Crunchy and inexpensive ground beef casserole based on Chinese beef and broccoli.

Here’s an easy one-dish meal that will please mostly everyone.

I’m not going to say this duplicates the authentic Chinese recipe, because it really doesn’t.  It’s more reminiscent of the dish actually.

Hearty and crunchy

The original recipe for the basic casserole was found in one of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.  However, I didn’t care for the seasonings nor that it didn’t incorporate any veggies.  So I changed it to include some broccoli and added some Asian-style seasoning.

This would be even nicer if leftover jasmine rice was substituted for the instant rice. In that case, I’d reduce the water by 1/2 if I made that change.  I think the taste of jasmine rice would kick up the flavor even more!

Complete meal in one dish

Feel free to add more veggies or a combo–maybe some sliced water chestnuts and mushrooms too.

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Crunchy Beef & Broccoli Casserole

Here’s an easy one-dish meal that will please mostly everyone. Crunchy and inexpensive ground beef casserole based on Chinese beef and broccoli.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time40 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: beef, Comfort Foods, Dinner, Everyday Meals

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: beef and broccoli, casserole recipe

Servings: 6

Calories: 514kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs very lean ground beef
• 1 small onion chopped
• 8 oz small broccoli florets or chopped broccoli
• 1 cup instant rice
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 10.75 oz cream of celery soup
• 10.75 oz golden mushroom soup
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 cups chow mein noodles
• chopped green onions for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray a 3.5 quart baking dish (or 13x9 dish) with non-stick spray.
• Brown onion, garlic and ground beef over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet.
• Mix remaining ingredients except chow mein noodles and green onion in a medium bowl. Stir in ground beef mixture and turn into prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes or until casserole is bubbly. Top with chow mein noodles and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• Garnish liberally with green onion, if desired.
• Serves 6

Nutrition

Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1420mg | Potassium: 665mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 379IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 7mg

Crunchy Beef & Broccoli Casserole

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First of all, I read my local ads carefully to decide where to do the bulk of my shopping.  Then I made a list and stuck to it.

I was surprised that I was able to get a sufficient amount of food and foods that were relatively healthy too.

Of course, I wasn’t going to buy pantry items I have on hand, and I’d suspect most households no matter what income level, have on hand as well.  These would include, at the very least, oil, flour, sugar, oatmeal, margarine/butter, some form of pasta and a couple of cans of condensed soup and salt & pepper & the like.

I did a majority of my shopping in ShopRite, then a couple of other local stores.  I live in a rural area where I must drive in order to shop.  Also, shopping centers seem to be congregated all around each other, therefore I made sure to hit every store on my route without unnecessary driving–I planned my trip.

Rather than take $3-$4 and try to shop for one day, I multiplied that and came up with a weekly allotment for a family of 2 originally.  However, when I saw what I could get, especially bulk packaged, I extended this for a family of 4 because what I bought would indeed feed a family of 4 for one week.  No, you couldn’t “eat like there was no tomorrow,” but you would not starve and you’d be relatively healthy.  I spent a total of $54 on this food.  Here is the food I got for this total:

These items from various stores totaling $12

What I spent in ShopRite

No child in this country should ever go hungry.  Our children are our most precious resource.  Please take 30 seconds to go to this website and encourage Congress to pass anti-hunger legislation.  Please understand this is not political in nature.  No matter what our individual politics are I think we can all agree that no child should go hungry or wonder where their next meal is coming from.

No Hungry Kid

Please also take the time to see the film,  “A Place at the Table.”  This link lists showtimes in your city. It is also available through iTunes and at Amazon.com

So here is a recipe using what I bought on my challenge shopping trip.  I had some pantry items that I had on hand like the soup, the celery, a few leftover baby carrots and traditional seasoning.

This meal is hearty and filling.  The chicken thighs were huge.  I made 2 portions since I don’t have a family, however doubled, it’s a complete and relatively healthy meal for a family of 4.

Tasty and economical

Please remember to observe proper sanitation when preparing raw meat, and especially chicken.  Wash and disinfect all surfaces the poultry came in contact with.

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Chicken with Creamy Brown Rice

This meal is hearty and filling.  The chicken thighs were huge.  I made 2 portions since I don’t have a family, however doubled, it’s a complete and relatively healthy meal for a family of 4.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Chicken, Comfort Foods, Everyday Meals

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken, creamy brown rice

Servings: 4

Calories: 668kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs or any other parts
• 1 cup brown rice
• 2 cups water
• 20 oz 2 10 oz cans cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup sliced celery
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 13 x 9-inch pan with non-stick spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the brown rice, the soup, the water, sliced vegetables and the 1 tbs olive oil. Mix well and add to prepared baking dish.
• Rinse chicken and pat dry. Place on top of rice mixture in prepared pan. Brush each piece with the 1 tsp olive oil. Mix the salt, pepper & thyme and distribute over top of the chicken pieces.
• Bake at 375 for 1 hour or until rice is tender and chicken has an internal temperature of 185 degrees (or juices run clear)

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 668kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 1427mg | Potassium: 615mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3100IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg

Chicken with Creamy Brown Rice

 

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A dessert that’s like banoffee pie in a cup–for those who don’t know what banoffee pie is, it’s a glorious combination of bananas, toffee and whipped cream.

Like pizza rolls but don’t like the price?  Here’s an easier and cheaper way.

If you’re also tired of spending big bucks at those fast-food joints for their “special” burgers,  I have a one-dish meal for you, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes and 4 servings probably cost LESS than one meal in one of those places.

Plus a lot more!

The post Coming In April appeared first on The Midnight Baker.

Twisted Tater Tot Casserole

 

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Twisted Tater Tot Casserole

Not your ordinary Tater Tot Casserole!

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time50 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: beef, Comfort Foods

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beef, casserole recipe, tater tots

Servings: 4 -6

Calories: 602kcal

Author: Judith Hannemann

Ingredients

• 1 lb very lean ground beef at least 85% lean
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup low-fat preferred, but not necessary
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 6 strips cooked bacon crumbled
• 1/2 cup french fried onions such as French's
• 2 cups potato "crowns" or regular tater tots

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Press
• ground beef into a 11 x 7-inch deep baking dish. Spread the potato
• crowns evenly on top of the ground beef. Pour the soup over the potato
• crowns. Sprinkle the diced bell peppers, bacon and french fried onions
• on top of the soup. Distribute one cup of the cheese on top.
• Bake
• at 350 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and stir the
• casserole, breaking meat into chunks. Add the rest of the cheese and
• cook for an additional 20-30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 602kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 966mg | Potassium: 714mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 892IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 426mg | Iron: 4mg

Twisted Tater Tot Casserole

 

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