Easy and Inexpensive Casseroles For Picnics, Potlucks, Reunions, and Your Own Dinner Table

One of the most inexpensive ways to feed a family is to serve a casserole as the main dish. Casseroles are also easy to prepare as they don't take long to put together and you are free to continue with the other parts of the meal while they bake. But one of the best things is how tasty and nourishing they are. So whether you are looking for some quick, simple, and inexpensive meals for your family table or whether you need a dish for a potluck, family reunion, etc. go back to basics with these delicious casserole recipes. The Green Bean and Burger Bake is sure to please the kids with it's sloppy Joe flavoring. You have meat, vegetables, and dairy in the form of cheese, all in this one dish. Add a salad, a favorite bread and just that easily you have a complete meal. For another, but different, easy casserole that should please the kids as well as your spouse. try the Simple Hamburger Hot Dish. Again, the meat ingredient is ground beef. With noodles, cheese, cream of mushroom soup, onion, etc., you can quickly have a tasty meal on the table that is both nutritious and pleasing. Add a green vegetable or carrots for color and extra vitamins, and you have another simple but delicious meal.

GREEN BEAN AND BURGER BAKE

1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 oz pkg sloppy joe seasoning mix
1 cup water
6 oz can tomato paste
2 cans (16-oz each) French-style green beans, drained
1 jar (2 1/2-oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground beef in a large skillet; drain off all fat. Stir in the seasoning mix and water and cook until thickened. Add tomato paste. Cover the skillet, lower the heat to simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans and mushrooms. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish and top with the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes until bubbly and heated through.

Yield: 6 servings

SIMPLE HAMBURGER HOT DISH

This recipe is from a very old community cookbook.

1 pkg (8-oz) egg noodles
2 lbs ground beef
2 cans cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 med onion
8 slices cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Cook noodles in salted boiling water, drain and rinse. Brown ground beef and onion together, season with salt and pepper. Mix noodles, meat, and soup together and put in a 9x13 lightly greased baking pan or dish. Lay the cheese over the top. Cover the pan with foil and bake 30 minutes at 300 degrees or until the cheese melts and the casserole is bubbly.

Serves 8 to 10.

Enjoy!