What's for Dinner?

Lasagna is my husband's favorite meal so I'm always looking for new and better recipes to try. This one was so easy to make and my 3 year old loved helping to make the layers. The only change I made was substituting ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese. The best part is that it turned out great! Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
32 ounces cottage cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons dried parsley
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup water

Directions

In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, eggs, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, salt and ground black pepper.
To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Add 1/2 cup water to the edges of the pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

I made this for an annual chili cook off I go to. It has a lot of ingredients but they really develop a great flavor. I browned the meat first and then just threw everything in the crock pot. I didn't win this year but everyone that sampled it seemed to really love it. Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef chuck
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 green chile peppers, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon bacon bits
4 cubes beef bouillon
1/2 cup beer
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 (10.5 ounce) bag corn chips such as Fritos®
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and sausage into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.
Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, chile peppers, bacon bits, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, hot pepper sauce, basil, salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.
To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips and shredded Cheddar cheese.

I wanted to try this because it was different. I wasn't disappointed because it was delicious. The whole family loved it! Makes 10 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
8 ounces macaroni
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
2 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
2 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
1/4 cup chopped green onions

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain.
In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until brown. Mix in tomato soup, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning mix. Stir in pasta.
Spoon beef mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle crumbled taco chips and grated cheese on top.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the cheese is melted. Serve with chopped green onions and sour cream, if desired.

Shepherd's Pie is one of my favorite meals and this was my first time making it. It turned out great! Making the mashed potatoes for the top was a little time consuming but it was well worth it. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

9 potatoes - peeled and cubed
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (6 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (15 ounce) cans green beans, drained
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place the potatoes and water to cover in a large pot over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat; drain excess fat.
To the ground beef, add the tomato sauce, parsley, Worcestershire sauce to taste, salt, ground black pepper and green beans. In a separate small bowl, mix the flour with the 3 tablespoons water and stir into the beef mixture.
Stir all together well. Drain the potatoes, mash and spread over the beef mixture Place 2 to 3 vent holes through the mashed potatoes.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Brush the milk over the potatoes for the last 5 minutes of baking.

I'm not really a meatloaf person but my husband's been bugging me to make one. So I decided to try to switch it up a little and make something that's not as traditional. This recipe was a hit. My 3 year old loved helping me pat the meat into a loaf :-) Makes 5 servings.

Ingredients

1 carrot, grated
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
1 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, saute the carrot and onion for 2 minutes, or until onion is transparent. Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, beef, ketchup, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, bread and eggs, mixing well. Add the carrot/onion mixture and continue mixing, but do not over mix, as this will make the meatloaf dry. Transfer mixture to a 9x13 baking dish and form into a loaf.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes.
While loaf is baking, heat the remaining tomato sauce and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Pour over loaf when done.

This recipe is really yummy. My kids had a great time helping me by taking turns adding all the layers. It has a lot of flavor for using such simple ingredients! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
3 cups peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup milk
salt to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef; drain fat.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, onion, milk, salt and pepper to taste.
Alternately layer the potatoes, soup mixture and meat in a 11x7 inch (2 quart) baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until potatoes are tender. Top with Cheddar cheese, and continue baking until cheese is melted.

I wasn't sure how this recipe would turn out but it was actually pretty good. It's definitely not something you have every day and having that change is nice. You should give it a try! Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

8 ounces ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup red wine
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 eggs
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/3 cup half-and-half cream
8 slices day-old bread, cubed
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese

Directions

Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir until evenly browned. Drain off excess fat. Stir in the red wine, tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes and sea salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar and half-and-half. Place the bread cubes in a 2 quart casserole dish, or square baking pan. Pour in the egg mixture, and chicken stock, and stir in the ground beef mixture. The bread should be saturated. Sprinkle half of the Romano cheese over the top.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden and the center is set. Portion into individual bowls, and top each one with some of the remaining Romano cheese.

This is an easy recipe for a weeknight. It's a light pasta sauce with yummy veggies. Serve with garlic bread and you're done! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

12 ounces spaghetti
1 pound lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

Directions

In a large skillet cook ground beef. Drain excess grease.
In a separate pan saute the onion, garlic, and green bell pepper in olive oil until tender. Add the cooked ground beef, tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, and ground black pepper. Add salt, if desire. Simmer for an hour.
As simmering time nears, in a large pot cook spaghetti until al dente. Drain.
In a large bowl, toss drained spaghetti with tomato paste. Add cooked sauce; mix well.
Serve warm.

This is a quick and easy sauce to make when don't want to use a jar but you don't have time to simmer all day. Basically you brown the beef and throw everything else in. It's delicious! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/3 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
1/4 tablespoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a large skillet cook ground beef. Mix in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, onion soup mix, water, basil, garlic, oregano, salt, and ground black pepper.
Simmer until heated through.

I'm really not sure why this recipe is called what it is but hey, it caught my attention. This is a great alternative to having traditional meatballs with red sauce. My daughter loved them and couldn't wait for seconds. I served them over egg noodles. You might want to double the sauce if you want some for your noodles. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1 pound ground beef chuck
1 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
ground black pepper to taste
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 tablespoons water, or as needed

Directions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook and stir until tender and lightly browned.
Whisk the egg in a large bowl. Add the onion, ground beef, bread crumbs, garlic salt, coriander, nutmeg, parsley and pepper; mix well using your hands. Shape into meatballs using your hands or an ice cream scoop.
Place the meatballs into the skillet, and set over medium-high heat. Cover, and cook until browned on the bottom. Turn, and continue cooking covered, until meatballs are browned on all sides and no longer pink in the center, about 20 minutes. Drain on a paper towel, and pour excess grease out of the skillet.
Pour the cream of mushroom soup into the skillet, and stir in enough water so that it is still a fairly thick gravy. Return the meatballs to the skillet, and stir until coated. Serve over potatoes or egg noodles.

This is definitely something different. I loved the broccoli on top with the cheese but I could take or leave the meat and onion part underneath. My 10 year old gobbled it up though! Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

2 (16 ounce) packages frozen broccoli
2 pounds ground beef
1 (8 ounce) package fresh mushrooms
1 large onion, chopped
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of celery soup
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (16 ounce) package shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare the broccoli according to package directions.
In a skillet over medium heat, mix the ground beef, mushrooms, and onion. Cook until beef is evenly brown; drain grease. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in cream of celery soup and sour cream. Continue cooking until heated through. Transfer to a medium baking dish, and evenly layer with broccoli. Top with cheese.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly brown.

This is a great lasagna, LOTS of flavor. My only recommedation is that if you use the no cook noodles, bake the lasagna for a little longer than 40 minutes. My noodles were slightly undercooked. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
9 lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 pound lean ground beef
2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons white sugar
salt and pepper to taste
3 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
To make filling- Combine in a bowl: ricotta cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and eggs.
To make sauce- In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain grease. Combine in skillet, browned ground beef, oregano, basil, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Heat through and stir.
In a 9x13 inch pan, alternate layers of cooked lasagna noodles, sauce, and filling, making 3 layers total. If desired, top with more mozzarella cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

These really are great. They actually rival my grandmother's recipe which is famous in my family. Try them, you won't be disappointed. Oh and I used the "meatloaf mix" that my grocery store carries. It's all 3 meats ground together in one package. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1 cup olive oil

Directions
Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold its shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)

These are really different, but good different! The meatballs have so much flavor! Serve it over plain white rice for a new take on the meatball dinner. Makes 5 servings.

Ingredients
1 egg
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
1/4 cup instant rice
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

Directions
Lightly beat egg with a fork, then add a heaping tablespoon of the soup and mix lightly. Mix in rice, onion, parsley, onion salt and pepper. Stir in the ground beef and mix well with hands. From mixture into 1 1/2 inch round meatballs.
Coat a large skillet over medium heat with cooking spray. Cook meatballs and brown on all sides.
Combine remaining soup with Worcestershire (you can increase or decrease Worcestershire to your liking), stir until smooth, then spoon over meatballs. Cover with lid and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes.

This a great crock pot recipe for a rainy Sunday, which is exactly when we had it. It makes a ton so there is plenty for seconds. It's a great comfort food! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated or fresh cheese tortellini
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.
Combine the ground meats, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes in a slow cooker. Cover, and cook on LOW heat for 7 to 8 hours.
Stir in the tortellini, and sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes on LOW, or until the tortellini is tender.

My dad didn't make up this recipe, but someone's Dad did and they really did a good job. I was a little skeptical because I'm not a fan of tomato soup but this was really delicious and everyone wanted seconds! Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound spaghetti
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
2 1/2 cups water

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with onion until meat is brown. Drain. Return meat mixture to pan with tomato paste, tomato soup and water. Cook, stirring, until heated through and thickened, 5 to 15 minutes. Serve over cooked pasta.

This recipe is a great new twist on the pot pie. It kind of put an Italian spin on it. It's yummy and is really simple to make. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
2 cups sweet red peppers, with sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Directions
Place peppers, including liquid, into food processor; pulse until peppers are cut into small pieces.
Brown meat and onions. Add peppers, mushrooms, and cheese to meat mixture. Spoon into bottom crust. Cover with top crust, and seal the edges.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until crust is brown, and pie is heated through.

This recipe is a good one pot recipe which I love when it comes to doing the dishes! This is another good meal to make with garlic bread and you're good to go. Yum! Makes 4-6 servings.

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1 onion, chopped
1 clove crushed garlic
1 (8 ounce) package wide egg noodles
1 (4 ounce) jar diced pimento peppers, drained
1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Mix beef and sausage into 1 or 2 flat patties. In a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, salt patties and brown well on each side. Remove meat and set aside.
Saute onion and garlic in the drippings. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the platter with the meat.
In the drippings, carefully brown a single layer of the raw noodles until golden, remove and do another layer until all are done.
Return all the noodles to the skillet with the garlic, onions, peppers, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and water. Break the meat patty into large chunks, gently stir all together and simmer 1/2 hour or so. Add a little water as the noodles absorb the juices. This should not be soupy, just thick and dry. Stir in the grated cheese and let it melt into the sauce. It sticks easily at this point, so don't overcook. This reheats well in a slow cooker or casserole.

I made this in the crock pot without the ground pork because I couldn't find it at the store. I was skeptical at first because for the first few hours, all I could smell was wine. But after it slow simmered for a while, it turned out delicious. I served it over spaghetti wtih some garlic bread. Mmmm! Makes 20 servings.

Ingredients
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 cups red wine
2 pounds fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
4 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
3 (29 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and pork over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside.
In a large skillet, warm olive oil over medium heat and saute onions and garlic until tender; add about 1/2 cup of wine; mix well.
Add mushrooms, rosemary, oregano and thyme to skillet and add another 1/2 cup wine; saute until tender.
Add browned meat, tomato sauce and tomato paste to mixture; simmer for 1 hour and add the remaining 2 cups of wine.
Simmer sauce on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally; serve.

These are really great. The whole family loved them. I made them smaller than the recipe calls for. I only used 1 pound of ground beef and mixed the bacon and onions right in. So much better than regular burgers! Makes 4 servings.

Ingredients
1 small onion, chopped
4 slices bacon, chopped
fresh-ground black pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
4 hamburger buns

Directions
Prepare a grill for medium heat. When hot, lightly oil the grate.
Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add onions to the pan; cook and stir until bacon is browned, but not crisp and onion is soft. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Season to taste with black pepper.
In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and onion soup mix. Divide into 8 balls and then flatten into thin patties. Place a quarter of the bacon mixture onto each of four patties. Top with the remaining patties and press the edges together to seal.
Grill the burgers for about 15 minutes, turning once, until well done. Serve on buns with your favorite condiments.