🛒 What You’ll Need: Pantry Staples, Maximum Joy
Grab these cozy ingredients—you probably already have most:
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled & chopped into ½-inch chunks (about 4 cups)
1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
1 medium white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 tsp jarred)
1 tbsp olive oil (for crispness!)
1 tbsp Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
2½ cups (250g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese (divided)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional upgrades:
½ cup sliced mushrooms
½ bell pepper, diced
4 eggs (to fry on top for breakfast style!)
Hot sauce or ketchup for serving
That’s it.
No broth.
No flour.
Just real food, cooked into brilliance.
💡 Pro tip: Soak chopped potatoes in cold water 10 mins before cooking—removes starch = crispier hash!
🔥 How to Make It: Step-by-Step, Bite-by-Bite
Let’s cook this like we’re making edible confetti—one golden forkful at a time.
Step 1: Par-Cook the Potatoes (Secret to Crispiness!)
In a pot:
Cover potato chunks with water.
Bring to a boil and cook 5–6 minutes, until slightly tender but still firm.
Drain well and pat dry with a towel.
👉 This step ensures they crisp up instead of steam in the pan.
Step 2: Brown the Beef
In a large oven-safe skillet or cast-iron pan:
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon.
Cook 5–7 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
Drain excess fat.
Step 3: Sauté Aromatics
Add onion to the beef; cook 4–5 minutes until soft and golden.
Stir in garlic and Italian seasoning; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Add Potatoes & Crisp Up
Stir in par-cooked potatoes.
Spread into an even layer.
Cook 8–10 minutes, undisturbed, to form a crispy crust on the bottom.
Flip sections gently and continue cooking another 5–7 minutes until potatoes are fully tender and golden-brown.
Step 5: Cheese It!
Sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar evenly over the top.
Cover with a lid or foil for 2–3 minutes to melt cheese.
Optional: Place under broiler 1–2 minutes for extra browning (watch closely!).
Step 6: Serve & Savor
Finish with remaining ½ cup cheese on top.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot—straight from the skillet.
Perfect with:
Fried or poached eggs 🍳
Toast or biscuits 🍞
A dollop of sour cream or ketchup 🥫
Or all by itself—it’s that good
Bonus: Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer (never microwave!).
💡 Pro Tips for Next-Level Success
Tip
Why It Works
✅ Par-boil potatoes
Ensures tenderness + crisp exterior
✅ Don’t overcrowd the pan
Prevents steaming, promotes browning
✅ Use cast iron
Holds heat best for crispy results
✅ Make ahead: Assemble unbaked; refrigerate overnight
Reheat and add cheese before serving
✅ Gluten-free? Naturally GF—no changes needed!
🍽️ When to Serve These Golden Gems
🍳 Weekend brunch with coffee
🍲 Weeknight dinners with tired families
🎉 Potlucks and holiday mornings
🫶 To someone who says, “I don’t eat hash” —watch them ask for seconds
Because once they taste that beefy-potato, cheesy-crisp magic?
They’ll be converted.
❤️ Final Thought: Great Food Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
You don’t need 17 ingredients or a culinary degree to make something magical.
Sometimes, all it takes is:
A pound of beef
A few potatoes
And the courage to say: “Today, I’m feeding my people.”
And when your partner says, “Did you get this from a restaurant?”
Or your kid hugs you after the first bite…
You’ll know:
You didn’t just make dinner.
You made love.