Crunchy Beef Casserole recipe
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This Crunchy Beef Casserole recipe came from Granny’s well worn files and got a handwritten rating of “very good”, her highest praise. It’s warm, soothing, filling, and delicious.
My mother didn’t start making casseroles until my early teens. She had been raised to cook the traditional Southern meal of “Meat and Three” which consisted of a meat, three vegetables, bread, and tea. At our table, dessert was served every night as well. Jealous? Me too. Sure do wish I could have meals like that cooked *for* me now!
My mother never thought to make a casserole because her mother and grandmother had never made them either. The first casserole I remember her making was Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli casserole. Why did she finally make one? Up until then, she’d never had a single casserole recipe!
Casseroles: A Cook’s Best Friend
In today’s busy world, rather than buying frozen family sized meals, homemade casseroles enable you to make your own “convenience” meal in one dish much more economically. Usually, you can double or even triple a recipe for just a few dollars more. I like to mix up several at once and freeze them for home cooked convenience.
How To Cook A Frozen Casserole
To cook a frozen casserole, simply place it in the oven while it preheats and add about ten minutes to the baking time. To develop your own signature casserole recipes, check out my Handy Dandy Casserole chart by clicking here. I developed it on a twelve hour drive back home from Disney World and it has been a great tool in my kitchen!
A Little Bit of Casserole History
Did you know the word ‘casserole’ comes from a french word that means sauce pan. Me neither! This sauce pan is a large, deep dish used both in the oven and as a serving vessel. Sound familiar?
The word casserole also doubles for the food in the “sauce pan” Casseroles came into fad in a big way in the sixties and seventies and with that a variety of colorful casserole dishes were introduced. Have I got you in the casserole mood yet?
We’re off to the races!
Recipe Ingredients:
- French Fried Onions (you don’t need a can as big as the one I have pictured)
- Rotini Pasta (can substitute other type if you like)
- Cream Of Mushroom Soup
- Can of Diced Tomatoes
- Green Pepper
- Ground Beef
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Season All
Here is the Season All.
What is Season All?
It is some lovely seasoned salt.
Cook pasta according to directions. Drain when done.
In large mixing bowl place cream of mushroom soup, tomatoes…
Add seasoned salt..
Cheese…
(“…” is my best friend ya know)
Add green peppers and ground beef that has been cooked and drained.
Toss in your drained pasta
Give it a good stir.
Spoon into casserole Dish.
This recipe says to bake in a 2 quart casserole, which is just slightly smaller than a 9×13 inch dish.
You could bake it in a 9×13 if you like, it just won’t be as deep.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
As always, baking times vary by oven.
Obviously, I’m going to give you the baking times in the original recipes as these have always worked for me.
After thirty minutes, remove from oven and remove foil.
Top with onions and return to oven for five more minutes.
Serve hot. Oh yum.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Corkscrew Macaroni Rotini
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 3/4 tsp Seasoned Salt
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 can 14 oz whole or diced tomatoes
- 3/4 C Green Pepper optional - I leave it out for the kids
- 1 can french fried onions
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed, rince and drain. Brown beef, drain fat. Combine all ingredients except french fried onions. Pour into greased 2 quart casserole. Cover and bake at 350 for thirty minutes. Uncover, top with french fried onions, and bake five minutes longer.
Nutrition
You may also enjoy these easy casserole recipes:
Green Bean Casserole Rich, Creamy With The Perfect Crunch
Ham Egg and Cheese Casserole (Insta Pot or Oven!)
Thank you so much for reading Southern Plate. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you!
Gratefully,
Christy:)
For those who wish to sing, there is always a song
~on a sign hanging in my kitchen.
To submit your positive or motivational quote and read an awful lot of others, please click here.
My daughter made this last night for our supper. It was delicious!!!!!
Christy, I have two mixing bowls left out of a set of three given to me when I married in 1968 with the “Amish Print.” The largest bowl was broken years ago when my three children were running through the kitchen and “accidendently” knocked it off the table. 🙂 I also have a few newer ‘Pyrex’ dishes. This casserole looks delicous.
Have you ever thought of putting the green pepper and a couple table spoons of the tomatoes for the liquid into a mini chopper giving it a whirl. When the kids can’t see the green chunks, the never realize its in the dish. Another one of those what you can’t see won’t hurt you things.
Hmmmm…..I might just have all of this stuff already in my pantry and freezer! 🙂 And this makes me think, too….Pyrex casserole dishes are awesome! I might just have to start a collection, too!
Gotta make this one tomorrow for sure as I just saw ground beef peeking at me when I cleaned the ‘fridge’ awhile ago…”Use me next” it said!!!
This is so darn good I ate my portion before it was even baked.. sure hope I dont get sick from eating it “raw” teehee
I’m ashamed to admit I put off making this casserole for a long time and regret doing so! It is deee-LISH! Put it on my menu for this week! Thank you for all the effort you put into Southern Plate, Christy!