Easy Ground Beef Recipes

This sure to be a family favorite. This can be made ahead so that it's ready to pop in the oven when you get home after a busy day. While you are at it why not make two of these and freeze one for another meal. Serve with a green salad for a quick easy meal.

Ingredients for Crust:
Watkins Cooking Spray
6 ounces/170 g uncooked whole wheat spaghetti
1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Chicken Soup Base
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins garlic liquid spice
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup/60 mL grated Parmesan cheese

Ingredients for Filling:
1 cup/250 mL non-fat cottage cheese
1 pound/454 g lean ground beef
1/4 cup/60 mL finely chopped sweet green pepper
3 tbsp/45 mL Watkins Onion Flakes
1 tsp/5 mL sugar
2 tsp/10 mL Watkins Beef Soup & Gravy
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Oregano
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Garlic Flakes
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Italian Seasoning
1 can (8 oz/227 g) diced tomatoes
1 can (6 oz/170 g) tomato paste
3/4 cup/180 mL (3 oz/85 g) shredded Mozzarella cheese

Cooking Directions: Spray a 10-inch/25-cm pie plate with cooking spray; set aside.

Break spaghetti into 3-inch/8-cm pieces and cook as per package directions, substituting the soup base for the salt called for in directions. Drain well and place in large bowl. Toss with Liquid Spice, then egg and Parmesan cheese.

Pour pasta mixture into a pie plate; use spoon to form spaghetti to plate, making an edge slightly higher than the rim. Carefully spread cottage cheese over bottom of spaghetti crust.

While pasta is cooking, cook beef, green pepper and onion flakes in large skillet, drain if necessary. Add remaining ingredients, except cheese, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Ladle meat mixture over cottage cheese; bake at 350ºF/180ºC for 20 minutes.

Sprinkle cheese over top; return to oven and bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts and browns. Cut immediately into wedges, then let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories 310, Protein 23 g, Carbohydrates 25 g,
Sodium 560 mg, Fat 14 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 73 mg, Dietary Fiber 2 g (fiber will be a bit more with whole wheat pasta)

This zesty meat loaf is a real family pleaser and is easy enough for anyone to make.

Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds/680 g lean ground beef
3/4 cup/180 mL rolled oats
1/2 cup/125 mL milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tbsp/45 mL Watkins Meatloaf Seasoning
1/4 cup/60 mL ketchup
1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Original Barbecue Sauce Concentrate

Cooking Directions: Combine the first five ingredients; mix lightly but thoroughly. Press meat mixture into a 9 × 5-inch/23 × 13-cm loaf pan. Combine ketchup and Barbecue Sauce Concentrate; spoon evenly over top of loaf. Bake at 350ºF/180ºC for 1 hour or until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear. Drain and let stand five minutes before slicing and serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Serve these tasty Salisbury steaks and mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.

Salisbury Steak Ingredients:
1 pound/454 g extra-lean ground beef
1/3 cup/80 mL dry bread crumbs
1/3 cup/80 mL skim milk
1 egg white
1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Onion Flakes,rehydrated in 1 tbsp/15 mL water
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins Meat Magic
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins Beef Soup & Gravy base
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL Watkins Black Pepper
Watkins Cooking Spray

Mushroom Gravy Ingredients:
2 cups/500 mL water
2 tbsp/30 mL Watkins Beef Soup & Gravy base
2 tbsp/30 mL red wine vinegar
2-1/2 tbsp/40 mL cornstarch
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Thyme
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL Watkins Black Pepper
1 can (4 oz/113 g) sliced mushrooms

Cooking Directions
Salisbury Steak
Combine all ingredients; mix gently. Shape into 6 oval patties, about 3/4-inch/2-cm thick. Spray skillet with Watkins Cooking Spray. Heat over medium heat until hot. Add patties; cook 3 minutes per side or until browned. Remove patties from skillet; set aside. Drain skillet, if necessary.

Mushroom Gravy
Combine all ingredients except mushrooms, and pour into same skillet. Cook over low heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Stir in mushrooms. Return patties to skillet. Cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until thoroughly cooked through. Serve with mashed potatoes or over cooked noodles.

Makes 6 servings. You'll find the ingredients to make this in the Watkins catalog.

Nothing could be easier than this man pleasing, one pot meal and it's low in sodium, fat and calories to boot.

Ingredients:
½ lb lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
3 cups frozen potatoes O'Brien, thawed
1 cup salsa

Directions: Brown ground beef and onion. Drain off any extra fat. Stir in potatoes and cook over medium heat for about five minutes. Stir in salsa and heat ten minutes more. (Serves 6)

This hearty beef and pasta soup is filling and easy to make.

Ingredients
1 pound/454 g lean ground beef
3 tbsp/45 mL all-purpose flour
1/2 cup/125 mL Watkins Mushroom Soup & Gravy
1 tbsp/15 mL Watkins Onion Flakes
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins Oregano
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL Watkins Ground Beef Seasoning
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Garlic Flakes
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL Watkins Black Pepper
2 cans (16 oz/454 g each) whole tomatoes
5 cups/1.25 L water
2 cups/500 mL uncooked elbow or shell macaroni
Salt, if desired
1/4 cup/60 mL grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: In large kettle or Dutch oven, brown beef over medium heat; drain grease. Stir in flour and next six ingredients; continue heating. Add tomatoes and stir to break into pieces. Add water; heat to boiling. Stir in macaroni and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Adjust seasoning, adding salt and additional pepper, if desired. Serve hot; pass the Parmesan cheese as a topping.

Spice it up with ingredients from the Watkins catalog.

Tired of the same old hamburgers? Try these the next time you barbecue!

Ingredients for burgers:
2 lbs/900 g lean ground beef
4 green onions, chopped (1/4 cup/60 mL)
4 tsp/20 mL Watkins Meat Magic
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cilantro
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Sage
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Onion and Garlic Pepper
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Seasoning Salt

Topping:
3/4 cup/180 mL mayonnaise
2 tsp/10 mL Chipotle Liquid Spice

Watkins Steak Sauce
8 hamburger buns

Directions: Combine topping ingredients; refrigerate at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

Preheat grill to medium heat. Combine all burger ingredients in a large bowl and form into 8 patties about 3/4 inch/20 mm thick. Grill about 15 minutes, turning once, or until desired doneness is reached. Serve on buns with chipotle mayonnaise and/or Watkins Steak Sauce, lettuce, tomato and avocado.

You can only get Chipotle liquid spice in the Watkins catalog.

This is an easy, yet delicious beefy macaroni casserole that beats those boxes of packaged "helpers" hands down any time.

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. Watkins grapeseed oil
1 ½ cups uncooked macaroni
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cups tomato juice
1 medium onion, chopped
½ tsp. Watkins garlic granules
½ tsp. Watkins oregano, crumbled
¼ tsp. Watkins chili powder
Salt and Watkins black pepper
1 ½ C. grated cheddar cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat grapeseed oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add macaroni and stir to coat. Add beef and cook until brown, about 10 minutes. Pour off drippings. Stir in tomato juice. Bring to boil. Mix in onion, garlic powder, oregano, and chili powder. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Transfer to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Cover and bake until macaroni is tender, about 20 minutes. Top with cheese. Bake uncovered until cheese melts, about 10 minutes.

You guessed it, you'll find the spices here in the Watkins catalog.

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