Skillet Hamburger & Rice Taco Hotdish

I love a one-pan meal that comes together with pantry staples in 30 minutes or less!  This hamburger and rice dish can easily be altered for your own spice preferences and anything else you like mixed in!  We like topping it with crushed up doritos!

Enjoy!

Skillet Hamburger & Rice Taco Hotdish

1 lb Ground Beef
1 Small Onion, minced
2 1/2 Cups Water
2 Tsp Beef Better Than Bouillon
1/2 Cup (uncooked) Long-Grain White Rice
1 Can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can Corn, drained
1/4 Cup Tomato Paste
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Oregano
1/4 Tsp Pepper
Shredded Cheddar Cheese for topping

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown hamburger with onion.  Once no pink remains in hamburger, drain off grease, and return to pan.  Stir in water, bouillon, rice, beans, corn, and seasonings.  Bring to boil, cover, and reduce heat to simmer.  Cook covered at a simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring a few times while cooking, until rice reaches desired tenderness.  Remove from heat, top with shredded cheese, cover and allow residual heat to melt cheese.  Serve warm as is or with your favorite taco toppings.

Notes: If using really lean hamburger, add 1 tbsp olive oil to pan when frying.  Beef broth can be used instead of water and bouillon.  Brown rice can be substituted, but will require longer simmer time.

Crockpot Pesto Chicken Pasta

Coming out of the shadows with this gem of a recipe because I loved it that much!  

Enjoy!

Crockpot Pesto Chicken Pasta

    1.5 lbs Chicken - About 3 chicken breasts

    Salt & Pepper

    8 oz Jar Pesto

    1/2 Cup Butter

    1 Small Lemon

    Sun-Dried Tomato, diced (optional)

Add chicken to crockpot.  Salt and pepper lightly, spread pesto over chicken, juice lemon over chicken, and lay slices of butter on top.  Can add extra minced garlic and diced sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.  Cook on low 6 hours - do not open lid while cooking.

    1 lb Dried Rotini Pasta

    1/2 Cup Parmesan, grated

    2 Cups Mozzarella, shredded

Near the end of the chicken cooking, boil pasta al-dente and drain.  Shred chicken with two forks in crockpot, then stir in cooked pasta and parmesan.  Once pasta is coated with sauce and chicken is mixed in well, top with mozzarella and cover for 10-15 more minutes, until the cheese is melted.  Serve and enjoy!

Ham and Swiss Rice Casserole with Broccoli

Our family really liked this casserole or as we call it in these parts, hot dish!  A great way to use up leftover ham.  The star ingredients, veggies, protein, cheese, rice etc, can easily be substituted for what you have on hand/prefer.  The recipe can also easily be made ahead in the morning to throw in the oven for supper or frozen for another day!

Enjoy!

Ham and Swiss Rice Casserole

2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Cup Onion, chopped
2 1/4 Cups Chicken Broth
1 1/4 Cup Long Grain White Rice
2 Heads Broccoli, cut into chunks
2 Cups Cooked Ham, diced
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
3/4 Cup Milk
1 - 8oz Pkg Swiss and Gruyére Shredded Cheese (Found at Aldi)
Pepper

Topping:
1 Cup Ritz Crackers, crushed
2 Tbsp Butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add diced onions and cook for approximately 5 minutes, until softened.  Add broth and rice to pan; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover pan, and cook for 8 minutes.  Remove lid, stir rice up from the bottom with a spatula, add broccoli, replace lid, and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes.  Turn off heat on pan.  Stir in ham, soup, sour cream, milk, half (1 cup) of the cheese, and season to taste.  Spread into lightly greased 9x13 pan and top with remaining cheese.  Cover and bake for 20 minutes.  Combine cracker crumbs with melted butter; spread over the top of casserole and bake an additional 10 minutes uncovered.  Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes: If using frozen broccoli, allow it to thaw and drain ahead of time (or pat dry).  Some prepackaged ham comes in water, you will want to let it dry a little on a paper towel or pan fry quick before adding to recipe (this step is not necessary if using leftover baked ham).

Mostaccioli

This is a favorite pasta dish in our house!  As a big family, we love a hearty recipe that makes enough for left-overs too!  This is also one of my favorite freezer meals and/or take a meal to someone dish!  I often will split the recipe - cook half and put the other half in the freezer for another day OR I'll just make a double batch for a few freezer meals!  I can just throw a salad together, add some garlic bread on the side, and bellies are happy!

Enjoy!

Mostaccioli
Serves 12

1 - 16 oz Box Mostaccioli Pasta (Ziti makes a good substitute)
1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 Bell Pepper, finely diced
1 Medium Onion, chopped
2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 - 26 oz Jar Spaghetti Sauce
1 Can Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup, undiluted
1 1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning
3/4 Tsp Ground Pepper
2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook mostaccioli according to package directions (I like to al-dente/firm for baked pasta dishes) and drain.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet brown hamburger with peppers, onion, and garlic, drain.  In a large bowl (or the pan you're going to cook in), mix together spaghetti sauce, soup, Italian seasoning, ground pepper, and hamburger together.  Then, stir in mostaccioli and 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese to beef mixture.  Transfer to 2 11x7" baking dishes (or one deep 9x13) and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Cover pan with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes (about 30 minutes if using 9x13" pan), remove foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

If preparing from freezer: Thaw in refrigerator overnight, remove from refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking, and bake covered in preheated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes.

Eggs Benedict Breakfast Bake

I love eggs benedict, but I love how easy this casserole is to make more!  I made this recently for a weekend retreat and the pan was almost licked clean, they all loved it so much!  This is a make-ahead, overnight casserole - so nice to just pop it in the oven the morning of!  I mixed up my hollandaise sauce during the last 10 minutes of baking.

Enjoy!

Eggs Benedict Breakfast Bake

6 English Muffins, chopped in 1" pieces
12 oz Canadian Bacon, chopped
8 Eggs
2 Cups Milk (I used 2%)
1 Tsp Onion Powder
Salt & Pepper
1/4 Tsp Paprika

Sauce:
4 Egg Yolks
1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 Cup Butter, melted

Split English muffins and chop into one inch pieces (I chopped mine into 9 pieces).  Spread pieces onto an ungreased baking pan and broil for 2 minutes (until bread is toasted) and then flip over and broil for another minute or two.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, onion powder, salt, and pepper (to taste).

Grease 9x13 baking dish.  Sprinkle half of the Canadian bacon on bottom of dish, top with broiled English muffins, then remaining Canadian bacon.  Then, pour egg mixture evenly over top.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove dish from refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until center is set.

Sauce:
In a double broiler or metal bowl over simmering water; constantly whisk eggs yokes, cream, lemon juice, and mustard until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.  Reduce heat to low.  Slowly whisk in warm melted butter, making sure not to stop whisking until it is all incorporated.  Drizzle over casserole or portion sauce on each plate.

Dorito Hotdish

This dish is not light and therefore, definitely not diet friendly, but it sure does fill you up in the yummiest way!  Yummy with ground beef or shredded chicken (approximately 2 cups), use whatever cheese your heart desires (I like cheddar), and make it as mild or spicy as your family prefers!

Enjoy!

Dorito Hotdish

1 lb Hamburger, browned & drained
2 Cups Shredded Cheese
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes with Chilies (mild)
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Black Beans, drained
1 Can Corn, drained
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Packet Taco Seasoning
1 Bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, mix together hamburger, 1 cup cheese, Rotel, soup, beans, corn, milk, sour cream, and taco seasoning.  Spray your baking dish (I use a 9x13 glass pan), take half of the crushed Doritos and spread on the bottom, then layer with 1/2 of the meat mixture, repeat Dorito's and meat mixture, top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.  Cover and bake for 35 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until nice and bubbly.

Cheesy Chicken & Wild Rice Hotdish

Lets just say it...I LOVE HOTDISH!!  I'm a good Lutheran girl from Minnesota and we know our hotdishes (go ahead and call them casseroles or whatever you want in your parts)!  Being from Minnesota also throws in love for wild rice too!  :)

I have been a fan of Picky Palate long before I even decided to become a blogger myself.  She likes to post lots of crazy yummy desserts, cookies, and things of the like, but every now and then she throws out a DELICIOUS dinner gem like this one.  I have been making this for a long time, but was finally able to snap a quick pick (albeit on my iPhone and a bit blurry/grainy) so I could share it with you all!  This always goes over well and I hardly get to enjoy leftovers!

Tips: I buy a rotisserie chicken at Costco (they're usually cheaper than preparing the chicken myself) to make this and usually have enough chicken left over to throw another hotdish in the freezer for later (because it makes a great freezer meal for those busy nights).  You can also buy ready-made rice and use in the recipe (from Trader Joe's or your local grocery like PP suggests in her post).

Enjoy!

Cheesy Chicken & Wild Rice Hotdish

3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion, finely chopped
3 Stalks of Celery, finely chopped
3 Carrots, peeled & finely chopped
3-4 Cloves Garlic, minced (use up to 2 TSP of minced garlic from the jar)
2 Cups Chicken, cooked & shredded
2 Cups Prepared White Rice
2 Cups Prepared Wild Rice
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
1/4 Tsp Garlic Salt
1 1/2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese (for topping)

Cheese Sauce:
4 Tbsp Butter
1/4 Cup Flour
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
2 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Sauté onion, celery, and carrots until soft - approximately 10 minutes.  Stir in garlic and cook for additional minute.  Stir in chicken, rices, and seasoning - reduce heat to low.

In another sauce pan - melt butter over medium-high heat.  Whisk in flour, salt and pepper - then slowly whisk in broth.  Continue stirring until nearly boiling and add in cheese until melted.  Pour cheese sauce into rice mixture and transfer to 9x13 baking dish.  Top with additional cheese and bake for 30 minutes (until cheese is melted through).

Chicken & Rice {Hotdish}

I have been making this hotdish for a looong time.  In fact, I first got the recipe from a family I babysat for when I was 14. With a busy family, this is really easy to put together - I bet even your babysitter could do it! :)

Enjoy!

Chicken & Rice Hotdish

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 Cup Chicken Broth (1 Cup Hot Water + 3 Bullion Cubes)
1 Cup Milk
3 Cups Instant Rice (such as Minute Rice
3 Chicken Breasts, cut-up
1 Bag Frozen Sliced Carrots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients in 9x13 glass pan (yay for no extra dirty bowls!) and bake for 60-75 minutes until nice and bubbly.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

This is a super simple casserole that is sure to please everyone in the family.  Use a rotisserie chicken bought from the store, leftover roasted chicken or turkey, or even use a couple cans of chicken.  You can pretty much wing this recipe and change up ingredients to suit what you have in your kitchen.  One of the things I love the most about the ingredients list for this casserole...it doesn't require "cream of something" soup.  :)

Enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Casserole

14-16 oz Pasta (I used bow-tie on this occasion)
1/2 Cup Butter
6 Tbsp Flour
4 Cups Chicken Broth
1 1/2 Cups Half & Half (or 3/4 cup milk & 3/4 cup cream)
1/2 Tsp Chicken Seasoning
1/4 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Pepper
3-4 Cups Chicken, cut up
1/2 Cup Parmesan, grated
2 Cups Frozen or 1 Can Peas 
3/4 Cup Parmesan, shredded

Cook pasta al-dente per package instructions, drain.  In large sauce pan, heat butter until melted.  Stir in flour and seasonings - stir constantly until smooth and bubbly.  Slowly add in broth, then half and half and bring to a boil, stirring constantly - boil and stir for 1 minute.  In 9x13" pan, stir together noodles, cream mixture, grated parmesan, and peas.  Top with shredded parmesan.  To serve immediately: bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes , until good and bubbly.  To freeze for another day: after topping with parmesan, do not bake.  Cover dish well and freeze.  When ready to use; completely thaw dish in refrigerator and bake according to directions.

Taco Pie

I was over at Tasty Kitchen looking for new things to try and decided to give this taco pie a go! :)  We really liked it...it's quite the combination of YUM and I'm sure very low in carbs! hee hee

Enjoy!!

Taco Pie

1 lb Hambuger, cooked and drained
1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
1 Taco Seasoning Packet
2 (8 oz) Cans Crescent Rolls
1 (9 oz) Bag Fritos
16 oz Sour Cream
8 oz Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook meat. Drain and add chopped onion and taco seasoning packet. Add the water the packet calls for, and simmer as instructed on the taco seasoning packet.  Cover the bottom and sides of 9"x13" dish with the crescent rolls. Press seams together to make one continuous crust (you may not need all of the second package).  Cover the crescent roll crust with a layer of crushed Fritos. Add your meat mixture to the top of your crushed chip layer.  Spread sour cream over the meat mixture. Sprinkle cheese over the sour cream.  Top with another layer of crushed Fritos.  Cook for 30 minutes.

Chicken and Biscuit Casserole

This is a yummy dish which is very easy!  I loved that it didn't require me to cook a chicken before I could make it (although you could if you wanted) because a whole rotisserie chicken (shredded) from the grocery store was the perfect amount!

Disclaimer:  You'll  notice what almost looks like bread crumbs on top of the biscuits of my casserole...this is what happens when you're sauteing garlic and your kids decide to break out into a mini wrestling match!  I over-browned it and used it anyways!  It's amazing how fast garlic can go from pretty and nicely sauteed to crispy and over-done!!

Enjoy!

Chicken and Biscuit Casserole

4 Cups Chicken, shredded
1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Onion, minced
3 Stalks Celery, diced/sliced (however big you like your celery)
2 Tbsp Flour
1 (14 oz) Can Chicken Broth
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
Salt and Pepper, to taste
2 Cups Bisquick Mix
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2/3 Cups Milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt half of the butter with minced garlic; saute for 1 minute. Set aside.

Place the shredded chicken into a casserole dish.  In a saute pan, melt the remaining butter. Saute celery and onions for approximately 4 minutes.  Lower the heat, add flour, and then chicken broth. Simmer for 2 or 3 minutes. Take off heat and add cream of chicken soup, add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour over shredded chicken and mix in well.

In a separate bowl, mix Bisquick mix, milk and shredded cheese. Drop this by rounded spoonfuls onto the chicken.

Baste the biscuits with the previously-made garlic butter and cook in the oven for 22-25 minutes.

Tater Tot Hotdish

This is a staple meal for us in our house and makes a heavy rotation on our dinner menu!  The beauty of this recipe is that you can change up the ingredients with what you have on-hand!  Best of all it's pretty darn cheap to make and the left-overs are wonderful!  This recipe makes a great freezer meal to be pulled out and baked later too!

Enjoy!

 
Tater Tot Hotdish

1 lb Ground Beef
1 Onion, minced
2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 Can Cream of Mushroom OR Chicken Soup
1 (Soup) Can Milk
1 Bag Frozen Vegetables (we like corn)
1 Bag Tator Tots
8 oz Cheese, Shredded (optional and often measured with our hearts, not a cup)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown beef with onion and garlic, drain. In large bowl or right in a 9x13 pan; mix soup, milk, and beef, add shredded cheese. Top with tater tots. Bake for 30-45 minutes in 350 degree oven, until bubbly and tots are browned.