Save time and money by buying one type of protein, cooking it all at once, and then creating 5 quick and delicious meals for your family!
This month we are featuring ground beef. The recipes below are more of an idea starter to help you get going. You can experiment or change things up by using ingredients you already have in your pantry. We created these recipes for a family of four -- so you might need to adjust your quantities.
Like the sides paired here? We’ve put together a shopping list at the bottom of this story to make it easy for you to shop -- but we bet you have most of the items on hand already. Enjoy!
 Ground beef |
- 5 pounds ground beef (we used 85% lean)
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
Directions:
Salt and pepper the ground beef. Cook in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until beef is fully cooked. Divide equally into 5 containers and refrigerate.
Prep Time:
10 - 15 minutes.
Meal One:
Mummy Quesadillas
Start your week out celebrating Halloween with these fun Mummy Quesadillas!
- Let the kids help with cutting 4 tortillas into long strips. Scissors work great for this task.
- Layer four whole tortillas with shredded cheese, cooked ground beef, pepperoni, and more cheese.
- Top with the cut pieces to resemble a mummy.
- Add sliced black olives for the eyes.
- Microwave each tortilla for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through and melty. Enjoy!
 Mummy Quesadillas! |
Meal Two:
Easy Chili
- Sauté one chopped onion, half a bag of small sweet multi-colored peppers, 1 small diced jalapeño (optional), and 2 cloves of garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until tender.
- Add one container of cooked ground beef, one can of diced tomatoes, one can of crushed tomatoes, 2 cans of your favorite beans (drained not rinsed), a packet of chili or taco seasoning, a dash of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!
 Easy Chili |
Meal Three:
Unstuffed Peppers Casserole
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook 1/2 cup of rice according to directions.
- In a large sauté pan, add one tablespoon olive oil and cook one chopped onion, and a half bag of sweet mini peppers until just tender.
- Add 1/2 cup chopped green olives, 1 cup parmesan cheese, one can of diced tomatoes and a container of ground beef. Stir. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cooked rice and combine.
- Top with Italian breadcrumbs, more parmesan cheese, melted butter, and parsley.
- Bake until top is light golden brown.
 Unstuffed Peppers Casserole |
Meal Four:
Baked Ziti
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook one pound of ziti pasta according to directions. Stop cooking one minute short of cooking time.
- In a large sauté pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add 1 cup of onions finely chopped, 3 cloves of minced garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in your favorite tomato sauce, a dash of nutmeg and a container of cooked ground beef.
- In a casserole dish, layer with sauce, half the pasta, sauce again, then top with 1/4 cup of full-fat plain Greek yogurt*, one cup of mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat.
- Top with 5 slices of provolone cheese and a final layer of mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and parsley.
*Greek yogurt is a great healthy substitute for sour cream or ricotta cheese!
Baked Ziti
Meal Five:
Sloppy Joes
- In a sauté pan, add 1 teaspoon of oil and heat pan to medium heat.
- Add 1 chopped onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in a container of cooked ground beef and a can of your favorite sloppy joe sauce.
- Simmer for 5 minutes, or until heated through, and serve on top of your favorite rolls.
- Offer condiments of chopped raw onion, pickles, relish, and mustard.
 Sloppy Joes |
Shopping List:
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Salt, pepper, nutmeg, parsley
- 1 packet of chili or taco seasoning
- 5 pounds lean ground beef
- 4 onions
- Garlic
- Jalapeño
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Bag of small sweet multi-colored peppers
- Bag of shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Bag of shredded mozzarella
- Parmesan cheese
- Sliced provolone cheese
- Pepperoni
- 1 jar green olives
- 1 can black olives
- 1 can sloppy joe sauce
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can black beans (or your favorite beans)
- 1 can kidney beans (or your favorite beans)
- 1 jar tomato sauce
- Italian bread crumbs
- Box of Ziti pasta
- Rice
- Package of 8 flour tortillas
- Package of 4 sandwich rolls
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