3 ingredient beef pasta bake

So I’m sure y’all have seen the recipes where you don’t have to cook the pasta first, right? So I finally decided to try it and I have to say, this was so easy and delish! I’ve been fighting some health issues the last few years that have made it hard for me to stand. I actually managed to make this whole thing by myself in just a few minutes! While the hamburger was browning I threw everything else in the baking dish so it took 10 minutes it less to get in the oven! Try it out and let me know what you think! 

3 Ingredient Beef Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

1 pound 93/7 ground beef

16 oz dry elbow noodles (small)

24 oz can/jar pasta sauce

Roasted garlic and herb seasoning

Salt and pepper

Spaghetti shaker cheese (parmesan) - optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°

2. Brown hamburger.

3. Put DRY pasta in a 9x13 baking dish.

4. Pour sauce over noodles.

5. Fill sauce jar with water and add some beef bullion powder, stir. Or you can use the same amount of beef broth if you have it.

6. Dump in cooked hamburger (I didn’t drain because there was very little fat).

7. Add seasonings and stir.

8 Cover tightly with aluminum foil.

9. Bake for 35 minutes.

10. Uncover and serve.

Serves 4-6

Lazy Crockpot Pepper Steak

 

This is a long time family favorite. Initially my mom made it on the stove and chopped the green bell peppers and onions. Due to some health issues, I can no longer stand in the kitchen and cook like I used to. So now I make ground beef in large quantities in the crockpot (yes, you put it in raw!) and freeze in one pound amounts in quart size freezer zip baggies to use for later dates. I also buy the bags of frozen chopped peppers/onions and brown gravy packets. The rice is super easy too because it’s baked!! The raw hamburger in the crockpot and baked rice recipes are also on this blog. I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does!  

Lazy Crockpot Pepper Steak

Ingredients

1# cooked hamburger

2 12oz bags frozen 3 pepper and onions

4 packets dry brown gravy mix

Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to taste

Directions

1. Either brown hamburger on the stove or use some you have frozen. After it’s done, add it to the crockpot.

2.  Open both bags of pepper/onions and add to crock pot.

3. Add the 4 packets of brown gravy to 2 1/2 cups of water and stir. Pour into the crockpot. 

4.  Add salt, pepper and Italian seasoning (I don’t measure).

5.  Stir as best as you can (frozen meat and veggies may be in big clumps and that’s ok). Cook on low for 3 hours. 

6.  Stir to make sure brown gravy is thickened and there’s no clumps. Taste and add more seasonings if needed. 

7.  Serve over cooked rice or noodles. 

Notes

1. You can leave it in the crockpot for longer, just add a little more water.  

2.  If you like it with more gravy, you can add another gravy packet or two.

3.  Also if you need a bigger batch you can easily double this.  

Faith’s Taco Salad

I had some leftover cooked hamburger in the freezer so I thought I’d grab a few things at ALDI to make a taco salad. You can use any variety of the items I have listed. I just threw this together and the family loved it! It’s a keeper for sure!

Faith’s Taco Salad

Ingredients:

Shredded iceberg lettuce

Cooked hamburger with taco seasoning (I used fajita seasoning)

Bag of 90 second quinoa/brown rice 

Can of black beans, rinsed

Can of whole corn, drained

Shredded Mexican cheese

Jar of chunky salsa

Bag of nacho cheese flavored Doritos, crushed

Sour cream (I forgot this but it would be delish)

Salad dressing, optional (I used Ranch but French or whatever your favorite would be good too)

Directions:

1. Start with the lettuce and add to your large salad bowl. 

2. Then add some of each thing on top of the lettuce. 

3. Stir and enjoy!

NOTES: I put each item in its own bowl so each person can pick what they want in their own salad. You could also put everything in a large bowl mixed together for a potluck but be aware the Doritos and lettuce will get soggy fast. 

Hamburger, cheese and rice casserole

 

This has to be one of the easiest casseroles on the planet. Especially if you have precooked hamburger! It’s a family favorite. 

Hamburger, cheese and rice casserole

1 lb ground beef

1/2 medium onion, diced or some dried minced onion

1 can(s) cream of chicken soup*

1 can(s) cream of mushroom soup

1 1/2 empty soup can of milk

2 c instant white rice (not cooked first)

2 c shredded cheddar cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Brown beef and diced onion. Season with salt and pepper. Drain well.

2. Preheat oven to 375*. Have a 9x13 baking dish ready.

3. In a medium bowl stir together rice, soups, and cheese.** Add meat and onions and stir. Add salt and pepper. 

4. Cover with foil and bake 35-45 minutes, or until bubbly.

*I only had 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup and it was delicious. 

**If you’re using precooked hamburger you can just put everything in the 9x13 and stir it all together so you have a one dish meal and don’t have to wash an extra bowl. 

Pepper Steak (freezer meal)

My mom used to make this and it was one of my favorites! Now I make it and surprisingly the kids love it too! But only when I chop the veggies very small. LOL

1# lean hamburger
3 green bell peppers
1-2 onions
4 packets brown gravy mix (or 4 cans)
1 large tsp of minced garlic
pink salt and pepper to taste
Italian seasoning to taste

4 c minute rice
4 c water

1. Bring 4 c water to boil. Remove from heat and stir in rice. Cover with lid. 
2. Chop veggies. Brown hamburger and veggies in large pan. Add garlic and seasonings. Cook until meat is no longer pink and veggies are almost soft.
3. In measuring cup, add 4 cups water. Add 4 packets of gravy, whisk to blend. (add more gravy if you like it really runny like I do). Add to meat. Stir.
4. Cook on low until gravy is thick and veggies are soft.
5. Serve over cooked rice.

(Make double or more and put meat mixture into aluminum container, seal and freeze. Thaw and heat and then serve over rice.)

Hamburger Pepper Steak

This is a family favorite and easy enough to make.  ESPECIALLY if you have pre-cooked hamburger in the freezer. I just browned 5# with salt, pepper and some minced garlic. Then I put it in sandwich baggies to keep in the freezer and use as needed. Saves so much time! We always laugh when I say I'm making pepper steak for dinner because every.single.time my daughter says, "I hate pepper steak!" And I say, "no you don't". And then she will have 2 or more bowls full and we all laugh. =0)

Ingredients

2# hamburger or turkey burger
2 green bell peppers
1 or 2 large onions
4-6 packets of dry brown gravy
salt and pepper to taste
Italian seasoning to taste
1 tsp heaping of minced garlic
4 cups Minute Rice, cooked as directed

While hamburger is browning with garlic, chop green peppers and onions and add them to the hamburger. Cook it until it's done. Mix 4 packets of gravy with water as directed and add to hamburger mixture. Add salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to taste. Bring to a boil then turn to low and simmer for a few minutes. Serve over cooked rice. Serves 4-6.