In the Lakes Kitchen, we cook from scratch as much as we can . It is more cost effective per serving, and recipes from scratch are also healthier.  I like knowing what I am eating, and the quality of ingredients are equally as important.  Although our family enjoys eating chili, chili in a can is one of those grocery items that I will buy once in a blue moon.  Homemade chili from scratch tastes better. You know what you are eating, and the cost is minimal when comparing it to chili in a can. This makes making chili from scratch completely worth it.

Whenever a recipe calls for canned chili, I make a quick batch of this Ground Beef Chili Con Carne With Beans to substitute in its’ place.

This is a basic chili recipe; however, it is easy to adapt for more flavor.  You can top the chili with chips, avocado, or onion as examples.  I hope your family enjoys eating this chili as much as we do.

Ground Beef Chili Con Carne With Beans - Like Canned Chili, But Better And From Scratch

January 5, 2021

Servings: 6

Difficulty: So Easy

An incredibly easy and delicious version of chili that is better than canned chili (taste, ingredients, and cost effectiveness).

By: The Lakes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons chili powder
• 3 cups water
• 2 15 ounce cans of beans

Directions

• Step 1 Brown the ground beef.
• Step 2 Add the flour, salt, chili powder, and water to the pan.
• Step 3 Drain and rinse the beans. I used one can of black beans and one can of kidney beans.
• Step 4 Add the beans and let everything simmer for 20-25 minutes.
• Step 5 Garnish with onion, cheese, or any other toppings.

Method:

Brown the ground beef in a pan until it is thoroughly cooked.

Next, add the flour, salt, chili powder, and water.

Mix the ingredients together in the pan, and bring it to a boil.

While the chili is boiling, drain and rinse the beans.  I used one can of kidney beans and one can of black beans, but you can use any kind of beans that you want.

Add the beans to the pan after they are drained and rinsed.

Simmer everything over low heat for 20 – 25 minutes.  Watch as the chili thickens and water evaporates to make a delicious homemade chili made from scratch.

When the Ground Beef Chili Con Carne With Beans is ready to eat, serve it in bowls.  You can garnish it with freshly chopped onion and shredded cheese for even more flavor.  Try any other toppings that you like to eat with chili.

Here are a few other recipes you might want to try:

• Southwest Ground Beef Soup

• Ground Beef Chili Con Carne Soup

• Enchilada Pie

This is almost a lasagna type of casserole that is simple to make for family and company.  The ingredients are minimal – only 6, and many of these you might already have in the kitchen.  This recipe can easily be doubled to make an extra casserole to freeze.

To make this quick recipe, brown the ground beef and cook it thoroughly.

Add in the jar of spaghetti sauce.  I let it simmer while the pasta is cooking.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions, and then drain the noodles.

Spread half of the the ground beef and spaghetti mixture in the pan.

Add all of the noodles over the ground beef and spaghetti sauce mixture.

Spread the other half of the meat mixture over the noodles.

Cut the cream cheese into cubes and spread the cubes across the cream cheese mixture.  I did the same with the sour cream, except I used a spoon to place the dollops of sour cream across the top.  I think this is much easier and more efficient than mixing the sour cream and cream cheese together in another bowl and using more dishes.

Sprinkle the top with any shredded cheese that you prefer.  Then you are ready to place the casserole in the oven.

Bake the casserole in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated all the way through.

If you liked this recipe, you should also try the Ricotta Cheese and Ground Beef Spaghetti Bake Recipe.

Ground Beef and Cream Cheese Pasta Casserole

December 9, 2020

Servings: 6-8

Prep: 10 min

Cook: 30 min

Total: 40 min

Difficulty: Easy

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A lasagna type casserole that is so simple and easy to make using only 6 ingredients. Layers of pasta, ground beef, spaghetti sauce, and cheese make a delicious dinner any day of the week.

By: The Lakes

Ingredients

• 1 - 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
• 1 26 oz jar spaghetti sauce
• 16 ounces of pasta - any kind
• 1 package of cream cheese - 8 oz
• 1 cup sour cream
• 16 ounces of cheese

Directions

• Step 1 Brown the ground beef, and then add the spaghetti sauce.
• Step 2 Cook the noodles according to the package directions and drain them.
• Step 3 Place half of the ground beef and spaghetti sauce mixture at the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish.
• Step 4 Place all of the pasta on top, and then add the remaining meat mixture on top.
• Step 5 Add the cream cheese and sour cream by placing dollops over the meat mixture.
• Step 6 Spread the shredded cheese across the top.
• Step 7 Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.

Do you love chili relleno, but you don’t have a lot of time to make the traditional recipe?  This chili relleno casserole recipe may take less time to prepare that the traditional recipe.  Using mostly pantry staples, except for the ground beef, eggs, milk and cheese, this recipe comes together quickly and almost effortlessly, without sacrificing the flavor.  When I make this recipe, I actually double it, so that we have leftovers – it is that good!

Chili Relleno Casserole

October 15, 2020

Servings: 6

Difficulty: Easy

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If you like traditional chili relleno, but you need a quicker version, this chili relleno casserole is for you.

By: The Lakes

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 peppers, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 cups shredded cheese
• 2 cans chopped green chilis (4 ounces each)
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 can tomato sauce (15 ounces)
• Extra cheese

Directions

• Step 1 1. Brown and cook the ground beef.
• Step 2 2. Add the pepper, salt, bell peppers, oregano and garlic powder and cook until the peppers are softened.
• Step 3 3. Put half of the meat mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish, then put 1 can of chilis on top, and then add half the cheese mixture (2 cups)
• Step 4 4. In a separate bowl, combine the 4 eggs, 3/4 cup of milk, and 1 tablespoon of flour and mix this well.
• Step 5 5. Pour the egg mixture over the layers of meat, green chilis, and cheese that are in the casserole dish.
• Step 6 6. Bake the casserole for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
• Step 7 7. Remove the casserole for the oven and spread the can of tomato sauce over the top of the casserole. Sprinkle with additional cheese if you want.
• Step 8 8. Place the casserole back in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the tomato sauce is warmed and the cheese is melted.
• Step 9 Enjoy!!

Method:

First, brown the ground beef and cook it until the ground beef is thoroughly cooked.

Then, add the peppers – I used frozen bell peppers that were already sliced, but if you have fresh peppers, that is even better!  Also add the salt, pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder.  Cook until the peppers are tender.

The final steps are even easier.  In a casserole dish, place half the meat mixture for the bottom layer.

Next, spread a can of chopped green chilies on top of the meat mixture.

Once the chopped green chiles are spread on the meat layer, add 2 cups of cheese.  I used 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella, but you can use any combination of cheese that you like.

Then, repeat the layers in this order:  meat layer, diced green chilies, and then the shredded cheese.

Next, in a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and flour.  Pour this mixture over the layers you’ve just made.

Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees in the oven.

After 35 minutes, removes the casserole from the oven.  Spread the can of tomato sauce over the top.

Sprinkle with extra cheese for more delicious flavor.

Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to warm the tomato sauce and melt the shredded cheese.

Remove from the oven and enjoy!

If you enjoyed the Chili Relleno Casserole recipe, you may want to try this One Pot Cheesy Salsa Noodles recipe.  You can pick the kind of noodles, salsa, and cheese that you want to us in this recipe.  It is also made in only one pot, and it can be ready in minutes.