Pasta E. Fagioli {the soup}

1/2 pound lean ground beef
3/4 tsp olive oil
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1/4 of a bag of baby carrots, chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
1 24 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can drained red kidney beans
2 cans beef stock
3/4 tsp. oregano
3/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups Ditalini {Salad Macaroni} pasta, cooked and drained


Directions

Brown the ground beef in the oil in a skillet, until crumbly. Stir in carrots, onions, celery, and undrained tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes. Rinse and drain the kidney beans, then stir into the beef mixture. Stir in stock, oregano, pepper, parsley, and Tabasco sauce. Simmer for 45 minutes until celery and carrots are tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce and pasta.


Serving Suggestions

bread sticks, in a bread bowl, with crumbly bread, or even just cheese and crackers.

FYI: I have done this in the slow cooker. adding everything but the pasta and spaghetti sauce and letting it cook 4-6 hours on low then adding cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce just before serving.

sidenote: Personally I didn't like it as much when I didn't add all the onion it called for and I like it even better when it's thick and not soupy.  {Add more spaghetti sauce and less broth}

Sloppy Joes

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion - minced
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp mustard
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs vinegar
1 Tbs brown sugar

Seasonings
garlic powder
celery salt
chili powder
lemon pepper
season all

Directions

Cook beef and onion over medium heat {seasoning well} until meat is no longer pink.
Stir in remaining ingredients.
Simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through. Serve on buns.

Tomato Mac

1 lb ground beef
2 cups elbow macaroni
1/2 an onion minced
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can of milk
1 can tomato sauce
1 jar tomatoes

Seasonings:
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
salt
chili powder
pepper

Directions

Prepare macaroni according to package. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in soup, milk, sauce and tomatoes. Drain macaroni; stir into beef mixture and season to taste.

Cook until heated through.

side note: very versatile. More often than not I don't make this exact recipe. No onion? add onion powder, no tomatoes? add salsa. Just play with it...

see the picture? I didn't have enough elbow so we used egg noodles!

Pork and Bean with Bacon Soup

1/2 pound prepared ground beef
1/4 cup minced onion
1/5 cup shredded carrot
2 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp mustard
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
16 oz can pork & beans
12 oz can bean with bacon soup
1 soup can of water

Directions

Combine and cook in slow cooker for 3-4 hours on high.

Spaghetti a la Philly

3/4  lb.  spaghetti noodles, uncooked
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed
2 T Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

Cook spaghetti as directed on package.
Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Return meat to skillet. Stir in sauce and cream cheese; cook on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until sauce is well blended and heated through, stirring frequently.
Drain spaghetti. Add to sauce; mix lightly. Place on platter; top with Parmesan.

side note: thanks to Love My Philly!

BBQ Meatballs

1½ pound Ground Beef
¾ cups Oats
1 cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Very Finely Minced Onion
1½ teaspoon Salt
Plenty Of Ground Black Pepper, to taste

1 cup All-Purpose Flour (coating For Frozen Meatballs)
Cooking Oil

1 cup Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Sugar
3 Tablespoons Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire
4-6 Tablespoons Minced Onion
1 dash Tabasco

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine first 6 ingredients. Roll into medium-small balls and place on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in freezer for five minutes.

After 5 minutes, remove meatballs from freezer and immediately dredge in unseasoned flour.

Brown meatballs in oil until just brown. Place into a baking dish.

Combine last 6 ingredients. Pour over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Serving Suggestions


Pioneer Woman suggests serving with egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or crusty French bread.

I like it with Macaroni and Cheese {from a BOX} :)

Beef and Scalloped Potatoes

5 to 6 large Red Potatoes, sliced
1 cup chopped onion, divided
2 tsp salt, divided
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup crushed saltines

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Layer potatoes, 3/4 cup onion, 1 tsp salt, and cheese evenly in a greased 9x13 inch pan.

In a bowl mix: beef, sour cream, saltines, remaining onion and salt. Place beef mixture over potato mixture. Bake covered with foil 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 20 minutes, or until meat and potatoes are done.

side note: this one we seasoned with Italian seasoning as well

Lasagna Casserole

8 oz egg noodles
½ lb ground beef
¼ cup chopped onion
1 TBS oil
Seasonings: garlic, oregano & chili powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 TBS Parmesan
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup grated Mozzarella

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Grease 9x13 baking dish.

Cook noodles 10 minutes.

Brown hamburger in oil with onion & seasonings.

Add cooked noodles, sugar, salt, sauce, Parmesan & cheddar.

Pour into pan, cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.

Remove foil, spread grated Mozzarella and bake 10 more minutes uncovered.

sidenote: made this as a one skillet meal - no baking in the oven. LOVED it much better than the 'casserole'

Taco Soup

½ chopped onion
1 can corn (do not drain)
1 can black beans
1 can tomato soup
1 can chili
½ taco seasoning packet
bag of Fritos {or your choice of corn chip}
grated cheese
sour cream

For a bigger pot {not that this doesn't make a lot} I add..
½ lb cooked ground beef
1 can kidney beans
1 can tomatoes


Directions

Mix all ingredients in slow cooker and cook for 3-4 hours on low.

Serving Suggestions

We serve over Fritos with cheese and sour cream.

Goulash

1 lb hamburger
1 small onion
1 can tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1/8 tsp salt

1 can tomato soup

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni

brown sugar to taste

Directions

Brown hamburger and onion seasoning well. Add all other ingredients.

side note: this was our first time with this one.  It was good, but next time I will add a can of tomato soup {it didn't call for it at all}  and only do 1 cup of macaroni {it called for 2}

Soft Tacos

1/2 lb ground beef
Salsa
1 can re-fried beans
Shredded or chopped lettuce
Grated cheddar cheese
Chopped tomato
Sour cream
Tortillas

Directions

Brown ground beef seasoning with lemon pepper, garlic & onion powder, season all salt and some taco seasoning.  Add some salsa and a little bit of grated cheese.  Warm re-fried beans in the microwave.

Now you are ready to fill your tacos. With a slotted spoon, put a scoop of hot beef onto the tortilla. Add re-fried beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream.

Serving Suggestions

Wrap it up and eat!

Dad's Lasagna

1/2 lb ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

9 Lasagna noodles

16oz tub cottage cheese

3 eggs

2 cups grated Mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese



Directions

Cook noodles. Brown ground beef (I season mine with lemon pepper, onion powder & garlic powder); Mix spaghetti sauce and ground beef. In a separate bowl mix eggs and cottage cheese. In a 2 quart baking dish layer: noodles, sauce, cottage cheese mixture then cheese. Repeat layering, ending with cheese. Cover tightly with foil.  Bake at 375 F for 1 hour.

Serving Suggestions

I serve with salad and garlic bread.  YUM! :)
 
 
side note: I had half a jar of spaghetti sauce in my fridge so I used that and added a jar of my canned tomatoes to the sauce seasoning with Italian seasoning, onion & garlic powder.

Meatloaf

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup cracker crumbs
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt

8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp mustard
1/4 cup vinegar

Directions

Mix first 5 ingredients. In separate bowl mix remaining ingredients. Add 1 cup of tomato mixture to beef mixture. {I added extra cracker crumbs until the extra moisture was absorbed} Form beef mixture into loaf {this part can be done many different ways... bread pan, free form etc.} I press mine into a 9x9 cake pan. Pour remaining tomato mixture on top. Bake at 400 for 1-1 1/2 hours {or till done - I only bake mine about 45-50 minutes because it's in the cake pan.}

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve it with Potato Wedges and a veggie {green beans, corn etc.}