Frugal Beef Tacos

I found this great recipe on https://pssst.generalmills.com/. This is a site that helps you save money as make great meals!! This meal is in the new "$5 Dinner Mom Cookbook." I am totally getting this book!!! You can purchase it at Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com....

Beef Tacos

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1 cup white rice ($.20) ¾ pound ground beef ($1.12) ½ onion, chopped ($.15) 2 teaspoons ground cumin($.10) salt and pepper 8 Old El Paso taco shells ($.75)

1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce ($.25) 1 plum tomato, chopped ($.53) 1 cup cheddar cheese ($.75) ½ cup sour cream ($.15) 4 ears of corn ($1)

In a medium saucepan, bring 2½ cups of water to a boil, add the rice and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef with chopped onion. Drain excess fat. Return the beef to the skillet and add the ground cumin, salt and pepper and ¼ cup of water. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the cooked taco meat to the taco shells and top with the shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Remove the husks and silk from the ears of corn and boil the corn in a large pot of water for 4 to 5 minutes or place the ears of corn in microwave-safe baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 7 to 9 minutes.

Serve Beef Tacos with Rice and Corn on the Cob.

Cost: $4.91

Frugal Fact: Coupons for name-brand taco shells, such as Old El Paso, and sour cream are released several times throughout the year. Match the coupon with a sale or store promotion for the lowest price on taco shells and sour cream.

TEX MEX Bake

• 1 bag Success rice
• non-stick cooking spray
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes & green chilies
• 1 lb. ground beef, browned (8-10 min.)
• 4 cups tortilla chips, crushed
• 1 can (15 oz.) seasoned pinto or chili beans
• 1 lb. Velveeta cut into cubes, divided
• 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
• garnish with green onions and guacamole (Wholly brand works well)

Directions:

1. Prepare oven to 350. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Prepare rice according to package directions and set aside
3. In a medium bowl, combine cooked rice, diced tomatoes, green chilies and ground beef. Set aside.
4. Cover baking dish bottom with tortilla chips. Layer 1/2 of the Velveeta over the tortilla chips. Top with beans and rice-tomato-beef mixture. Top with remaining Velveeta.
5. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until Velveeta is melted. Garnish with green onions and guacamole, if desired.
   

Sweet & Savory Meatballs

This is a new family fave!!

Sweet & Savory Meatballs

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• Small amount of chopped onion
• 1 egg
• 1 can golden mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup canned tomatoes, drained
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. vinegar
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• dash of pepper

Mix beef, bread crumbs, onion and egg together. Shape in 12 meatballs. In skillet, brown meatballs in oil. Add remaining ingredients together; pour over meatballs. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes or until done; stir. Serve with rice or noodles. :)

Beef Roast Italian Style

• 1 bag (16 oz.) baby carrots
• 4 to 6 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 to 3 pounds beef roast
• 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Italian salad dressing

Place the carrots and potatoes at the bottom of a 4 to 6 quart crock pot. Place beef on top of potatoes and carrots. Lay onion on top. Pour dressing over beef. Cover and cook on low heat 8 to 10 hours.

Beef enchiladas

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb. lean ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 10 oz cans enchilada sauce *
8 small corn tortillas
¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
sour cream (optional)
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Preheat oven to 350. In a large non-stick skillet, brown ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Drain the grease. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in ½ cup enchilada sauce from one can. Set aside remaining sauce from that can.

Pour the second can of enchilada sauce into a shallow dish. Dip tortillas, one at a time, into sauce to coat both sides. Spoon beef mixture evenly down the center of each tortilla and roll up. Place beef enchiladas seam-side down in a 13x9-inch baking dish.

Cover dish and bake in oven for 15 minutes.

Uncover the super yum enchiladas. Spoon reserved enchilada sauce over beef enchiladas. Sprinkle with the cheese. Continue baking uncovered for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle liberally with cilantro. Serve with sour cream or your fave toppings!!

Crock pot Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 jar (28 oz) spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup water
1 carton (16 oz) cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Break noodles in half. Place half of the noodles in bottom of greased 4 qt slow cooker. Stir Italian seasoning into meat and spread hald over the noodles already in cooker. Then layer half of the sauce and water, half of cottage cheese, and half of mozzarella cheese over beef. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low heat 4-5 hours. Do not cook more than 5 hours. Makes 6-8 servings.

2 super yum recipes from Carol!!!

Thanks again Carol!!

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Cowboy Burgers

1 1/4 lb Ground Beef
4 Hamburger Buns split And toasted
1 ounce Taco Seasoning Mix (Chipotle Or Other)
1/4 cup Red Onion diced 4 slices Tomatoes
1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded 4 Lettuce Leaves

In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, taco seasoning mix, onion and cheese. Form into 4 large patties. Cook in large skillet, broil or grill to desired doneness.

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Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

6 sweet potatoes cut into French fries
3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 425 F.

In a plastic bag, combine the potatoes, canola oil, taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Close and shake the bag until fries are evenly coated. Spread fries out in a single layer on two large baking sheets.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy and brown on one side. Turn fries over using a spatuls, and cook for another 30 minutes, or until they are all crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Calico beans

My boys love this recipe- Isabel... not so much. But she doesn't like anything. I really like this a lot although when you read the ingredients you may be like "Eh??" I think you could probably make it vegetarian as well by adding more beans and taking out the meat.

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1 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tbsp. mustard
1 c. ketchup
1 can pork n beans, drained
1 can lima beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained

Mix all the ingredients. Bake in casserole dish at 350 for 45 minutes. It has a very sweet, YUM taste.

Tostadas

This is a new after school/pre-dinner snack that my kids have decided is a favorite. It's super easy and very inexpensive to make. :)

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Eazy Tostadas

Ingredients

Can of refried beans (or make your own!)

1 lb. ground beef, browned (optional)

1 cup cooking oil

Corn tortillas

Optional toppings

Chopped tomatoes

Cheddar cheese

Sour Cream

Salsa

Shredded lettuce

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Warm up beans on stove and mix in browned beef if you choose to use beef. Heat oil in skillet on stove. When it's hot fry a corn tortilla in the hot oil. You want to flip the tortilla a couple of times. When the tortilla is hard, like a chip, it's ready. Pat the tortilla dry with paper towels to absorb extra oil. Top tortilla with beans and then with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

**You can also make bean burritos out of the same ingredients. Only use soft flour tortillas and don't fry them. Just warm them in the microwave or warm skillet, then add the beans, etc...

Another great recipe from Carol!

Definitely kid and college student approved!

Mac 'N Cheese Casserole

1 lb ground beef
taco seasoning
1 jar of salsa or Rotel
16 oz pkg of pasta
1 lb Velveeta, cubed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese

1. Cook beef on med high 2-3 minutes; add taco seasoning according to directions
2. Prepare pasta according to directions.
3. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13" dish. Place salsa and cheese into a microwave safe bowl.
4. Microwave 2-3 minutes on high. Repeat until cheese melts. Add pasta, cream, and beef.
5. Pour into baking dish; top with shredded cheese; bake for 15-20 minutes or until hot.

Carol
mrssquirrelassassin.blogspot.com

Meatloaf they'll eat

Another from Klin.

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This one is easy, but takes a bit to bake. Even self proclaimed meatloaf haters will eat mine.

No Nonsense Meatloaf

1 lb extra lean hamburger

1 sleeve saltine crackers

1 egg

1 sm can tomato sauce

3 T Yellow Mustard

3 T Worcestershire Sauce

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Crush saltines and mix with everything else. Mix well and form into loaf in loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. for shorter cooking time a muffin tin can be used to make individual serving sizes. Usually cuts time in half.

I throw my baked potatoes in the oven with the meatloaf and lengthen my cooking time 25 minutes. It's a family fav. Kid tested, mother-in-law tested, and picky eater tested. All resulted in success.

Baked ziti

I received this recipe from Carol. Thanks Carol! It sounds DELICIOUS!!!
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I have an easy recipe that I discovered mainly because I had all of the ingredients! I spice it up a little by adding italian seasonings and a little bit of red pepper but it is good just as it is below.

This recipe makes alot! Think large lasagna dish to hold all of it As a family of 4, we usually eat about half and I freeze half for later meals.

Baked Ziti

1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted

5 layer dinner

This recipe is from Jen at Never a Dull Moment. Thanks Jen!!

Five Layer Dinner

1 lb ground beef
1 can green beans
1 can sliced white potatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 onion, sliced

Brown the beef. Add the onion. Add the three cans of vegetables, do not drain. Cook until heated through. Serve with salt and pepper and worcestershire sauce. Bread and butter rounds out the meal. :) Enjoy!

Ground Beef Stuff

Tori, I noticed on your other blog that you wanted a super eazy idea for ground beef. Other than taco soup, which goes a long way with a lot of taste, I found this a couple years ago in one of my one dish cookbooks:

For our family we do one 9 X 13 pan of the following. You might want to do two for your fam as this is a yummy dish.

Open one tube of crescent rolls (the generic brand is just as good as Phillsbury).
Spread the dough out on the bottom of the pan.
Bake the crust for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
While the crust is baking, brown your ground beef.
Drain Meat.
Add one can of mushroom soup.
Add half package of frozen peas too.
Spread the mixture over the crust.
Spread a cup of your favorite cheese on top.
Bake at 350 for another 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy! And it makes great leftovers too!

Tator tot casserole

Thanks so much HelpINeedaUserName!!

Tater Tot Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can cream of celery soup (you can use any cream soup, and I detest
mushroom so I use celery)
1 regular size (not large) bag frozen tater tots

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and drain. Stir in corn, green
beans, and UNDILUTED (add no milk or water) soup. Stir.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with Pam or use the greasing method that works
best for you.

Put the hamburger/veggie/soup mixture in the baking pan. Add full bag of
tater tots on top. Arrange to an even-ish layer. Bake the whole shebang
at 375 for 35-45 minutes (or more if it doesn't look done).

Taco Salad

Thank you Aurora!!

Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef
add 1/2 pkg. taco seasoning.

In bowls:

Romaine, chopped
Tomatoes, chopped,
Black beans, warmed
Taco beef, browned (as above)
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Tortilla chips

Everyone builds their own. Serve with your favorite ranch dressing.

Taco Soup

Seri submitted this! Thanx so much!!

TACO SOUP

1 lb. ground beef
1 chopped med. onion
1 can Rotel
1 can whole corn
1 can hominy
3 cans pinto beans
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 cans whole tomatoes (or tomato juice or 2 cans diced tomatoes)

Brown beef and onion. Drain and remove fat. Add the 6 cans of veggies w/juice (withhold some of Rotel if you don't want soup too spicy). Add seasoning and cut up tomatoes. (Adjust as you like, some do not like tomatoes, just juice, I prefer the tomatoes.) Simmer. Serve hot with cornbread or vegetable sticks, etc. Is really good with a dollop of sour cream and a handful of shredded cheese on top.

Also good if you have crunchy tortilla strips to put on top.

To make those just butter both sides of corn tortillas, cut into strips. Place on baking sheet and bake until crisp.

Beef.... something :)

Recipe submitted by Nobody. Nobody at all... ;)

Hey Tori, I shamelessly stole this recipe from my friend Traci. (formerly, Code Yellow Mom) She posted it on her site about a year ago and when I made it, I really loved it. This is cut and paste from her site:

1lb. ground beef
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 medium onions, chopped
15-20 baby carrots, quartered lengthwise
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/3 cup pearl barley or alphabet pasta
¼ cup catsup
1 tbsp. instant beef bouillion granules
2 tsp. season salt
1 tsp. dried basil, crushed1 bay leaf
5 cups water

In large saucepan, cook ground beef until browned, drain. Add remaining ingredients. (NOTE: If you are using alphabet pasta, don’t add it until last 5 minutes of simmering.) Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf before serving. Serves 6. (I usually double the recipe so there’s plenty of left-overs – it tastes even better the second day.)

Shepherds Pie

This was submitted by my sweet cousin-in-law, Hannemann Family. Thank you!!

Shepherds Pie

1 lb ground beef
1 can of green beans (can also use corn, peas, etc.)
2 cans of tomato soup
Mashed Potatoes (about 6-7 potatoes)
Cheese

Brown the ground beef. I always like to add a little garlic salt or powder and a little bit of soy sauce (you know the Hannemanns and soy sauce) to spice it up a bit...then drain the fat. Then put in a 9x13 pan and add the can of green beans (or whatever veggie you are using) and tomato soup. Stir together in pan. Then top with mashed potatoes and cheese. Bake for 20 min. at 350. I love this and so do my kids!

Stroganoff

Recipe submitted by: swampbaby Thanks!!

Egg noodles
ground beef
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream

Cook egg noodles. Brown the ground beef and season to taste. (I use salt & pepper, garlic salt, and a little onion powder).While browning it, in another pan, simmer 2 cans cream of mushroom with about a cup of sour cream mixed in. When meat is done, mix the sauce in and add some paprika to give it some color, then mix the noodles with it.

The End