This Five Layer Dinner is hearty, nostalgic, and one of the best ranch-style casseroles I ever prepared. Layered into one-dish preparation: tender potatoes, seasoned ground beef, and fresh vegetables, baked to perfection. This particular item is perfectly delicious as it can feed a crowd yet can also be shared with your family during a comforting dinnering period. Every layer will incorporate within it full taste aromas since layers cook together, which makes the tops crispy and more exciting texture. Something Southerners or everybody else, for that matter, simply needs to sample!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Dolly Parton fashioned the recipe and named it Dolly’s Five Layer Dinner because hers is simple enough and hearty. A casserole adds so many savory layers, from ground beef and potatoes to vegetables and ripe juicy tomatoes which are marvelous. This mixture would stand as an example of few ingredients to mix up in the kitchen and touch a special puppy-heart place, nostalgic from family past. I said long bake time while marrying all those fantastic flavors whipping into one of the most fantastic reinterpretations of the dish.
Key Ingredients
Ground Beef: This makes up the rich and savory component. Select leaner ground beef to reduce grease or swap out with ground turkey or plant-based meat.
Russet Potatoes: Thinly sliced, they become the foundations that form the base of the meal, baking to perfection.
Diced Tomatoes: This is actually a necessary tangy sweetness that goes very well with the flavors of beef and other vegetables.
Green Bell Pepper: They will add just a little color burst and a fresh, crunchy sweet taste into the recipe.
Onions: Adding depth and sweetened flavor to the recipe, having been sliced to cook and caramelize in the heat of the oven.
Salt and Pepper: Brings the inherent flavor to season the ingredients.
Olive Oil: Use to grease the baking dish and optionally drizzle over the top for extra richness.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat:
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
Prepare the Baking Dish:
Lightly oil a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients
Combine Beef and Vegetables:
In a large bowl, mix together:
1 pound browned ground beef
1 medium onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Layer the Potatoes
Slice and Layer Potatoes:
Thinly slice 2–3 large potatoes.
Arrange the slices evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Slightly overlap the slices for even coverage, avoiding large gaps.
Step 4: Add the Beef Mixture
Spoon and Spread:
Evenly spoon the beef and vegetable mixture over the layer of potatoes.
Press down gently to create an even, compact layer.
Step 5: Bake
Cover and Cook:
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours, or until the potatoes are tender.
Crisp the Top:
For a golden, bubbly finish, remove the foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
Step 6: Serve
Cool Slightly:
Let the dish cool for about 5-10 minutes to allow the layers to set.
Portion and Enjoy:
Slice into portions and serve warm. Pair with a green salad or crusty bread for a complete meal.
Serving Suggestions
Just because the dish is a full meal doesn’t mean there can’t be great partners to round out the dinner table:
Salad on the Side: Serve with a fresh green salad and zesty vinaigrette for brightness and contrast.
Crusty Bread: Serve with warm bread or dinner rolls, which are perfect for soaking up the savory juices from this dish.
Steamed Veggies: Steamed broccoli and green beans can feature the dish—so much more nutrition and color.
Beverage: Some great fluids to have alongside are iced tea, lemonade, or maybe a light Pinot Noir to wash everything down.
Storage Tips
Refrigeration: Suitable for usage, fix your leftovers by putting them in an airtight vessel in the fridge, where they can stay up to four days.
Freezing: You can freeze leftovers pretty well with this dish; just put it in an airtight foil wrap if it’s a casserole and in freezer-safe containers for individual portions. You can keep it for even up to three months, after which you have to leave it in the refrigerator the night before so it can begin reheating.
Reheat: If you have done a lot, pop it into an oven heated to 350°F (175°C) until warmed completely or zap those individual servings in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes.
Variations
Cheesy: Add shredded cheeses such as cheddar or mozzarella to the last 10 minutes of baking to achieve a sparkly and golden lineup.
Spicy: Add jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes for a fiery kick into your ground beef mixture.
Vegetarian Version: Using prepared lentils or crumbled tofu would make an all-vegetarian initiative against ground beef.
Herbal: Add the thyme, rosemary, or parsley—whether dried or fresh—to get the most out of these varieties.
Loaded Potatoes: Arrange the loaded potato casserole by sprinkling bacon pieces which are cooked or sour cream on top of the layer.
Conclusion
Dolly Parton’s 5-Layer Dinner is all about good old home-cooked food: easy, easy digest, and full of flavors, with ripe fat wrapped around layers of potatoes rolled with beef and seasonal green beans. The dishes surely become a family favorite as they melt away on the tip of the fork. Be it an exact match toning up at the dining table or using your selection of ingredients, you will be serving it up with a grin for second helpings in no time. So whack open your oven and pull down some of that Southern comfort.
Dolly Parton’s Five Layer Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef browned and crumbled
- 3 large russet potatoes thinly sliced
- 15 oz diced tomatoes 1 can
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 onions thinly sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil as needed for greasing the dish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, mix together the browned ground beef, one sliced onion, the chopped bell pepper, and the diced tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Thinly slice the potatoes and arrange them evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish, slightly overlapping the slices to cover the base completely.
- Spoon the beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the potato layer. Press down gently to create an even, compact layer.
- Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours, or until the potatoes are tender. For a golden finish, remove the foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Let the dish cool for 5-10 minutes to allow the layers to set. Slice into portions and serve warm. Pair with a green salad or crusty bread for a complete meal.
