a complete meal and very filling.

hamburger casserole in a Crock Pot and on a plate

It also makes wonderful leftovers. Store whatever you have left in an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator or freezer.

This casserole should last for up to a week in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. It will probably be good longer than that, but I tend to be extra cautious with what I recommend.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

Not only do I enjoy main dishes cooked in my Crock Pot, but I also like to use the slow cooker for sides and soups.

One of my husband’s favorite Crock Pot sides is this baked beans dish. It’s super easy and always comes out tasting delicious.

We love all kinds of homemade soup. One of our favorites is this warm and oh-so satisfying potato soup. I add a little bacon for extra flavor.

My friend Julie has posted a recipe for Crock Pot beef and noodles on her Back to My Southern Roots blog. This one is on my list of must-try recipes.

Another delicious main dish that I make in the slow cooker is this sweet chili chicken. You can use any part of the chicken, but we’re partial to the thighs because of their depth of flavor.

Yield: 8 servings

Slow Cooker Layered Hamburger Casserole

Serving of hamburger casserole

This delicious layered hamburger casserole is the perfect meal for a bunch of hungry people.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 1 medium onion cut into strips
  • 1/3 cup of uncooked white rice
  • 2 cups of diced potatoes
  • One 15-ounce can of red kidney beans, drained
  • One 15-ounce can of tomato sauce
  • 2/3 cup of water
  • One 15-ounce can of green beans, drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
  • Splash of Worcestershire sauce (approximately 1 tablespoon or more if you like)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (I use about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper)

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet. Drain the grease.
  2. Spray the bottom of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  3. Pour the ground beef and onions into the bottom of the skillet.
  4. Add the rice on top of the ground beef mixture.
  5. Next, pour the diced potatoes over the rice.
  6. Then add the kidney beans in the next layer.
  7. Pour the green beans over the kidney beans.
  8. Now pour the tomato sauce over everything.
  9. Splash the Worcestershire sauce over all of the layers.
  10. Pour the water and sprinkle the chili powder over everything.
  11. Salt and pepper to taste.
  12. Pop the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. It’s ready when the potatoes and rice are done.

Notes

You can substitute or add layers of other vegetables, such as carrots, sliced Brussels sprouts, or zucchini.

Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 328Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 50mgSodium 515mgCarbohydrates 36gFiber 7gSugar 7gProtein 23g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

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