Easy Taco Casserole

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed (or you could use 1 pound ground hamburger, browned)
1 cup salsa
1 pkg. taco seasonings
1/2 - 3/4 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes

Heat beans (or cook hamburger), add salsa, taco seasoning, and sour cream.  Put half of the bean mixture in an ungreased baking dish.  Layer with half the cheese and half the chips.  Repeat.  Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Top with lettuce and tomatoes.

Taco Pasta Casserole

This was really easy and is a recipe that can easily be modified to fit your family's tastes.

1 small onion, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 jar salsa, 16 oz.
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (or one can, drained)
4 cups cooked macaroni (perfect for leftover pasta)
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup crushed tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook onion in pan with nonstick spray until tender. Add beans, salsa, corn, and pasta. Pour into baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Top with cheese and chips. Bake 20 minutes.

*For non-vegetarian option, add or susbtitute ground beef for beans.

Mexican Casserole

2 cups cooked rice
1 can diced tomatoes & green chilies
1 can corn, drained
4 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 can chili beans
2-3 cups shredded cheese, divided
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
chili powder, garlic salt, pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In medium bowl, combine cooked rice, diced tomatoes, and corn. Set aside.

Cover baking dish bottom with tortilla chips, layer half the cheese over the crushed chips, top with chili beans, and then the rice-tomato-corn mixture. Sprinkle with seasonings, top with remaining cheese and green onions.

Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Layered Mexican Casserole

Susan Bower shared the original recipe with me, I adapted it to suit my family's taste and needs.

1 can refried beans
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained**
1 jar (16 oz) salsa
6-8 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded mexican blend cheese
1 box Spanish rice, prepared
1 cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray casserole dish with cooking spray.

Mix 1 cup salsa with refried beans, mix remaining salsa with black beans. Line baking dish with 3-4 tortillas, overlapping to fit. Spread refried bean mixture over tortillas, evenly. Top with half the black bean mixure and half the cheese. Layer 3-4 more tortillas over cheese. Spoon and spread Spanish rice over tortillas. Top with remaining black bean mixture and cheese. Top with crushed chips.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until hot in center and bubbling along sides.

**Original recipe called for 1 lb cook ground beef instead of black beans.

*** I plan on adding black olives to this recipe next time.

****I have not tried freezing yet so I'm not labeling it as a freezer meal, but I bet it would work. If I try it, I'll come back to update the label.

Ritz Chicken

This is another recipe I got from a friend.


4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 whole chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
40 ritz crackers (1 pkg basically), crushed
1 stick margarine, melted ***I only used 1/2 stick

Boil and debone chicken; tear into small pieces and line bottom of baking dish (or just cook some and rip it up...or buy a precooked rotiserrie chicken and rip that up- or use leftover chicken). Mix together soup and sour cream. Pour over chicken. Put cracker crumbs on top; pour melted margarine over crumbs. Bake 30 minutes at 350 until bubbly. Good reheated in the microwave too.

***I intentionally served it with rice and broccoli so I could try it all together and know if next time I'd like to add the rice and broccoli when baking to make it a casserole. And I do believe I will do that next time! I think this recipe will be an easy one to play with like that. Other variations could be to add frozen hash brown, or change the topping to corn flakes or potato chips, or add a different kind of frozen veggie. The flavor of the sauce will work well with many things and that versatility makes this a great recipe. This would also be a great freezer meal; just defrost and bake as directed. :)

Tempting Turkey Tetrazzini

1 package (7 ounces) spaghetti
2 cups chicken or turkey broth
2 cups half-and-half, or milk
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cut-up cooked turkey or chicken
1 cup sliced ripe olives
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

1. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
2. Heat oven to 350ºF.
3. Mix broth, half-and-half, flour, butter, salt and pepper in 3-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.
4. Stir in spaghetti, turkey, olives and almonds. Spread in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

We tried this last night and really liked it! I used chicken, and actually, I used canned chicken - for convenience mostly. I would probably like it even better with regular chicken. I also think this would be a good freezer meal, but I haven't tried freezing it yet so I won't label it as such until I do.

Vegetarian Variation: Omit Turkey/Chicken, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and add broccoli.

Shepard's Pie

It seems like everyone has their own version of this dish, so here is mine! :)
1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp Flour
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
2 cups water
1 can EITHER green beans or corn (whole kernel or creamed) OR 10 oz frozen vegetable of your choice
Mashed potatoes

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Brown the ground beef, drain the fat. Add flour to meat and allow flour to coat meat, add soup mix. Slowly stir in water. Stir often and bring to simmer. Reduce heat. Season to taste.

Put in bottom of casserole dish, add vegetable, top with mashed potatoes. (I like homemade, but you could use instant if you like.)

Bake for 20-25 minutes

*VARIATION... for Tater Tot Casserole, I make the meat mixture the same, then layer canned corn, then a layer of shredded cheese, and top with tater tots. I bake it either a little hotter or a little longer - until tater tots are crisp. :) (And the Tater Tot Casserole freezes well, just defrost completely first.)

Chicken Potato Casserole

6 large baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
1-1/2 cups water
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

Directions:

Place potatoes and water in a 3-qt. microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 12-15 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, divide chicken between two greased 8-in. square baking dishes.

Drain potatoes and place in a large bowl. Add sour cream, cheddar cheese, butter, Parmesan cheese, soup mix, spinach, carrot, salt, garlic powder and pepper; mash until smooth. Spoon over chicken; sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Bake one casserole, uncovered, at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. Cover and freeze the remaining casserole for up to 3 months.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed.

Yield: 2 casseroles (6 servings each).

Pizza Hot Dish

We just tried this tonight for the first time and really enjoyed it! It makes enough for two casseroles; one for now, one for later. Or you can just halve the recipe.

4 eggs (I used 1 cup egg substitute)
1 cup milk
1 lb macaroni, cooked and drained
2 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cans (10 ¾ oz) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
¾ tsp pepper
4 cups shredded cheese

In a small bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and macaroni. Pour into two greased 9x13 pans; set aside.

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the soup and seasonings.

Spoon over macaroni. Sprinkle cheese over all. Bake one pan, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Cover and freeze the other pan. To use frozen casserole: defrost, then bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Baked French Toast Casserole

This is similar to the Baked Apple French Toast, but without the apple. It's a little more involved but it is tasty.

1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Baked Apple French Toast

This is a favorite to have on Christmas morning. I make it up the day before and just have to pop it in the oven when we get up. Delicious!!!

· 20 slices French bread (1 inch thick)
· 1 can (21 ounces) apple pie filling
· 8 eggs
· 2 cups milk
· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
· 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
· TOPPING:
· 1 cup packed brown sugar
· 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
· 1 cup chopped pecans

Arrange 10 slices of bread in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Spread with pie filling; top with remaining bread. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Meanwhile, place brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over French toast.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Yield: 10 servings

***I've never fit 10 slices of bread in the pan, but it depends on the diameter of the bread.