Oven Baked Frito Pie

If ya are in a need of a quick meal that ya can throw together, this is one of those. Left overs are also good in a tortilla wrapped up. {sorry picture got deleted off of camera before uploading to computer}

Oven Baked Frito Pie 

1 pound ground beef

1 can {16 oz.} chili beans 

1 can {8 oz.} tomato sauce

1 can {15 oz.} diced tomatoes

taco seasoning

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 1/2 cups Frito corn chips

1 1/4 cup sour cream

Cook ground beef until meat is browned, drain drippings. Add chili beans, tomato sauce, taco seasoning and 1/4 cup cheese to cooked ground beef. Mix well. In a greased 9x13 dish, sprinkle about 1 cup of Frito chips on bottom of dish. Cover with meat mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove dish from over and spread sour cream over top of dish. Add remaining chips and cheese to top. Bake for another 5-10 minutes longer. 

Taco Cups

These are a good meal to try. These can be made by recipe or you can modify them to personal liking. They are a different spin on tacos. Plus people think you spent tons of time doing them {Which is not the case}

Taco Cups

1 pound ground beef

1 packet taco seasoning

3/4 cup black beans ~ drained

3/4 cup pinto beans ~ drained

corn tortillas ~ small 

medium queso dip 

chunky salsa

shredded cheese

sour cream for garnish 

Cook ground beef till fully done. Drain drippings and add taco seasoning to meat. Mix till well blended. Add in black and pinto beans. Heat through and set aside. Warm up corn tortillas for about 10 seconds, just so they are more bendable and don't rip. Push 1 tortilla at a time into a lightly greased muffin cup. Put one school full of queso dip in bottom of tortilla. Then top with spoonful of meat mixture. Then add spoonful of salsa and top with a little shredded cheese. Repeat steps to all cups.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, till tortillas are a little crispy. Once removed from over and getting ready to serve, top with a little sour cream. You can even sprinkle a few chives on top to give a little pop of green.

Mexican Pizza

These are so yummy. Very filling, but delicious. The nice thing with this these is, you can really customize them to your own liking. Makes for a fun meal prepping as a family.

Mexican Pizza

1 pound ground beef

taco seasoning

1 package small tortillas

2 tablespoons water

1 {16 oz} refried beans

2/3 cup salsa

2 cups shredded cheese

1/4 cup tomato ~ diced

1/4 cup green onion ~ chopped

oil 

Mix together ground beef, taco seasoning and water. In large skillet brown ground beef till fully cooked. Drain drippings. Set ground beef aside. 

Add oil to medium frying pan. Heat and fry tortillas (both sides) for about 30 seconds or until lightly browned. Pop any bubbles that form while frying. Keep tortillas as flat as possible. Remove from pan and set on plate lined with paper towels. 

Warm refried beans. Stack each pizza first by spreading a layer of refried beans, then layer of meat followed by layer of salsa. Now stack another tortilla on top. Layer with cheese and top with tomatoes and green onions. Repeat for all pizzas. 

Place on a baking sheet lined with foil and lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. 

Dinner in a Pumpkin

This is what we eat every year on Halloween.  I grew up with this tradition and I love it. It makes the night so fun and the dinner is super good.

Dinner in a Pumpkin

1 medium pumpkin {about size of basketball or a little bigger}
1 chopped onion {any size - depending on how much onion you like}
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 - 2 pounds hamburger
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 {4oz.} can sliced mushrooms ~ drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
1-2 cups cooked rice
1 {8oz.} can sliced water chestnuts ~ drained
 

Cut off top of pumpkin and clean out.  Draw a face on the pumpkin with permanent marker.  In a large skillet saute onions in oil until tender.  Add meat and cook till brown.  Drain drippings from meat - add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup.  Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 
Add cooked rice and water chestnuts.  Place pumpkin onto a cookie sheet that is covered with foil.  Spoon mixture into the pumpkin and put pumpkin lid back on.  Cook at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until inside of pumpkin is tender.  You can also cook with lid off.
 
When serving scrap inside of pumpkin. 

Fiesta Shells & Cheese

I came across this recipe from a fun blog.  It always has cute craft ideas, recipes, etc. When I saw this recipe I immediately thought, "Yum! I have everything."  So we gave it a try and it is better then what I thought.

Fiesta Shells & Cheese

1 pound hamburger 

1 package taco seasoning
1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies 

2 cups beef broth 
1 cup shell pasta

Cheese Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Brown and drain hamburger meat. Stir in taco seasoning, tomatoes, beef broth, and macaroni. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and cover pan. Simmer 12-14 minutes until macaroni is tender.

While this is simmering, start making your from-scratch-cheese-sauce.

Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking for 5 minutes until light brown in color. Whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Whisk until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Add the salt and pepper to the cheese sauce. 

Pour the cheese sauce over the hamburger mixture. Stir gently to combine.

Fried Tacos

My husband had these growing up, so I have taken the recipe into our home.  They are so yummy.  Plus is makes a nice twist on just the average taco.   These are always a big hit.  Plus it is fun to have a Taco Bar and enjoy some good company.  People love these.

Fried Tacos

1 pound hamburger

1 can refried beans

1 envelope taco seasoning

flour tortiallas {small}

olive oil

sour cream 

olives 

salsa

verde sauce

lettuce

cheese

tomato

Any other toppings desired

Cook hamburger and drain drippings.  Add in taco seasoning.  In separate saucepan, heat up refried beans.  In another skillet, add oil and heat up.  {Enough oil to cover bottom of pan} Spread a little refried beans in tortilla and put a little hamburger. Put tortilla in oil and fry on both sides till toasted. Once all toasted, then add all topping choices and Enjoy!

Taco Stuffed Shells

We really like this recipe at our house.  Everyone that this recipe has been pasted to, always says how great it is.  It is very filling.

Taco Stuffed Shells 

1 box pasta shells {Jumbo Shells or Manicotti Shells} ~ cooked 

1 pound hamburger

1 can refried beans

taco seasoning

salsa

chives or green onions ~ chopped

shredded cheese

Cooke noodles as directed on box. Drain and let cool. Brown hamburger till done, drain drippings, then add refired beans and taco seasoning. Mix well.  In a 9x13 baking dish, cover bottom with salsa. Then stuff shells with hamburger mix. Lay stuffed noodles in dish.  Top with a little salsa, cheese, chives or green onions. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.  

More Topping Options:

Sour Cream

Olives

Crushed Tortilla Chips

Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

There are so many different recipes to Stuffed Peppers.  If you like any of those then this will be on the "like list" as well.  It is full of flavor and really good.  I have one child that is not big into peppers, but for some reason she loved them in this recipe.  It throws a little spin on the stuffed peppers.  Totally worth trying!

Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

1 pund ground beef

1/2 onion ~ diced

2 large carrots ~ diced {6 baby carrots}

3 large green peppers ~ cut into chunks

salt and pepper to taste

1 {15 oz} can tomato sauce

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon cumin

2 1/2 cups fully cooked rice

shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef and onions in large skillet.  Drain drippings and add carrots and green peppers to beef mixture.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes.  {You want peppers to stay a little crunchy.}

Stir in tomato sauce, water, italian seasoning and cumin.  Bring to a slow boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. 

Stir in cooked rice, until heated through.  Top with shredded mozzarella cheese. 

{Leftovers are very tasty in a tortilla!}

Navajo Tacos

 With all the fairs that are going on and everything.  They have been on my mind.  They smell amazing and look fantastic.  Wanting to make these, I could find my original recipe, so I searched on line and talked to a couple friends.  Here are the ideas of what friends suggested .... Chunks of Frozen Bread Loaves or Flatted Refrigerated Biscuits.  Then one gave an actual recipe for fry bread, but I didn't have time {nor Patience} to wait {dough needs to be chilled for 24 hours ....}  So, I took to the frozen bread loaves and about 3 different recipes and combined them all.  BUT I didn't have loaves, I had frozen rolls .... less dough to thaw! 

Navajo Tacos

1 pound ground beef

1/2 of a small onion ~ chopped

1 can chili beans

1/4 teaspoon oregano

fresh ground pepper ~ to taste

a pinch of red pepper flakes

1-3 Frozen rolls per person {depends on how big you want fry bed}

Oil 

In large skillet cook beef and onions till no meat longer pink and onions are tender, drain drippings.  Add in oregano and can of chili beans, heat through.  Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. 

In a sepatate pan, add enough oil to cover bottom of pan {enough to fry}.  Smoosh rolls together or flatten rolls out to desired size and fry in oil till cooked, golden brown.  Top cooked fry bread with beef mixture and other desired toppings. 

Topping ideas: 

Cheese

Lettuce

Green Onions

Chopped Tomato

Salsa

Sour Cream 

Olives

Jalapenos Slices

Sloppy Jo Calzones

These are a fun twist on the normal Sloppy Jo.  Plus, what isn't good wrapped in a warm flaky crust? These are yummy with fresh vegetables, steams vegetables or even a little side of chips.  I have always cooked them in the over, but I got the idea of trying them on the grill next time.  How yummy!

Sloppy Jo Calzones 

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion 

1 chopped green pepper

1 can black beans ~ rinsed and drained

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 can diced petite tomatoes

2-3 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can tomato paste

1 envelope sloppy jo mix

In large skillet, cook beef, onion, and pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.  Drain drippings.  Stir in sloppy jo powder mix, tomato paste and black beans, oregano and dice petite tomatoes. Heat through and then remove from heat. 

Separate crescent dough into rectangles {keeping 2 together}.  Be sure to seal perforations. Spoon about a fourth of the meat mixture onto half of every rectangle.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Fold the dough over filling and pinch edges to seal.  Cut little slits in tops of dough. 

Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes, until golden brown.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Ups

These are such a yummy roll up.  If ya are every craving a burger, but don't want to go out to get one, these will satisfy the craving.  My family enjoys these.  In fact, I was talking to a couple friends about these, one had had them, the other had never had nor heard of them, but she immediately asked for the recipe because she knew her boys would love them.  These go great with a fresh tossed salad or even some raw veggies.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Ups

1 pound ground beef

6 bacon strips ~ cooked and diced

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 package {8 ounce} velveeta cheese ~ cubed

1 tube large refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup yellow mustard

In a large skillet brown ground beef, bacon and onion over medium heat, until meat is no longer pink.  Drain drippings from skillet.  Add in cheese and stir until fully melted.  remove from heat.  

Flatten each biscuit into a 5 inch circle.  Spoon 1/3 cup of beef mixture into each biscuit.  Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up.  Place seam side down on greased baking sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.  In a small bowl, mix ketchup and mustard together and serve as dipping sauce for roll ups.

Spaghetti Bake

This is seriously so yummy.  My kids down this every time we have it.  It is a different spin on spaghetti.  Plus it is very filling and had great flavors.

Spaghetti Bake

12 ounces uncooked spaghetti

1 pound ground beef

1 cup onion ~ chopped

1 cup green pepper ~ chopped

1 jar {26 ounces} spaghetti sauce ~ blend of choice

1 can {4 ounces} muchroom stems and pieces ~ drained

1 can {2.25 ounces} sliced olives

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese ~ divided

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 carton {10 ounces) alfredo sauce

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup cornflake crumbs

Cook spaghetti according to directions on package.  In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and green peppers over medium heat till beef is no longer pink.  Drain drippings from skillet.  Add in spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, and olives.  Drain spaghetti and add cooked noodles to meat mixture.  Mix well.

Transfer meat and noodle mixture to a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over top.  In small bowl, combine soup, alfredo sauce and parmesan cheese.  Pour over top of spaghetti mixture.  In another small bowl, mix corn flakes and remaining shredded cheese.  Crush corn flakes till well crumbed.  Sprinkle over top of soup mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 

Taco Salad Wraps

We love Taco Salad at our house.  Sometimes it is nice to have something different about it, so it isn't the same thing every time.  We decided to try it wrapped up in a tortilla.  The experiment did not fail! It was very yummy.

Taco Salad Wraps

1 pound hamburger

1/2 cup salsa ~ brand and spice of choice

1 can chili beans ~ drained

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

pepper to taste

flour tortillas

1/2 cup shredded lettuce

1 roma tomato ~ chopped

shredded cheddar

tortilla chips or frito chips crushed

Any other topping choices 

Brown hamburger and drain fat from pan.  Stir in salsa, beans, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer uncovered about 5 minutes. 

Spoon meat mixture into tortillas.  Layer with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, crushed chips and any other topping choices. Then just roll them up and enjoy! 

Other topping ideas: 

Salsa

Sour Cream

Verde Sauce

Fresh diced onion

Guacamole

Beef Burrito Skillet

This is good just as is, but is even better in a hard taco shell or even a tortilla.  There are so many things you can do with this recipe.  You can add any topping you like to spice it up a little.  It is quick which makes it perfect for these busy summer.

Beef Burrito Skillet

1 lbs ground beef

1 envelop taco seasoning

1 can (19 oz.) kidney beans ~ drained and rinsed

1 cup salsa

1 cup water

4 (6 inch) flour tortialls ~ cut into 1 1/2 inch stripes

1 cup shredded cheese ~ of choice

1/3 cup sour cream 

1/3 cup green onions ~ chopped

Brown hamburger in large skillet.  Drain grease and add taco seasoning, beans, salsa and water.  Stir together.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer for about 5 minutes.  

Stir in tortillas strips and top with cheese.  Cover and let stand for about 5 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.  Top with sour cream and onions, along with any other topping choices. 

Other topping options: 

Chopped Olives

Black Beans

Green salsa

Crushed Tortillas Chips

Chopped Avocado

Shredded Lettuce

Chopped/Sliced Tomatoes

Chopped Onion

Meat Pie

This is something I have heard many people talk about, but have never made it.  So I finally snagged a friends recipe and made them.  When you hear pie, you think of the fruit filled, chocolaty silk, creamy meringue, dessert kind.  Or if you are really into numbers, you think of the mathematical term.  But in this case, it is the main dish.

Meat Pie

1 lbs hamburger

1 green pepper ~ chopped

1 red pepper ~ chopped

1 medium onion ~ chopped

2 stalks of celery ~ chopped

1 egg

1/4 cup water

Creole seasoning to taste

Garlic salt to taste

2 refrigerated pie crust {you can also make your own. for me it all depends on time that day.}

Brown hamburger & drain grease.  Before hamburger is fully done, add in green pepper, red pepper, onion & celery till vegetables are tender.  Once grease is drained, add seasonings into mixture.  Roll out  pie crusts onto cookie sheets lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray.  

Divide the meat mixture into two.  Spoon each meat mixture into a pie crust, keeping it all on one side. Once spread evenly on one side, fold other half of crust over and "pinch" crust edges together. When it is folded it will look like a calzone. Whisk egg and water together and brush over tops of pies. Cut 2 slits in top of each pie.

Bake meat pie at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

{*You can make smaller ones and use them as appetizers or a little side dish to something else.}

Taco Salad

I love love love salad during the summer.  There are so many topping options to put on, plus it can be a light and simple meal. There is nothing better then having fresh fruits & vegetables.  Taco salad can be made a few different ways.  Really, you make it to fit the cravings. I have done taco salad with yummy Mango Salsa on it ... Oh my delicious.

Taco Salad

1 lb hamburger

1 envelop taco seasoning {if you aren't using a mango salsa}

1 head lettuce

1 can beans of choice ~ pinto, black, kidney, red, etc. 

1 can corn {or 2 cups frozen corn or 3 - 4 ears of corn cooked & shaved off ear}

1 can sliced olives

taco bowls 

Basically any toppings that you want. 

Topping ideas:

tomatoes

onions

cheese

sour cream 

salsa of choice

jalapeños

 

Brown hamburger & drain grease.  Add in taco seasoning is using. Chop head of lettuce and add desired amount into taco bowl.  Then add in meat.  After hamburger is added in, top with the desired amount of topping choices. 

*If you aren't using taco bowls, you can also crush up Frito chips {or leave them whole} and add them to the salad.  Gives a nice touch.

Beef Enchiladas

My daughter picked these for dinner this month.  It is great because you can slip some healthy zucchini in there.  my kids love fruits & vegetables, so that make is nice when it comes to dinner time & having a little of everything.  Also, with this recipe it is nice to have an option on chicken, shredded beef or quick ground beef.  These get put together in no time.

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb lean ground beef

1 1/2 cups diced onion

1 1/2 cups finely diced zucchini

12 tortillas ~ corn or flour

2 1/2 cups enchilada sauce ~ spice of choice

3 cups cheddar jack cheese ~ shredded

1 can pinto beans ~ drained

Brown hamburger in skillet.  Drain fat from hamburger & dump meat in mixing bowl.  Add onions & zucchini to skillet.  Saute' till tender, about 3-4 minutes.  Remove vegetables from skillet & add them in with hamburger.  Add in 1 1/2 cups cheese & pinto beans along with 1/2 cup sauce. Mix well.  

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking grease.  Assemble enchiladas & put in greased pan.  once all enchiladas are assembles & in pan, pour remaining sauce over all enchiladas & sprinkle with remaining cheese.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until heated through.  

You can also garnish enchiladas with shredded lettuce, sliced avocado, sour cream or chopped cilantro.

Shepherd's Pie

This recipe has a little spin on it which is makes it different from all other Shepherd's Pie that I have made/had. It is easy & one good thing about Shepherd's Pie, is that you can pretty much add whatever vegetable to it that you want.

Shepherd's Pie

1 pound hamburger

1 medium onion - chopped

1/2 cup carrots - chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp dried sage

1/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup BBQ sauce - flavor of choice

1 can green beans - french cut style

2 cups mashed potatoes

1-2 cups shredded cheddar - depend son how cheesy you like it

3 green onions - sliced (optional)

Cook onion with hamburger while browning. Add in carrots, salt, pepper, sage, ketchup & BBQ sauce.  Stir till it is well mixed.  In a sprayed 9x13 pan, add the meat mixture * spread till pan is even covered.  Add green beans on top of meat.  Then spread mashed potatoes over beans.  Top with cheese & green onions. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. 

One Skillet Casserole

Try it out before ya write it out.  I know it might sounds kind of "weird" or even odd to some, but it really is a yummy dish.

One Skillet Wonder

1 pound hamburger

5-6 potatoes - thinly sliced

2-3 cups carrots - thinly sliced

1 large onion - thinly sliced

2 cans cream of chicken soup

Brown hamburger in large skillet.  Drain out grease & put hamburger into a large bowl.  In same skillet, put sliced potatoes to cover bottom.  Next, add your sliced carrots on top of potatoes.  On top of the carrots evenly spread hamburger over & then end with onions on top.  Add both cans of soup over the very top of all layers.  

Cover with skillet lid & cook on medium heat for about 30-40  mints, till potatoes, carrots & onions are tender.