Some of my most favorite easy dinner recipes are easy ground beef casserole recipes. Easy casseroles have several things going for them. They can be made a head. They are comforting. Most people love them. And they bake away by themselves, giving you time to attend to other more important things.
Easy Mexican Tortilla Casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
This is one of those easy fast dinner recipes that has become very popular the past few years and with good reason. It’s simple, easy and delicious and is made from ingredients many people keep stocked in their kitchen.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1 jar (12 ounces) chunky salsa
6 corn tortillas (10 inches each)
1 can refried beans
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
2 cups grated Monterey Jack or Mexican style cheese blend
Chopped fresh tomato and chopped fresh green onions for garnish, if desired
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Mist a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and place it over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and then break it up and stir around until the beef in brown all over and is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of the salsa and then set the mixture aside.
3. Spread the remaining salsa in the bottom of a 10-inch glass pie dish. Top it with 3 of the tortillas. Spread half of the refried beans over the tortillas. Top with half of the ground beef mixture and then 1/2 cup of the sour cream and then 1 cup of the cheese. Top with the remaining 3 tortillas, then the remaining beans, remaining beef mixture, remaining 1/2 cup of sour cream and all except 1/4 cup of the remaining cheese. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil.
4. Bake until the tortilla casserole is hot throughout and the cheese has melted, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes.
5. Cut into wedges or spoon into serving plates. Garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and the chopped tomatoes and scallions, if desired.
Easy Hamburger Pot Pie
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
I’ve loved pot pie since I was a kid and am always on the lookout for easy variations of this easy dinner classic.
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bag (12 ounces frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed tomato soup
1 cup beef broth
1 cup Bisquick baking mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion powder, salt and pepper. Break up the beef and stir it around in the pan until it is browned and cooked through, heat 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Stir vegetables, tomato soup and beef broth into beef and heat until it is bubbling. Spoon the mixture into an ungreased 2-quart casserole dish.
4. In small bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk, and egg together with a wire whisk or fork until it is blended. Pour over hot beef mixture.
5. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Top with cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
