Beef and Hash Brown Casserole

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to 175 degrees Celsius. Next, take a 9-inch square baking dish and lightly coat it with butter or cooking spray to prevent food from sticking.

Meanwhile, combine diced hash brown potatoes, oil, and a pinch of black pepper in a large mixing bowl until they are evenly blended. Press the mixture into the bottom of your prepared baking dish and set it aside for now.

In a large skillet, heat it over medium-high heat. Add sliced beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is nicely browned and crumbly, taking around 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the cooked beef from the skillet and discard any excess oil.

Add water to the hot skillet, followed by the contents of a gravy mix packet. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat, cover the skillet with a lid, and let it simmer until most of the water has evaporated, approximately 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, stir in 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese into the beef mixture. Transfer the beef mixture onto the hash brown crust you prepared earlier.

Place the baking dish in your preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven, sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese, and continue baking until the cheese is lightly browned, taking about 5 more minutes.