Crockpot Taco Meat

Thanks to Eating on a Dime for teaching me something new-I never had made taco meat in the crockpot before! It was DELICIOUS and perfect for us to come home to dinner already prepped!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef (I like to add chorizo and ground beef)
• 1 cup salsa
• 3 tablespoons taco seasoning

Instructions

• Place the ground meat (raw) in the crock pot.
• Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix.  (We use homemade taco seasoning.)
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat and serve.

Notes

I like to break up the taco meat 30 minutes before serving. Also, you could use frozen ground beef but you will need to cook for an additional hour on high.  

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

 This is such a good dinner for these chilly nights and especially when you're busy and need to have a crockpot meal! Full of goodness and veggies-I substituted the celery with broccoli because it's what I had. This would be a great way to throw in leftovers! Thanks, Life in the Lofthouse for this recipe!

Ingredients

4 small russet potatoes peeled and diced

1 small white or yellow onion chopped

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup diced celery

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

3 cups chicken broth

1 pound lean ground beef (I used ground sausage to add more flavor)

3 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups milk I use 2%

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 package (16 ounces) Velveeta processed cheese, cubed OR 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Place potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, dried basil and parsley in a large crock pot. Pour chicken broth over vegetables. Cover with lid. Cook on low heat 6 to 8 hours OR on high heat 4 to 5 hours or until potatoes are tender.

About 45 minutes before serving, cook and crumble ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any grease. Pour cooked ground beef into crock pot. Carefully wipe out hot skillet with a paper towel then add butter. When butter is melted whisk in flour and cook until golden brown and bubbly (about 1 minute.) Whisk in the milk, salt and pepper. Pour mixture into the crock pot and stir to combine everything.

Add the cubed velveeta cheese or shredded cheese to crock pot. Stir again. Cover with lid and cook another 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes: Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (because all crock pots heat differently)

Cheeseburger Sliders

This recipe from Natasha's Kitchen is for sure worth saving! It's perfect for a crowd or a big family!

Ingredients

2 lb lean ground beef, (90/10 or 93/7 fat content)

1/2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced

1/4 cup mayonnaise

8 slices medium cheddar cheese

6 oz medium cheddar, shredded (or used more sliced cheese)

24 dinner rolls, (or use 2 packs of 12)

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus more to grease baking sheet

1 Tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet.

Place a large skillet over medium/high heat with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil. Add diced onion then 2 lbs ground beef and break up with a spatula. Season with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp garlic powder.

Sautee over medium/high heat, breaking up the beef and cook just until cooked through then remove from heat.

Tilt skillet to spoon off and discard excess fat. Stir in 1/4 cup mayo.

Cut buns in half. Place bottom half of dinner rolls on buttered baking sheet and line bread with sliced cheese. Spread ground beef mixture evenly over the sliced cheese, using the back of a spatula to square off the edges. Cover the ground beef with 6 oz of shredded cheddar.

Place the top of buns, cut-side down, over the burgers. Brush tops with 2 Tbsp melted butter and immediately sprinkle tops with sesame seeds. Bake at 350˚F for 12-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tops are golden brown.

Easy Cheesy Baked Tortellini

This recipe and its picture comes from InstruPix and you're gonna LOVE IT!! Another throw-together dish in under an hour that's full of flavor. Pair with a nice salad and garlic bread-perfection!

INGREDIENTS:

1 (20oz) container of refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini

1 lb ground beef

1 (24oz) jar of pasta sauce

8 (ounces) cream cheese (cubed)

1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan

seasoning to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cook the pasta a la dente according to the package directions; drain and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the seasoning of your choice (I use salt, garlic powder, pepper & Italian seasoning).

Remove the excess grease from the browned beef and then stir in your tomato sauce and cream cheese. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is well incorporated.

Gently toss your cooked tortellini in with the sauce mixture and then pour it into your casserole dish; Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and parmesan.

Bake uncovered in the center rack of your oven for about 20 minutes. Switch the oven to broil and continue baking for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.

Enjoy with garlic bread, salad and/or veggies!

Easy Cheesy Baked Tortellini (With Meat Sauce)

Recipe and photo courtesy of InstruPix. This was a super easy weeknight dish to make and everyone loved it! 

Ingredients:

1 (20oz) container of refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini

1 lb ground beef

1 (24oz) jar of pasta sauce

8 (ounces) cream cheese (cubed)

1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan

seasoning to taste

Instructions:

Cook the pasta a la dente according to the package directions; drain and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the seasoning of your choice (I use salt, garlic powder, pepper & Italian seasoning).

Remove the excess grease from the browned beef and then stir in your tomato sauce and cream cheese. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is well incorporated.

Gently toss your cooked tortellini in with the sauce mixture and then pour it into your casserole dish; Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and parmesan.

Bake uncovered in the center rack of your oven for about 20 minutes. Switch the oven to broil and continue baking for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown.

Enjoy with garlic bread, salad and/or veggies!

Cheesy Ground Beef & Rice Casserole

I usually don't love rice-based casseroles, but this one hit the spot! So full of flavor, we all loved it and had seconds! Picture and recipe from The Cozy Cook. 

Ingredients

• ▢1 lb. ground beef, 85% lean
• ▢1.5 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ▢Salt/Pepper
• ▢3 Tablespoons butter, separated
• ▢¾ cup onions, diced
• ▢1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
• ▢2 ½ cups beef broth
• ▢1 ¼ cups uncooked white long grain rice, (not instant rice)
• ▢8 oz. sliced button mushrooms, washed
• ▢10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup
• ▢½ cup milk, any kind
• ▢½ cup sour cream
• ▢2 cups cheddar cheese, separated

Instructions

• Note: This recipe is designed to allow you to prepare all of the casserole ingredients in one pot before transferring to a casserole dish for baking. Before you begin, refer to your rice package for the amount of liquid (beef broth) and cooking time. If preferred, cook the rice separately and skip the beef broth ingredient. You'll need 2 cups of cooked rice to combine with the other casserole ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat. Mix in salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings as the beef cooks.
• Drain grease, transfer to a plate, and cover with foil.
• Melt 2 TBS butter in the same pot. Add the diced onions and cook for 5 minutes, until softened.
• Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add beef broth, butter, and rice. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
• Cover tightly and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms, replace the cover, and cook for 5-10 more minutes. (Refer to rice package for exact cooking time.) Do not stir the rice at any point.
• Turn heat off, leave the cover on, and let it stand for 10 minutes without stirring. Any rice on the bottom of the pot will release.
• Add the ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, and HALF of the cheese. Stir to combine.
• Transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
• Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Serve!

Notes

• If you prefer to use brown rice, refer to package instructions for cooking time and amount of liquid as it requires more of both. You want to end up with 3 + 3/4  cups cooked rice.

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• To make this ahead of time, assemble the casserole, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Let it sit out for 30 minutes prior to baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

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• Instead of mushrooms, you may choose to use frozen peas, carrots, and/or corn.

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• Leftovers freeze very well!

Easy Homemade Meatloaf

This recipe is my new favorite meatloaf! It's so good and super simple to throw together! Recipe and photo from I heart Naptime.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients 

Meatloaf Ingredients:

• 2 pounds 80-90% lean ground beef , you could also use turkey or do half pork too
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup beef broth , or milk
• 2 large eggs , whisked
• 2-3 Tablespoons fresh parsley , finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons ketchup
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Sauce Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup ketchup or BBQ sauce , you could mix half and half
• 2-3 Tablespoons light brown sugar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet or 9x5" loaf pan with foil. Lightly spray with non-stick spray and set aside.
• Combine the meat, breadcrumbs, broth or milk, eggs, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder in a large bowl. Mix just until combined. Don't overmix or the meat won't be as tender.
• Press into the loaf pan or form the mixture into a loaf shape on the pan.
• In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup and/or BBQ sauce and brown sugar. Then pour over top of the meatloaf. Add pepper on top if desired.
• Bake meatloaf for 45 minutes, or until the meat reaches 160°F.

Notes

You may substitute fresh onion and garlic (1 cup onion, 4 garlic cloves minced), however make sure to saute them with a little olive oil before adding to the meat. 

If you prefer a little heat, add in a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat or a few dashes of chili sauce or sriracha to the meatloaf sauce. 

One Pan Beef Stroganoff

 

Picture and recipe from Chef Savvy. This is by far one of our favorite meals! It takes 30 minutes, one pot to dirty, and tastes amazing! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• 16 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 3 cups beef stock
• 1 pound frozen meatballs
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 8 ounces wide egg noodles
• ½ cup sour cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• chopped parsley for garnish if desired
• grated parmesan cheese for serving if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add oil to a large pan or pot. Heat the oil over medium high heat.

2. Add in the onions and mushrooms and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until the onion starts to get tender. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.

3. Add in beef stock, frozen meatballs (no need to defrost), paprika and egg noodles.
4. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed, the noodles are tender and the meatballs are heated through.

5. Add in the sour cream and mix together until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately with parsley for garnish, if desired.

Easy Hamburger Casserole

Recipe and photo from InstruPix. This is a super easy weeknight meal that everyone loves. It's filling and easy and tastes delicious!

1. You’ll start off by cooking and draining the pasta according to the package directions.
2. Next, brown the beef in a large skillet with a little garlic powder, salt and pepper. You could also throw in a diced onion if you’d like.
3. Once the beef is brown, toss the pasta shells, tomato soup, a little water and half of the cheese in with the beef and mix it all up.
4. Pour it into a large 9×13 greased baking dish.
5. Top with the remaining cheese and then bake covered with foil in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes to brown the cheese. I also like to turn the oven to broil for the last few minutes to make it a little toasty.

Healthy Burger Bowls

 

Recipe and photo from Foodology Geek. Our family has loved doing bowls lately for dinner! I love that each person can customize their meal, it's low-carb, and very filling! 

INGREDIENTS

Burgers

• 2 lbs Grass-fed ground beef2 lbs Grass-fed ground beef
• 1 to 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, to taste1 to 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 ounces Cheese, optional, if you want cheeseburgers2 ounces Cheese, optional, if you want cheeseburgers

Super Easy Animal Sauce

• 3 tbsp Mayonnaise3 tbsp Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Ketchup2 tbsp Ketchup
• ½ tbsp Mustard½ tbsp Mustard
• 2 tbsp Sweet Pickle Relish2 tbsp Sweet Pickle Relish

Bowl Fixin's

• 8 cups Iceberg lettuce8 cups Iceberg lettuce
• 4 cups Spinach4 cups Spinach
• 2 medium Tomatoes2 medium Tomatoes
• ½ medium Red onions½ medium Red onions
• 1 medium Avocado1 medium Avocado
• 16 Dill pickle slices16 Dill pickle slices
• 4 slices bacon4 slices bacon

DIRECTIONS

Burgers

• Add the salt and pepper to meat. Divide into 12 small burger patties.
• Fry or grill on the burgers med high for approximately 3 minutes each side. 
• Add the cheese the last 30 seconds.
• Remove from pan and place on a plate. Rest covered loosely with foil while you prepare the rest of the bowl. 

Animal Sauce

• Mix all ingredients together. Use to top your bowl. 

Bowl Assembly

• Add whatever bowl fixin's you would like to a large bowl. Top with burgers and sauce.