Adventures of Mel

Category: Beef

Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes
Pizza Sloppy Joes – Easy recipe for pepperoni pizza sloppy joes! Delicious family dinner made with ground beef and all the cheesy, saucy goodness of homemade pizza.

We’re full steam ahead with the next stop on our sloppy joe journey with these lovely li’l pizza joes. Made with ground beef, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese, pizza sloppy joes are the best of both worlds.

Unlike our original homemade sloppy joes or slow cooker sloppy joes, this sloppy joe recipe has absolutely no ketchup in it. Instead we went with a homemade pizza sauce, made with crushed tomatoes and all the seasonings.

My boys have really been enjoying all of these delicious sloppy joe recipes. I’m pretty sure their favorite so far have been the taco sloppy joes, the Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, and the grilled cheese sloppy joes.

Personally, I really enjoyed the sloppy joe stuffed peppers.

Just like our other juicy burger recipes, you can serve pizza joes on toasted buns or for a lower carb option, on a bed of lettuce or spinach. Either way, they make a really tasty family meal.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE FOR PIZZA SLOPPY JOES?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for pepperoni pizza sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT IS A PIZZA SLOPPY JOE?

If you’ve never had sloppy joes, they’re a loose meat sandwich made with loose ground beef that’s mixed with a tomato based sauce. The sauce usually has things like ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sometimes a little mustard, and other ingredients.

Pizza sloppy joes are a loose meat sandwich, but instead of ketchup, they’re made with a homemade pizza sauce, pepperoni, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

DO I HAVE TO USE GROUND BEEF? CAN I USE OTHER MEATS?

Pizza joes would taste incredible with a little bit of Italian sausage or regular sausage mixed in with the ground beef. Or you can even use ground turkey instead of beef.

Think pizza when you’re making these… What are your favorite meats when you go to order or make pizza?

DO I NEED TO THAW THE GROUND BEEF? WHAT IF IT’S FROZEN?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make homemade sloppy joes, but you may need to sauté your garlic in a different skillet so it can be added to the ground beef once the meat has thawed. We’re really bad about remembering to get meat out to thaw, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not having to shape hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This will steam the meat.

You can add the sautéed garlic once the meat has loosened up. And when it’s fully cooked, just be sure to drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES WITH A PIZZA TWIST

This is a really easy sloppy joe recipe that’s perfect for both pizza lovers and sloppy joe lovers.

I recommend using bacon grease for added flavor to your meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic really well. I prefer to mince it up so that it blends well with the meat and the sauce.

Sauté the garlic in bacon grease in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic, cooking the mixture well.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients, including the crushed tomatoes, seasonings, and chopped pepperoni. Let the mixture simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.

Place the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the cooked juicy burger mixture, and stir it in as it begins to melt.

Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet or on a griddle in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your pizza sloppy joe meat.

Add the meat to the buns, lettuce, or spinach, and enjoy a flavorful dinner with your family. This is an especially kid-friendly meal that’s sure to be on your menu again and again!

WANT MORE SIMILAR DINNERTIME GOODNESS?

My friend Kristy, from Mommy Hates Cooking, has a delicious recipe for Root Beer Sloppy Joes.

And my friend Lisa from Crazy Adventures in Parenting, has a yummy recipe for Pizza Stuffed Burgers.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THIS PIZZA SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

Cheese Grater

PEPPERONI PIZZA SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this pepperoni pizza sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes

Easy recipe for pepperoni pizza sloppy joes! Delicious family dinner made with ground beef and all the cheesy, saucy goodness of homemade pizza.
1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup pepperoni (chopped)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the garlic into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Mix the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and pepperoni into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the pizza sloppy joe mixture simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.
Finally, top the meat with the shredded mozzarella right in the skillet and let it begin to melt.** Then stir the melted cheese into the meat mixture.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

**It will help the cheese to melt a little faster if you place a lid on the skillet.

You can add a little bit of chopped basil for extra flavor, if desired.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
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November 20, 2018
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
How to make the most delicious Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes with ground beef, mushrooms, and provolone. Easy dinner idea and recipe!

Back in college, I was introduced to my first Philly cheesesteak on a trip to Philly. Before that, I’d really never heard of a cheesesteak and really had no idea what it was.

And then I married a guy from Pennsylvania who absolutely loved a good Philly cheese steak sandwich. In fact, it became a regular part of our menu.

Combine his favorite Philly cheese steak with my favorite sloppy joes, and you’ve got the makings of a really yummy dinner.

The nice thing about Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes is that without the toasted buns, the meat mixture is fairly low carb. So pair with a bed of lettuce or spinach and you’ve got a much healthier option.

And if you’re in a pinch and need a super quick dinner, you can totally make this juicy burger up ahead of time and just warm it up for dinner. Easy make ahead meal for the win!

Another couple Philly cheesesteak favorites around here are this Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich, roast beef Philly cheesesteaks and Philly cheesesteak peppers. Yum!

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT IS A PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOE?

Don’t worry, before college I’d never heard of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich either.

A Philly cheese steak sandwich is basically a sandwich made on a hoagie with smaller, thinner pieces of beefsteak and cheese. What cheese goes on a Philly cheese steak depends; it can be provolone, American, or Cheez Whiz.

A Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe is made with ground beef instead of beefsteak. And like a cheesesteak, it has peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese.

Instead of serving this loose meat sandwich on a hoagie, you serve it on a toasted hamburger bun, just like a sloppy joe.

While I use ground beef, you can also make a good sloppy joe sandwich with ground pork or ground turkey.

CAN I USE FROZEN GROUND BEEF? DO I NEED TO THAW IT?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make homemade sloppy joes, but you may need to sauté your onion, garlic, mushrooms, and bell pepper in a different skillet so they can be added to the ground beef once it’s thawed. We actually do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

You can add the sautéed onion, garlic, mushrooms, and pepper once the meat has loosened up.

When it’s fully cooked, you can drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES

I recommend using bacon grease for added flavor to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and the sauce.
- You’ll start by sautéing the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper in a large skillet.
- Then add the ground beef and mix together with the vegetables, cooking the mixture well.
- Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
- Whisk together the beef broth and flour in a separate measuring cup.
- Once you add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients, including the broth mixture, just let the meat simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.
- Finally, top with the Provolone right in the skillet and let it melt. Then stir the melted cheese into the meat mixture.
Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet or on a griddle in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your cheesesteak sloppy joe meat.

Spoon the meat onto a toasted bun and serve it while it’s all toasty warm!

MORE SLOPPY JOE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

Taco Sloppy Joes

Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes

Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes

25+ Sloppy Joe Recipes for Dinner Tonight

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLOPPY JOES

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

Pyrex Measuring Cup and Whisk

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

How to make the most delicious Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes with ground beef, mushrooms, and provolone. Easy dinner idea and recipe!
1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 medium yellow onion (chopped)
1/2 large green bell pepper (chopped)
2 ounces fresh mushrooms (minced)
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces Provolone cheese
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
Add the onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper in with the garlic and sauté for another 3-5 minutes.
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking
Whisk together the beef broth and flour in a separate measuring cup.
Mix the beef broth mixture, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt, and black pepper into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the cheesesteak sloppy joe mixture simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.
Finally, top the meat with the Provolone right in the skillet and let it melt.** Then stir the melted cheese into the meat mixture.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

**It will help the cheese to melt a little faster if you place a lid on the skillet.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
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November 13, 2018
Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers
Easy homemade sloppy joe stuffed peppers, made with ground beef and baked in the oven, are a healthy dinner recipe the whole family will love!

If you love sloppy joes and you love stuffed peppers, you are going to love this recipe. Combine the two and you’ve got a grand slam dinner recipe that’s pretty easy to make.

The best part about this stuffed pepper recipe is you don’t need any buns or bread, so it’s going to be a healthier option. Low carb is a necessity on our weekly dinnertime menu.

And who needs canned sloppy joe sauce when you can make your own? We like a good homemade sauce that’s not so thick and gooey. Sometimes I even make crock pot sloppy joes!

I sometimes use a colorful variety for our stuffed bell peppers, but you can pretty much use any color you want. Whether you want stuffed green peppers, red, yellow, or orange, it doesn’t matter.

You may also enjoy these stuffed peppers recipes: Spinach and Chicken Stuffed Peppers, Chicken and Rice Stuffed Peppers, Philly cheese stuffed peppers, and beef taco stuffed peppers.

DO I NEED TO PRE-COOK BELL PEPPERS BEFORE STUFFING THEM?

You can, but you don’t have to. This is usually done to shorten the cooking time.

The Cookful has a great explanation for how to pre-cook peppers.

HOW TO CUT THE PEPPERS WHEN MAKING STUFFED PEPPERS

While I usually cut my bell peppers in half, you can go with one of two options when prepping your bell peppers for a stuffed bell pepper recipe…
- Remove the top of the pepper, along with all the pith and seeds that are down inside.
- OR cut the peppers in half and remove all the pith and seeds inside. Just remember not to eat the stem if you leave the stem intact.
Not sure how to go about cutting up a pepper? Here’s a whole tutorial for how to cut a pepper 4 easy ways!

DO I HAVE TO USE GROUND BEEF FOR SLOPPY JOE MEAT?

No, you can use ground turkey or ground pork too, whichever is your personal preference.

We prefer ground beef, so this recipe is based around ground beef.

DO I NEED TO THAW THE MEAT BEFOREHAND? CAN I USE FROZEN GROUND BEEF?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make the sloppy joe meat for your stuffed peppers, but you may need to sauté your onion and garlic in a different skillet so they can be added to the ground beef once it’s thawed.

We actually do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since sloppy joes are a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties but rather going with that juicy burger texture for stuffed bell peppers, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

You can add the sautéed onion and garlic once the meat has loosened up.

When it’s browned, you’ll need to drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE STUFFED PEPPERS WITH SLOPPY JOE MEAT

I recommend using bacon grease for a li’l added flavor to the meat mixture. But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic and the onion really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic and onion in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture just until the meat is browned.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sauce ingredients, give it a really good stir and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the meat mixture from the stovetop, and mix the shredded cheddar into it. Then spoon the sloppy joe mixture into the washed and prepared peppers.

Bake the stuffed peppers at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F with a meat thermometer. You may need to cover the peppers halfway through with aluminum foil to prevent them from getting too brown on top.

Garnish with fresh basil if you want and serve!

MORE SLOPPY JOE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:
KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE SLOPPY JOE STUFFED PEPPERS

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

Meat Thermometer

Baking Sheet

Aluminum Foil

SLOPPY JOE STUFFED PEPPERS RECIPE

If you love this sloppy joe stuffed peppers recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

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Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

Easy homemade sloppy joe stuffed peppers, made with ground beef and baked in the oven, are a healthy dinner recipe the whole family will love!
2 tablespoons bacon grease (*)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium yellow onion (minced)
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
4 whole bell peppers
Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
Mince the garlic and onion really well.
Sauté the garlic and onion in a large skillet.
Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture just until the meat is browned.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Add the sauce ingredients, including the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and light brown sugar, to the ground beef.
Give the meat mixture a really good stir and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove the meat mixture from the stovetop, and mix the shredded cheddar into it.
Wash and prepare the peppers by either removing the top of the pepper, along with all the pith and seeds that are down inside. Or cut the peppers in half and remove all the pith and seeds inside.
Spoon the sloppy joe mixture into the washed and prepared peppers.
Bake the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F with a meat thermometer.**
Garnish with fresh basil if you want and serve!
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture. But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

**You may need to cover the peppers halfway through with aluminum foil to prevent them from getting too brown on top.

Dinner Ideas
American
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November 6, 2018
Taco Sloppy Joes
Taco Sloppy Joes – How to make homemade taco sloppy joes with ground beef and all the fixings. Easy dinner recipe your family will love, especially the kids!

I’ve already shared how much I loved sloppy joes as a kid; and I’ve shared my love for tacos, especially ground beef tacos. So I thought it only appropriate to combine the two into a delicious new recipe, taco sloppy joes.

My kids weren’t too sure about this combination at first. And then we had them for dinner, and their minds were forever changed; I got lots of compliments that night.

I think it’s safe to say this recipe, much like Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, will be a regular on our dinnertime menu. The nice thing is you can eat these on a toasted bun, or if you’re trying to go more low carb, you can top off a bed of lettuce or spinach and make a taco salad instead.

You can even swap out buns for bell peppers and make the most delicious beef taco stuffed peppers.

While this sloppy joe makes a nice juicy burger, you can top it off with taco ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocados, and green onions if desired.

It’s a quick and easy sloppy joe recipe you can even make ahead of time, then pull out the meat and warm it up to go with all the fixings.

Who’s ready for a dinner recipe your kids will love? I’m ready to make them again.

More family favorite sloppy joe recipes your kids will love… Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers, Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes, and Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE TACO SLOPPY JOES RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for taco sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT ARE TACO SLOPPY JOES?

Just in case you’ve never had sloppy joes, they’re a sort of loose meat sandwich made with loose ground beef mixed with a tomato based sauce. The sauce usually has things like ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sometimes a little mustard, and other ingredients.

Well, as can be expected, taco sloppy joes are a little bit different. They’re still a loose meat sandwich, but instead of ketchup, you make them with pretty much the same ingredients you’d use to make taco meat.

Some people use salsa or picante sauce to season their taco meat. I like to use a mix of ingredients like onion, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, and chopped tomato.

And while I use ground beef, you can also make a good sloppy joe sandwich with ground pork or ground turkey.

Then you serve the meat on a toasted bun (or on a bed of lettuce for a low carb option), along with all the fixings you’d use in tacos.

CAN I USE FROZEN GROUND BEEF? DO I NEED TO THAW IT?

You can use frozen hamburger meat to make homemade sloppy joes, but you may need to sauté your onion, garlic, and bell pepper in a different skillet so they can be added to the ground beef once it’s thawed. We actually do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out, so don’t fret if you’ve forgotten it too.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

You can add the sautéed onion, garlic, and pepper once the meat has loosened up.

When it’s fully cooked, you can drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE TACO SLOPPY JOES

This is a super easy sloppy joe recipe that’s perfect for taco lovers.

I do recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic, onion, and bell pepper really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and the sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the vegetables, cooking the mixture well.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients, just let the whole mixture simmer for a good 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet or on a griddle in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your taco sloppy joe meat.

Add the meat to a toasted bun and top with your favorite taco ingredients, like lettuce, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar, mashed avocados, and maybe even green onions.

However you choose to enjoy your taco sloppy joes, they’re sure to be delicious!

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE TACO SLOPPY JOES

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets and griddle for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

All-in-One Avocado Slicer

Cheese Grater

TACO SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this taco sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

Be sure to follow me on social, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Sign up to receive my newsletter, filled with delicious recipes and outdoor travel adventures, in your inbox:

FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION
Taco Sloppy Joes

How to make homemade taco sloppy joes with ground beef and all the fixings. Easy dinner recipe your family will love, especially the kids!
1 tablespooon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
1 large bell pepper (chopped)
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large tomato (chopped)
3 cups lettuce (shredded)
2 large tomatoes (chopped)
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 whole avocados (mashed)
5 green onions (chopped)
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the onion and bell pepper in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the garlic, onions, and bell pepper into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Mix the lemon juice, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and chopped tomato into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the taco sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, prep the taco ingredients, including lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocados, green onions, and whatever else you like on your tacos.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
**I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
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October 31, 2018
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes – Make your own homemade sloppy joes! Easy 30 minute sloppy joe recipe with a simple and delicious sauce. Serve on toasted buns or a bed of lettuce.

When I was a kid, sloppy joes were one of my favorite meals. Of course, Manwich was the sloppy joe sauce of choice back then.

But who needs canned sloppy joe sauce when you can make your own simple sauce? And it doesn’t have to be an overbearing sauce either, completely masking the flavor of the meat.

Nope, you can make a sauce with minimal ketchup, a little bit of Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of brown sugar. And it’s out of this world delicious!

When I first made this recipe, it reminded me of the old days when Mom and Grandma would make the best juicy burger around. The toasted buns toasted in just a smidge of bacon grease really brought back a taste of home.

Tasty Tip: This also makes the best grilled cheese sloppy joes and sloppy joe shepherd’s pie! You can also make crock pot sloppy joes instead.

Are you ready for a dinnertime favorite your family will love? Let’s get to it!

More sloppy joe recipes you may enjoy: Taco Sloppy Joes, Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers, and Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE SLOPPY JOES RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

WHAT ARE SLOPPY JOES?

If you’ve never had sloppy joes, never fear. It’s never too late to add this yummy recipe to your weekly menu planning.

Sloppy joes are a sort of loose meat sandwich made with loose ground beef mixed with a tomato based sauce. The sauce usually has things like ketchup or tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sometimes a little mustard, and other ingredients.

You can also make a sloppy joe sandwich with ground pork or ground turkey.

It’s a very flavorful sandwich that’s otherwise known as a juicy burger (what my mama and grandma called it), loose meat sandwich, Manwich, dynamite, slush burger, tavern sandwich, a Maid-Rite, etc.

SLOPPY JOE INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Garlic clove
- Yellow onion
- Bacon grease (you can also use butter or olive oil)
- Ground beef
CAN I USE FROZEN HAMBURGER MEAT? DO I NEED TO THAW IT?

You can use frozen ground beef. In fact, we do this quite often because we forget to get the meat out.

Since it’s a loose meat sandwich and you’re not making hamburger patties, it’s a little bit easier to do; though I do recommend thawing if at all possible.

Just put the meat into a skillet with maybe 1/2 cup water, turn the heat on medium, and place a lid on the skillet. This basically steams the meat.

When it’s cooked, you can drain off any excess oil.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

Sloppy joes are one of the easiest meals to make. I totally get why my mom liked making them.

Now I do recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Be sure to mince up the garlic and the onion really well. I like mincing them up so they blend well with the meat and sauce.

You’ll start by sautéing the garlic and onion in a large skillet. Then add the meat and mix together with the garlic and onion, cooking the mixture well.

Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.

Once you add the sauce ingredients, just let the whole mixture simmer for a good 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, you can toast hamburger buns in another skillet in a little bit of bacon grease. Or you may choose a lower carb option and prep a plate of lettuce or spinach to go with your sloppy joe meat.

However you choose to enjoy your sloppy joes, hopefully with a nice big batch of homemade steak fries, this is sure to be a family favorite recipe for many meals to come.

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

Skillet – We love using our cast iron skillets for pretty much everything both at home and while camping; they are very much a part of our camping cooking gear on every trip.

Hamburger Chopper – This handy dandy tool makes it easier to chop up the meat into a much looser mixture.

Wooden Spatula

SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

If you love this sloppy joe recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

Make your own homemade sloppy joes! Easy 30 minute sloppy joe recipe with a simple and delicious sauce. Serve on toasted buns or a bed of lettuce.
1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon light brown sugar
Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot.
Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Add the onion in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
Add the ground beef into the skillet, stirring the onions and garlic into the meat. Cook on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meat is well cooked.
Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the meat, stirring until combined.
Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 5 minutes.
Serve on toasted buns or on a bed of lettuce or spinach.
*I recommend using bacon grease for the added flavor it will give to the meat mixture (and for toasting the buns). But if you don’t have bacon grease, no worries; you can also use butter or olive oil.

Burgers & Sandwiches
American
easy sloppy joe recipe, homemade sloppy joes, how to make sloppy joes, juicy burger, loose meat sandwich, sloppy joe recipe, sloppy joe sauce, sloppy joes, sloppy joes from scratch
October 24, 2018
Low Carb Meatloaf Recipe
Easy recipe for a low carb meatloaf made with cauliflower and ground beef. Simple, healthy dinner idea and comfort food recipe with absolutely no ketchup!

Meatloaf is one of my favorite meals, but my regular meatloaf has oatmeal, ketchup, and BBQ sauce, which all spell carbs, pretty much a no go for Dan. So I decided to work on a low carb meatloaf recipe he could enjoy too.

I’m not sure if this could be considered a keto meatloaf; I don’t know enough about keto ingredients at this point. BUT I do know it’s one recipe you can add to your list of low carb foods.

Now it is a work in progress, meaning I may be coming back to tweak it as I continue making it. I like to do that when I remake things over and over… I’ll tweak ingredients and sometimes it turns out even better than before.

This easy meatloaf is definitely delicious just the way it is, though. Even without all the ketchup and BBQ sauce that’s in my favorite meatloaf with oatmeal, it still has a ton of flavor.

And if you’re making meatloaf and need fewer servings, you can always cut the recipe in half– or you could use it to make mini meatloaf muffins! I like to make enough so that we can have meatloaf sandwiches (or salads) the next day for lunch.

I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE LOW CARB MEATLOAF RECIPE!

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the delicious recipe for low carb meatloaf – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

MEATLOAF INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make this low carb meatloaf…
- Ground beef
- Eggs
- Small onion
- Steamed cauliflower rice
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Seasoning salt
- BBQ Seasoning
You can also add a little parmesan, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup if you want more flavor… Parmesan is definitely something I add to my baked Italian cauliflower meatballs, but unfortunately, I didn’t have any on hand for my homemade meatloaf.

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE A LOW CARB MEATLOAF

Meatloaf is super easy to make, which is why it’s usually on our menu at least once or twice a month. It’s basically a throw everything in the bowl and mix it up type of recipe.

I’d suggest using a leaner ground beef that won’t shrink as much when baked. Meat with more fat will leave a ton of liquid in the pan when it’s done baking, and it’s liable to shrink up big time.

We usually buy beef from our local butcher shop, and it’s about a 90/10 mixture, which works really well for meatloaf. That mixture still gives off a little bit of juice but not so much that our meatloaf is sitting in a bunch of liquid.

The steamed cauliflower rice will help the meatloaf to be moist… Normally, I use oatmeal, but the carb content in oatmeal deterred me from using it for this recipe.

As for seasonings, we kept it simple. Salt, pepper, seasoning salt, and a Texas Style BBQ Seasoning (Great Value brand) we found at Walmart; I still like just a hint of BBQ flavor in my meatloaf.

HOW LONG TO COOK MEATLOAF

You’ll bake meatloaf at 350° in the oven.

Meatloaf usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to cook all the way through. You want to make sure it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160° with a meat thermometer.

When it’s done, you can just remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes while you finish prepping the rest of your meal.

WHAT FOODS ARE GOOD TO PAIR WITH MEATLOAF?

Normally, I’d say to serve meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Yum! Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are definitely not low carb.

So you might want to go with a better option like maybe a colorful salad, green beans, or broccoli. And remember, there’s cauliflower in the meatloaf, so you’ve already got a few hidden veggies.

CAN I FREEZE MEATLOAF?

Yes, you can. Meatloaf would make an excellent freezer meal or make ahead meal.

MORE DINNER IDEAS WITH GROUND BEEF AND/OR CAULIFLOWER:

Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs – which you can pair with Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti.

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

Sausage and Chicken Instant Pot Casserole

KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE THIS EASY MEATLOAF RECIPE:

13″x9″ casserole or baking dish – I love using this size baking dish to make a big 2-pound meatloaf that will stretch to give our family of 5 more than one meal.

Large mixing bowl – This makes it easy to just dump in all the ingredients and start mixing.

Meat thermometer – We use ours all the time; it really helps to tell if the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked.

LOW CARB MEATLOAF RECIPE

If you love this low carb meatloaf recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you make the recipe, be sure to share that you tried it on Pinterest. I love when readers share feedback!

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Low Carb Meatloaf

Easy recipe for a low carb meatloaf made with cauliflower and ground beef. Simple, healthy dinner idea and comfort food recipe with absolutely no ketchup!
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs
1/2 cup onion (minced)
1 cup cauliflower rice (steamed)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon BBQ Seasoning (*)
Pre-heat the oven to 350° and spray a 13"x9" baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, and cauliflower rice.
Sprinkle in the seasonings, including the salt, black pepper, seasoning salt, and BBQ seasoning; and mix together well.
Add the meatloaf mixture to the prepared baking dish, and pat together into a loaf.
Bake at 350° for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160° with a meat thermometer.
When the meatloaf has finished cooking, remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for just a few minutes while you finish prepping the rest of your meal.
Serve with your favorite sides** and enjoy!
*I used Great Value brand Texas Style BBQ Seasoning, but you can use any low carb BBQ seasoning.

Normally, I serve meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, mashed potatoes are definitely not low carb. So you may want to serve it with something like a colorful salad, green beans, or broccoli.

Dinner Ideas
American
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October 19, 2018
Easy Ground Beef Tacos from Scratch
The best ground beef tacos ever, made with crispy fried corn tortilla shells, seasoned hamburger, and all the delicious toppings. Easy dinner recipe that’s perfect for Taco Tuesday!

Have I mentioned how much I love tacos? Besides chicken tacos, ground beef tacos are my favorite, especially when we make them with corn tortilla taco shells.

Tacos are an easy meal too, making them a win win when it comes to dinner. Really, all it takes is cooking the meat and prepping a few of your favorite toppings.

For toppings, I recommend lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, avocado and maybe even some green onions. You can also add my favorite peach and mango salsa if you like.

You can use regular taco shells you buy in the store; we love these… Or you can make your own, using corn tortillas, and fry them up in a dab of bacon grease or oil.

You can even swap out taco shells for bell peppers, making the most delicious taco stuffed peppers.

Want a variation on ground beef tacos? Try taco sloppy joes, cheesy Mexican pie, or taco tater tot hotdish.

Want less mess? You’ll love this walking taco recipe.

How to make taco shells for ground beef tacos:

To make your own crispy taco shells (they remind me of a Taco Bell Chalupa shell)…
- Heat about a tablespoon of bacon grease in a skillet; let it melt and heat up.
- Add a corn tortilla to the skillet, letting it cook on one side.
- Use tongs to turn the tortilla and let the other side cook.
- Finally, remove the tortilla from the skillet and let drain on a paper towel or paper bag for maybe 30 seconds or so.
- Fold into a taco shape and place in either a taco holder or the bottom side of a muffin pan.
And that’s it, you’ve made your own taco shells. They’re so good!

Tips for how to make this beef taco recipe:

You’ll need to gather your ingredients, including ground beef, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, salt, black pepper, peppers, onion, Roma tomatoes, lettuce, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, corn tortillas, and sour cream. You may also want extra ingredients like avocado, black olives, queso, and fresh tomato salsa with basil.

Add the ground beef, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large skillet. Brown the meat well.

Add the chopped onion, peppers, and 2 to 3 Roma tomatoes to the ground beef mixture. Cook thoroughly until the meat is fully cooked and the veggies have softened.

Meanwhile, prep all your fresh ingredients. Wash and chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions. Also, shred the cheese.

Fry up a batch of corn tortillas to form taco shells. You can use bacon grease or oil.

Once the ground beef is fully cooked, taco shells are done, and fresh ingredients are prepped, you’re ready to start the process of layering. You can layer ingredients in any order you want, but I prefer to add the beef into the taco shell first, then the cheese (it gets all melty on the warm meat), and go from there.

Add a layer of lettuce, a layer of tomatoes, green onions, and whatever else your heart desires. Don’t forget a dollop of sour cream (though I love adding a good layer of sour cream before I even add the meat; that way I have sour cream in every single bite).

And that’s it. Tacos are the easiest thing to make on a busy weeknight!

More Tex Mex recipes you may enjoy:

Easy Fish Tacos with a Tzatziki Fish Taco Sauce

Chicken and Hummus Loaded Nachos in a Sheet Pan

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

Kitchen tools you may need to make beef tacos:

Iron Skillet – We’re avid users of cast iron cookware. We even take our favorite iron skillet camping with us.

Tongs – They’ll be needed for flipping the corn tortillas in the skillet.

Ground Meat Chopper – This makes it easy to chop up the meat while cooking.

Taco Holder – Ok, so you don’t technically NEED this, but it sure does come in handy. I just use the bottom side of my muffin pan.

Cutting Board and Knife – You’ll use this for way more than just one recipe. We use ours just about every time we step foot in the kitchen.

Love cooking shows and want to make these tacos along with us? Watch our recipe video!
Easy Ground Beef Tacos from Scratch

The best ground beef tacos ever, made with crispy fried corn tortilla shells, seasoned hamburger, and all the delicious toppings. Easy dinner recipe that’s perfect for Taco Tuesday!
1/2 large onion
1 large bell pepper
1 tablespoon salted butter or bacon grease
1 pound ground beef
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 to 3 whole Roma tomatoes (chopped)
1/2 head lettuce
6 whole Roma tomatoes (chopped)
6 whole green onions (chopped)
4 ounces cheddar cheese
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
16 whole corn tortillas
3 to 4 tablespoons bacon grease or oil of choice
Add the ground beef, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large skillet. Brown the meat well.
Add the chopped onion, peppers, and 2 to 3 Roma tomatoes to the ground beef mixture. Cook thoroughly until the meat is fully cooked and the veggies have softened.
Meanwhile, prep all your fresh ingredients. Wash and chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions. Also, shred the cheese.
Fry up a batch of corn tortillas to form taco shells. You can use bacon grease or oil.
Once the ground beef is fully cooked, taco shells are done, and fresh ingredients are prepped, you’re ready to start the process of layering. You can layer ingredients in any order you want.
Add a layer of lettuce, a layer of tomatoes, green onions, and whatever else your heart desires. Don’t forget a dollop of sour cream.
Dinner Ideas
Tex-Mex
easy ground beef tacos, ground beef tacos, tacos
May 1, 2018
Easy Meatloaf with Oatmeal (How to Make + Video)
How to make an old-fashioned meatloaf with oatmeal just like Mom used to make. Easy classic dinner recipe you can quickly mix together and pop in the oven. So much flavor, it’s not your average meatloaf!

Oatmeal meatloaf is one meal that our whole family loves, and it’s become a go to meal for me when planning our menus. I love making it because I know we’ll get at least 2 meals out of 1 easy meatloaf recipe with oats; same when we make Instant Pot meatloaf and potatoes and my traditional meatloaf recipe, a more classic recipe with a sauce.

Now I know this classic meatloaf recipe definitely has some carbs; so I’ve actually taken my meatball recipe and kinda tweaked it to make a low carb meatloaf recipe if you’re looking for a low carb option.

This family favorite meatloaf with oatmeal is super easy to make and so full of flavor. Basically, dump the ingredients in a bowl, mix them up, and drop the whole mixture into a baking pan. Sometimes we even scoop it into muffin tins to make meatloaf muffins!

Meatloaf Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

To make this flavorful meatloaf recipe with oatmeal, you’ll need to gather a few simple ingredients.
- Ground Beef – To make the best meatloaf recipe, it’s best to use a lean ground beef; we prefer to use 90/10 or 85/15 ground beef when mixing up a meatloaf. Our reasons are that it’s leaner, there’s less fat, and there will be less grease around your meatloaf. Don’t worry about flavor… You’ll still get really great flavor from a leaner ground beef. And you’ll also be eating a bit healthier, as well. Note: You can use all or half ground turkey or ground pork for this recipe in place of ground beef. However, it will change the look, texture, and flavor of your finished meatloaf.
- Large Eggs
- Yellow Onion – Chop or mince the onion. You can use sweet onion, but I like the kick in flavor from a yellow onion.
- Ketchup – You’ll need ketchup for the meatloaf mixture and the top of the meatloaf.
- Barbecue Sauce – This gives a smoky flavor to the meat; it’s so good!
- Oatmeal – Oats are the secret to moist meatloaf; they help make a very tender meatloaf. I generally use old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats to make this juicy meatloaf with oatmeal recipe; I don’t recommend using steel-cut oats, mainly for texture reasons. If using old-fashioned oats, try soaking them in milk before adding them to the mixture, to help soften them. I’ve even used gluten-free quick oats, so if you want a gluten-free meatloaf with oats, this is the way to go (although you should also check ingredient labels on your other ingredients just to be safe). If you don’t have oats, and you want, you can also sub bread crumbs or cracker crumbs with a 1:1 ratio.
- Seasoned Salt – You can use a good seasoning salt or just plain salt and pepper.
Keep in mind, this is a 2 lb meatloaf recipe; to make a 1 lb meatloaf recipe with oatmeal, just cut the ingredient amounts in half.

How to Make Meatloaf with Oatmeal

You’ll need to pre-heat your oven to 350° F, and grease a 13”x9” baking dish with cooking spray for homemade meatloaf.
1. Add all of the ingredients, including the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, ketchup, BBQ sauce, oatmeal, and seasoned salt to a large bowl. Mix well using a large fork; or you can just use your hands.
1. Once everything in the large mixing bowl has been mixed together well, transfer the meat mixture to the 9×13 baking dish, and shape it into a loaf. You can pat the ground beef into a larger loaf and bake it in the 9×13 meatloaf pan; or we’ve even made it by patting the meatloaf into a larger baking sheet. If you do choose to make it in a sheet pan, it likely won’t need as long to bake.
1. Then an optional step, but one I highly recommend… Squirt ketchup all over the top of the meatloaf.
How Long to Cook a 2-Pound Meatloaf

Bake the meatloaf at 350° F for about an hour, longer if needed, until the internal temperature reaches 160° F. Again, a meat thermometer is definitely something I recommend to make sure the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

Can I sub bread crumbs for oatmeal 1:1 in meatloaf?
If you must use something other than oatmeal, you can sub 1:1, bread crumbs or crackers. I’ve subbed gluten-free saltine cracker crumbs in a pinch, and they make a delicious meatloaf, as well.

Should I cover my meatloaf while baking?
There’s really no need to cover it with aluminum foil, unless your meatloaf starts to brown too quickly on the top or sides… But I have never had this problem. Keep in mind, I use a gas oven, so oven times may vary.

How should meatloaf be stored?
You can keep leftover meatloaf in the original baking dish and cover with plastic wrap or foil; or you can put whatever’s left in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days. We usually make the BEST meatloaf sandwiches with our leftovers the next day.

Can I make this old-fashioned meatloaf recipe ahead?
If you want to make meatloaf ahead of time without baking, just mix it all up, shape it in the baking dish, cover, and store in the fridge ’til you’re ready to bake it. You can keep it in the fridge overnight.

Can I freeze meatloaf?
Yes, you can freeze meatloaf before or after cooking. Just be sure it’s wrapped tightly or stored properly in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. It should keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Optional Recipe Variations

There are a few things you can add to give this simple meatloaf recipe with oats even more of a flavor kick…
- Add a bit of Worcestershire sauce, which pairs well with just about any beef dish.
- Add a dash of onion powder and minced garlic (or garlic powder) to the meat mixture.
- Put bacon slices on top of the meatloaf before you bake it.
- Top with a mixture of both ketchup and bbq sauce.
- Make a simple meatloaf glaze with ketchup or tomato sauce, mustard, bbq sauce, and brown sugar for the top of the meatloaf.
Great Side Dishes to Serve with Meatloaf

When it’s fully cooked, remove it from the oven; and serve it with sides like creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, or broccoli.

You can even do what my family absolutely LOVES to do with meatloaf… Make the most delicious meatloaf sandwich ever! Mmmm, I love meatloaf sandwiches… My favorite way to use leftovers!

More Favorite Meat Recipes:

If you love this easy meatloaf recipe, you’ll love these meaty main dishes too…
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Meatloaf with Oatmeal

How to make an old-fashioned meatloaf with oatmeal just like Mom used to make. Easy classic dinner recipe you can pop in the oven.
Large Mixing Bowl
9×13 Baking Dish
Meat Thermometer
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs
1/2 large yellow onion (minced)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
4 to 6 tablespoons ketchup (for the top of the meatloaf)
Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Add all of the ingredients, including the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, ketchup, bbq sauce, oatmeal, and seasoned salt, to a large bowl. Mix well using a large fork; or you can just use your hands.
Transfer the meat mixture to the greased 9×13 baking dish, and shape it into a loaf.
Squirt ketchup all over the top of the meatloaf.
Bake the meatloaf at 350° F for about 1 hour, or longer if needed, until the internal temperature reaches 160° F. I definitely recommend a meat thermometer, to make sure the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked.
When it’s fully cooked, remove the meatloaf from the oven; slice it and serve with your favorite sides.
*We prefer to use 90/10 or 85/15 ground beef when mixing up a meatloaf. Our reasons are that it’s leaner, there’s less fat, and there will be less grease around your meatloaf. Don’t worry about flavor… You’ll still get really good flavor from a leaner ground beef. And you’ll also be eating a bit healthier, as well. Note: You can use all or half ground turkey or ground pork for this recipe in place of ground beef. However, it will change the look, texture, and flavor of your finished meatloaf.

*I’ve used both old-fashioned oats and quick oats for this meatloaf. I’ve even used gluten-free quick oats, so if you want a gluten-free meatloaf with oats, this is the way to go (although you should also check ingredient labels on your other ingredients just to be safe).

Should I cover the meatloaf while baking?

There’s really no need to, unless your meatloaf starts to brown too quickly on the top or sides… But I have never had this problem. Keep in mind, I use a gas oven, so oven times may vary.

How to store meatloaf?

You can keep leftover meatloaf in the original baking dish and cover with plastic wrap or foil; or you can put whatever’s left in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Can I make it ahead?

If you want to make meatloaf ahead of time without baking, just mix it all up, shape it in the baking dish, cover, and store in the fridge ’til you’re ready to bake it. You can keep it in the fridge overnight.

Dinner Ideas, main dish
American
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April 30, 2018
Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe, made with spaghetti squash instead of pasta, an easy homemade pasta sauce, and low carb meatballs packed with a hidden veggie. It’s a healthy meal my family can’t wait to eat for dinner.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti is one of my family’s favorite meals, even though it’s packed with squash instead of pasta and served with either a meaty sauce or low carb cauliflower meatballs.

I’ve become quite accustomed to the flavor and texture of spaghetti squash, and I’d choose it over pasta any day.

This particular spaghetti dinner pairs perfectly well with a batch of hot dog bun breadsticks too.

You’d think that making pasta with squash would be this long, drawn-out process. But it’s not. In fact, spaghetti squash is so easy to cook and use for so many different noodle dishes.

Tips for how to make Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs

Gather your ingredients first… You’ll need a spaghetti squash, water, a batch of Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce, and a batch of Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs.
- Wash your spaghetti squash, and cut it in half.
- Remove the seeds.
- Place the spaghetti squash, face down, in your Instant Pot, along with a cup of water.
- Put the lid on your Instant Pot. Hit ‘Pressure Cook’ and set for 6 to 8 minutes. (If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can bake the spaghetti squash instead.)
- Meanwhile, prepare the sauce and the meatballs, according to recipe instructions.
- Once the squash has fully cooked and your Instant Pot has naturally released, place the cooked spaghetti squash on a cutting board, and pull out all the squash. It’ll come out in long strands, sorta like spaghetti.
- Place the spaghetti squash spaghetti in a large serving bowl.
- Serve while warm, with sauce and meatballs on top, for a delicious family meal.
It’s such a simple and easy recipe; I feel like everyone knows how to make spaghetti. But not everyone knows how to make spaghetti with squash instead of pasta.

Of course, it’s also really delicious, and it’s not a heavy meal. This kind of spaghetti fills you up but not so much that you have that too-full feeling in the pit of your stomach. And it’s a great way to add extra nutrients into a meal your kids will truly enjoy.

More Pasta Dishes You May Enjoy:
- Creamy Tortellini Alfredo
- Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo
Kitchen tools you may need to make Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti:

Cutting Board and Vegetable Cleaver – Perfect for prepping all your ingredients.
Instant Pot – We use our Instant Pot several times a week, if not every day, and it makes cooking the spaghetti squash a breeze.
Large Serving Bowl – for serving the spaghetti squash.
Spaghetti Server – This makes plating spaghetti so much easier.

Want to see how to make the recipe? Watch our video!

Print the recipe for Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs:
Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe, made with spaghetti squash instead of pasta, an easy homemade pasta sauce, and low carb meatballs packed with a hidden veggie. It’s a healthy meal my family can’t wait to eat for dinner.
1 spaghetti squash
1 cup water
1 batch Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce
1 batch Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs
Wash your spaghetti squash, and cut it in half.
Remove the seeds.
Place the spaghetti squash, face down, in your Instant Pot, along with a cup of water.
Put the lid on your Instant Pot. Hit ‘Pressure Cook’ and set for 6 to 8 minutes. (If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can bake the spaghetti squash instead.)
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce and the meatballs, according to recipe instructions.
Once the squash has fully cooked and your Instant Pot has naturally released, place the cooked spaghetti squash on a cutting board, and pull out all the squash. It’ll come out in long strands, sorta like spaghetti.
Place the spaghetti squash spaghetti in a large serving bowl.
Serve while warm, with sauce and meatballs on top, for a delicious family meal.
Pasta
Italian
spaghetti and meatballs, spaghetti squash spaghetti, spaghetti squash spaghetti and meatballs
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February 6, 2018
Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs
Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs, made with lean ground beef, cauliflower rice, parmesan cheese, herbs, and seasonings. Healthy and delicious recipe your family will love!

Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs are delicious in spaghetti and as party appetizers. They’re another one of my experiments, but this time an experiment gone totally right.

Making dinner healthier has been a priority; bread crumbs in meatballs doesn’t necessarily add up to healthier, especially when you’re watching carb counts.

However, cauliflower makes an excellent substitute for bread crumbs in Italian style meatballs, as well as in my low carb meatloaf recipe.

Cauliflower makes a moist meatball, but not so moist that you even realize there’s cauliflower in there. It’s like having your vegetables and eating them too. Hidden veggies are fun, aren’t they?

Serve them up with a homemade pasta sauce and spaghetti, and you’re all set for a delicious dinner with your family.

Tips for How to Make Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs:

Gather your ingredients… You’ll need lean ground beef, eggs, onion, steamed cauliflower, parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, fresh parsley, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350° and spray your cookie sheet/baking pan with cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together the lean ground beef and eggs.
- Mince or chop the onion, and stir it into your beef mixture.
- Mince the already steamed cauliflower into cauliflower rice (you can also use a food processor or blender to do this).
- Add the cauliflower rice and parmesan cheese to the meat mixture.
- Next, mix in all of your herbs and seasonings, including the oregano, basil, fresh minced parsley, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
- At this point, you can keep stirring with a large fork; or get your hands into the mixture and mix it all together really well.
- Take small amounts of the meat mixture and roll into meatballs, about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. You can also use a scoop for this.
- Place all the meatballs on your cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes or until they’re entirely cooked through and up to temperature.
- Serve with spaghetti, as an appetizer, etc.
Meatballs really aren’t that complicated to make. They require a bit of patience as you take the time to roll each of them up, but they’re totally worth it.

The ingredients are simple. The process is simple. And you end up with delicious meatballs packed full of flavor.

Pair Italian Style Meatballs with:
- Homemade Pasta Sauce
- Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti
More Cauliflower Recipes You May Enjoy:

Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

Low Carb Chicken Casserole

Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls

Kitchen Tools You May Need to Make Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs:

Mixing Bowl – You’ll need a mixing bowl to mix up your meatballs.

Cutting Board and Vegetable Cleaver – Perfect for prepping all your ingredients.

Meatball Scoop – If you don’t want to roll them with your hands, this scoop may be just the thing.

Cookie Sheet/Baking Pan or Meatball Baking Pan– You’ll definitely want to use a pan that has sides, to catch any juices.

Want to see how to make the recipe? Watch our video!

Print the Recipe for Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs
Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs

Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs, made with lean ground beef, cauliflower rice, parmesan cheese, herbs, and seasonings. Healthy and delicious recipe your family will love!
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 small onion
1 cup cauliflower rice
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 350° and spray your cookie sheet/baking pan with cooking spray.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the lean ground beef and eggs.
Mince or chop the onion, and stir it into your beef mixture.
Mince the already steamed cauliflower into cauliflower rice (you can also use a food processor or blender to do this).
Add the cauliflower rice and parmesan cheese to the meat mixture.
Next mix in all of your herbs and seasonings, including the oregano, basil, fresh minced parsley, sea salt, and ground black pepper.
At this point, you can keep stirring with a large fork; or get your hands into the mixture and mix it all together really well.
Take small amounts of the meat mixture and roll into meatballs, about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. You can also use a scoop for this.
Place all the meatballs on your cookie sheet.
Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes or until they’re entirely cooked through and up to temperature.
Serve with spaghetti, as an appetizer, etc.
Appetizers
Italian
baked Italian cauliflower meatballs, baked meatballs, cauliflower meatballs, Italian cauliflower meatballs
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February 3, 2018
39 Colorful Salads You Can Eat for Dinner
Colorful Salads You Can Eat for Dinner with loads of vegetables, some with meat, and a few meatless ideas! Loads of ideas for delicious weeknight meals!

Colorful Salads can make delicious weeknight meals, especially if they’re packed with vegetables and offer a little protein too. You can pair a good salad deliciously well with a bowl of Instant Pot potato soup, salmon patties, a low carb meatloaf, or fish fillets.

I find myself sometimes just wanting a lighter meal, especially in the evenings after a really long day. And a good salad, like chicken egg salad, is just the thing when a heavier dinner feels like too much.

Even our kids love salad, and I feel like we’re pretty lucky that they do. Personally, I love a good Cobb Salad with chicken and a little bit of BBQ sauce with Ranch dressing drizzled on for extra flavor.

Below you’ll find 39 colorful salad ideas you can implement into your weekly menu plan. Whether you’re packing a lunch or cooking up dinner, maybe think about adding a hearty salad to your meal plan.

Colorful Salads without Meat
- Halloumi, Blueberry and Spinach Salad by Divalicious Recipes
- Detox Kale and Beet Salad by Maria Ushakova
- Mediterranean Lentil Quinoa Rice Salad by Garden in the Kitchen
- Grilled Eggplant Salad with Halloumi by A Clean Bake
- Gloriously Healthy Green Salad with Sriracha Peanut Dressing by The Live-In Kitchen
- Rainbow Noodle Salad by Salt & Lavender
- Asian Quinoa Slaw Salad with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette by The Kitchen Girl
- Autumn Lentil Salad with Chickpea Pancakes by The Stingy Vegan
- Israeli Couscous Salad with Olives and Artichokes by Cadry’s Kitchen
- Southwest Quinoa Salad {Gluten-Free} by Mama Knows Gluten Free
- Orange, Pistachio and Pomegranate Couscous Salad {Vegan} by Recipes from a Pantry
- Chopped Spinach Winter Salad by Cooking on the Front Burner
- Vegetarian Taco Salad by Yummy Mummy Kitchen
- Roasted Beetroot, Goats Cheese and Walnut Salad by The Cook’s Pyjamas
- Vegan Cobb Salad by Namely Marly
- Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Kale by The Movement Menu
- Warm Butternut, Red Cabbage, Quinoa, and Almond Salad by Simple Seasonal
- Power-Packed Roast Potato, Quinoa, and Garden Veggie Salad by Yumsome
Colorful Salads with Meat
- Bacon Blue Cheese Burger Salad {Gluten-Free} by My Gluten-free Kitchen
- Chopped Chicken Salad by Diabetes Strong
- Easy Asian Steak Salad by Low Carb with Jennifer
- Easy Mexican Chopped Salad with Spiced Rubbed BBQ Chicken by Lemon Blossoms
- Roasted Butternut Squash and Chicken Spinach Salad with Cinnamon Cider Vinaigrette by The Roasted Root
- Copycat Classic Diner Chef Salad by Berly’s Kitchen
- Tuna Berry Mango Avocado Salad by Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch
- Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad by We Are Not Martha
- Teriyaki Beef Salad by With a Blast
- Blueberry Gorgonzola Farmer’s Salad by Flavor Mosaic
- Easy Healthy Taco Salad Recipe with Ground Beef by Wholesome Yum
- Tuna White Bean Salad by Happy Foods Tube
- Carolina BBQ Chicken Salad by Renee Nicole’s Kitchen
- Chopped Salad with Herb Buttermilk Dressing by Panning the Globe
- Chicken Shawarma Mediterranean Salad (Pita Jungle Copycat) by Hungry Hobby
- Mediterranean Turkey Spinach Salad by The Lean Green Bean
- Salmon Kale Superfood Salad Recipe with Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette by Wholesome Yum
Hopefully, this inspires some healthy dinners in your very near future! With so many delicious ideas, I can’t wait to plan my next menu.

Looking for more delicious salad recipes?
Kitchen Tools to help you make salad for dinner…

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Pin this post to save all of these delicious Colorful Salads ideas for later!
December 26, 2017
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

Southern Green Beans are the most flavorful green beans you’ll ever enjoy. With bacon, onion, and ground beef, the flavors are incredible. Pressure cooked in the Instant Pot, they’re so tender and delicious, not to mention easy to make. And they pair really well with a Crock Pot pork roast or even baked chicken drums!

They’re reminiscent of the green beans my grandma used to make for every single holiday get together. Also, the fact that I live in Arkansas… That warrants a Southern recipe or two, right? I think so.

This recipe really only uses 6 ingredients, so it’s a pretty simple recipe. The most work is cooking up the bacon and ground beef beforehand. Otherwise, just throw all the ingredients in the Instant Pot, give them a stir, pop the lid on, and cook.

Meaning you can throw it all together and walk away and focus on doing something else (like play a quick game with the kids or keep the laundry going).

Tips for how to make Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
- Chop a medium sized onion.
- Cook ground beef and onion together in a large skillet.
- Meanwhile, also cook bacon in another large skillet.
- When ground beef/onion mixture is done, drain well.
- Crumble bacon.
- Add frozen green beans, ground beef/onion mixture, crumbled bacon, salt, pepper, and water to the Instant Pot.
- Give it all a good stir.
- Place lid on the Instant Pot.
- Cook on Manual for 25 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release.
- Serve while warm. We’ve eaten this as both a side dish and a main dish. So good!
More side dish recipes you may enjoy…
You may also want to check out my list of The Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu and The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations for plenty more inspiration. And if you’re wondering what to make for Easter dinner, I’ve gotcha covered.

Tools you may need to make Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

Cutting Board and Knife – for chopping the onions and crumbling the bacon.
Large Skillet – You’ll need to cook both the ground beef and the bacon.
Wood Spatula – Use for cooking the ground beef.
Instant Pot – We have the 6-Quart Instant Pot, without the yogurt function. We love it.
Serving Bowl – This will allow for easier (and prettier) serving than just from the Instant Pot.

Print the recipe for Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.
Large Skillet
Instant Pot
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion (minced)
1 pound ground beef
36 ounces frozen green beans
6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup water
Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
Stir the minced onion into the olive oil and sauté 'til the onion is translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
Mix the ground beef together with the onion in the skillet and cook.
When the ground beef mixture is done, drain well.
Add the ground beef mixture, frozen green beans, crumbled bacon, salt, pepper, and water to the Instant Pot.
Give it all a good stir.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the vent to "Sealed," and cook on Manual (or Pressure Cook) for 15 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release.
Serve while warm and enjoy!
Side Dish
American
green beans, Instant Pot green beans, southern green beans
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October 28, 2017
Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps
Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps are a copycat recipe inspired by a Jimmy John’s favorite, the Unwich. Only a few ingredients and 10 minutes to make!

Roast beef lettuce wraps are an easy, delicious, low carb lunch idea. I’ve grown quite fond of Jimmy John’s Unwich, with all the goodness wrapped up in giant crunchy lettuce leaves.

Our boys love a good lettuce wrap too. With Dan looking for more low carb options, this has been an easy way for us to still enjoy a deliciously jam packed sandwich in wrap form.

Another great option for a healthy lunch or dinner is our favorite chicken salad recipe with eggs.

Love a good sandwich or wrap? You’ll love this best of the best Philly cheesesteak recipe.

Learn how to make Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps.

Let’s pile together a quick lunch of roast beef lettuce wraps, shall we? All you need are a few ingredients.

First things first, wash the lettuce and tomatoes. You can use iceberg lettuce or a good romaine lettuce. I used large romaine leaves, and they worked just fine. I will say this, though… The crunchier the lettuce, the better.

Slice the tomato and onion into thin slices.

Lay the lettuce leaves out onto a piece of parchment paper, staggered or fanned out with half of each leaf on top of the leaf underneath. Add 2 slices of provolone cheese. Spread the mayo, along with the Italian dressing, over the cheese. Add onion and tomato slices.

Shred the cheddar cheese on top of the tomatoes. Then add the roast beef.

Finally, wrap up your lettuce wrap, using the parchment paper to help hold it all together. You can even tie a string around it to hold it in place.

And that’s it! You’re ready to enjoy.

Looking for more healthy lunch or dinner options?
Below you can print the recipe for Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps.
Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps

Low Carb Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps are a copycat recipe inspired by a Jimmy John's favorite, the Unwich. Only a few ingredients and 10 minutes to make!
3 large lettuce leaves
2 slices Provolone cheese
1 tablespoon mayo
1 tablespoon Italian dressing
3-4 slices red onion
3 to mato slices
Shredded cheddar
3-4 slices roast beef
Parchment paper (optional)
Wash the lettuce and tomatoes. You can use iceberg lettuce or a good romaine lettuce. The crunchier the lettuce, the better.
Slice the tomato and onion into thin slices.
Lay the lettuce leaves out onto a piece of parchment paper, staggered or fanned out with half of each leaf on top of the leaf underneath.
Add 2 slices of provolone cheese down the middle.
Spread the mayo, along with the Italian dressing, over the cheese.
Add onion and tomato slices.
Shred the cheddar cheese on top of the tomatoes.
Then add the roast beef.
Finally, wrap up your lettuce wrap, using the parchment paper to help hold it all together. You can even tie a string around it to hold it in place.
And that’s it! It’s ready to serve and enjoy.
Burgers & Sandwiches
American
Jimmy Johns Unwich copycat, roast beef lettuce wrap, Unwich
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August 10, 2017
Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas
Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas are a quick and easy dinner recipe with Grands Biscuits, pizza sauce, veggies, cheese, and pepperoni.

Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas are an easy dinner idea, perfect for the back to school season. I love it when dinner can be made in a pinch. Don’t you?

My kids love it when we have mini pizzas for lunch too. Since we homeschool, we’re always looking for quick and easy lunch ideas.

Learn how to make Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas.

Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas require only a few ingredients, though you can add or take away ingredients as you wish. Most supreme pizza does have sausage, but I chose to leave that out this time ’round.

Your first step is to wash and chop your veggies, including peppers and a fresh tomato. An onion is optional; I’m finding more and more lately that I have to be in the mood for onion.

Sauté the peppers in a tablespoon of butter for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Then remove from heat and combine with the chopped tomato; set aside for now.

Shred your cheese next; I love to use a special pizza cheese we get at our butcher shop, but mozzarella will do.

Press or roll each Grands biscuit out to a flatter round, about an inch thick; you can use a rolling pin. (Tip: It helps to spray your surface with cooking spray before rolling out the biscuits.)

Top with pizza sauce. Then add pepper and tomato mixture, cheese, and pepperoni. Place each mini pizza on a cookie sheet using a flat spatula/flipper. Sprinkle with basil.
Bake the Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas at 375° for about 15 minutes or until bottoms have turned a golden color and cheese is melted. Serve while warm; they pair really well with a good salad.

Looking for more easy dinner recipes?
Below you can print the recipe for Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas.
Grands! Mini Supreme Pizzas

Grands Mini Supreme Pizzas are a quick and easy dinner recipe with Grands Biscuits, pizza sauce, veggies, cheese, and pepperoni.
1 can Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits
1 small onion (optional)
2 small peppers
1 tablespoon salted butter
1 medium tomato
1 cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded pizza or mozzarella cheese
24 + small pepperoni slices
Basil (fresh or dried)
Wash and chop the veggies, including peppers and a fresh tomato. An onion is optional.
Sauté the peppers in a tablespoon of butter for 3-4 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
Remove peppers from heat and combine with the chopped tomato; set aside for now.
Shred the cheese.
Press or roll each Grands biscuit out to a flatter round, about an inch thick; you can use a rolling pin.
Top with pizza sauce, then pepper and tomato mixture, cheese, and pepperoni.
Place each mini pizza on a cookie sheet using a flat spatula/flipper.
Sprinkle with basil.
Bake at 375° for about 15 minutes or until bottoms have turned a golden color and cheese is melted.
Serve while warm; they pair really well with a good salad. Enjoy!
Dinner Ideas
American
Grands Biscuits mini pizzas, Grands Biscuits pizza, Grands pizzas, mini supreme pizza
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August 8, 2017
Make an Easy Instant Pot Chili to Warm Your Heart and Soul
Chili and cornbread together is one of my all-time favorite meals; in fact, the whole family loves it. Of course, easy Instant Pot chili is even better because it makes dinner prep that much simpler.

Back in the day we used to make a vegetarian chili using soy crumbles. I’m not sure what I was thinking. My guys really didn’t like soy crumbles, but I’d “heard” they were healthier.

I’ve since come to find out that soy is really not that good for you, especially when you have thyroid issues (as I do). And to be quite honest, we love our meat.

We eat more of a low carb, high fat diet these days (most of the time… some of us still get a few carbs in). And ground beef is now a healthy addition to our Instant Pot chili.

We’ve been making this chili for awhile. I personally love a nice skillet cornbread with this chili.

And we’ve been known to serve it with tortilla chips if we don’t have cornbread.

But for the most part, we enjoy it with a dollop of sour cream and a bit of shredded cheddar. Sometimes I even use this chili to make the best loaded chili cheese fries.

If you love a warm bowl of chili, you’ll love this recipe. It’ll warm your heart and soul like no other. Below is the printable recipe. Enjoy!

Looking for more Instant Pot dinner ideas?
This chili also makes a tasty addition to your next Baked Potato Bar. And it would make and excellent chili dip.

Learn how to quickly use your Instant Pot with our Instant Pot Quick Start Guide, filled with practical tips, Instant Pot recipes, accessory ideas, and more!

Print the Recipe for Easy Instant Pot Chili
Easy Instant Pot Chili

Chilly nights call for a nice hot bowl of homemade Instant Pot chili to warm your heart and soul. Best served with cornbread and a dollop of sour cream.
Instant Pot
1 tablespoon salted butter
1 medium yellow onion (minced)
1 pound ground beef
32 ounces chili beans
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
16 ounces tomato sauce
1 tablespoon molasses
3 tablespoons chili powder
Using the Sauté function on the Instant Pot, melt the butter right in the pot.
Then sauté the onion in the butter, 'til it starts to soften.
Stir the ground beef in with the onion, cooking 'til the meat is browned.
Add in the chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, molasses, and chili powder, stirring everything together.
Put the cover on your Instant Pot, seal the vent, and set it to cook for about 10 minutes.
Once it's cooked, let it naturally release pressure.
Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, and whatever else your heart desires.
main dish, Soups & Stews
American
chili, chili recipe, easy chili recipe, easy Instant Pot chili, Instant Pot chili
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March 16, 2017
Homemade Mexican Pizza with All the Fixin’s
When it comes to types of food, I could eat Mexican day in and day out. Dan’s mentioned getting me a shirt that says, “I’m just here for the queso.” It’s so true. Enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, you name it, it’s all good and worthy of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in my opinion.

Of course, a hearty Mexican Pizza, loaded down with all the fixin’s, rates really high on my list of favorite meals; it’s also just one of the many meals my kids love.

This particular Mexican Pizza is loaded with the fixin’s of your choosing, including but not limited to lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado.

It’s easy and simple to make, but I wouldn’t call it a quick meal. It takes a little time to prepare, especially if you prefer to take your time.

I find myself way less stressed when I can go in the kitchen and just take my time. Turn a little music on, gather all my ingredients, and just enjoy the process of putting together a meal, all the time looking forward to eating and enjoying it with my family.

So, How to Put this Mexican Pizza together…
1. Sandwich two small (taco-sized) tortillas together with refried beans.
1. Add another layer of refried beans to the top tortilla, about a tablespoonful. Then add your ground beef/picante mixture, shredding cheese on top of that.
1. Finally, bake for about 15 minutes or until heated all the way through and cheese is melted.
1. Remove from the oven and load your pizza down with all the yummy fixin’s. We prefer lettuce, lots of tomatoes, and avocado. You can also add a little spoonful of fresh basil tomato salsa or peach mango salsa.
Below, you’ll find the printable recipe. Grab that recipe and enjoy!
Homemade Mexican Pizza with All the Fixin’s

Homemade is way better, especially when it comes to Homemade Mexican Pizza with All the Fixin’s, like lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados. Enjoy a simple recipe that makes a delicious family meal and curbs those cravings for your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex food.
1 lb. ground beef
Salt & Pepper
1 1/2 cups picante sauce
Pinch of brown sugar
1 can refried beans
Small flour tortillas
4 oz. extra sharp cheddar
4 oz. Colby Jack
1/3 head green leaf lettuce
5 medium tomatoes
2 avocados
Sour cream
Pre-heat oven to 325°.
To form each pizza, sandwich two tortillas together with a layer of refried beans, about 1 tablespoonful.
Add another layer of refried beans to the top of the tortillas, about a tablespoonful.
Cook ground beef, seasoning with salt and pepper, and drain well.
Add picante sauce and pinch of brown sugar to ground beef, mixing well and heating through.
Layer 2-3 spoonfuls of the ground beef mixture onto top of tortillas.
Shred cheese and add to top of ground beef mixture on pizzas.
Bake at 325° on ungreased cookie sheet for about 15 minutes or until heated all the way through and cheese is melted.
Meanwhile, wash and chop lettuce and tomatoes; wash, peel, and chop avocados. Set aside in serving bowls.
When fully cooked, remove pizzas from the oven and load your pizza down with all the yummy fixin’s.
Serve with sour cream and enjoy.
Dinner Ideas
Tex-Mex
homemade Mexican pizza
Can’t make it just yet? Pin it for later!
February 4, 2016
Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie Stew Recipe
Sigh, my slow cooker…it’s my best friend when the weather starts to get a little chilly and days start to get insanely busy due to the holidays, school stuff, appointments, work meetings, or whatever else happens during the course of a week.

I’ll freely admit it…My name is Mel and I love my slow cooker.

I don’t know if I could live without my slow cooker. It makes such delicious things and only requires a minimal amount of work from me to do so.

It’s better than a Rosie (am I dating myself here? Jetsons?). It’s better than chocolate (wait, maybe not). It’s definitely better than slaving over a hot stove after a loooooonnnnngggg day, can I get an amen?

Yeah, I may be a little obsessed with my slow cooker, but it does make delicious things like this Shepherd’s Pie Stew.

This recipe kinda happened by accident, but now that I think about it, some of the best things happen by accident. I wanted to make Shepherd’s Pie in the slow cooker, but instead it turned into a sort of hearty stew that won our hearts.

Chock full of veggies, like my favorite vegetable soup with V8, and meaty deliciousness… This stew is a must try.

Below you’ll find the printable recipe. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie Stew

How to make a delicious slow cooker recipe for Shepherd's Pie Stew. Sometimes an accident turns into something delicious.
4-5 large potatoes (washed, peeled, & chunked)
1-16 oz. soup mix frozen veggies (basically, a mixed veggie good for soup)
1 can creamed corn
1 lb. ground beef (cooked & drained)
1-24 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
Salt & pepper
1 cup shredded Colby Jack (shredded)
1/2 to 1 cup Cheddar (shredded)
Prepare potatoes and add to slow cooker.
Cook ground beef in skillet. Cook well and drain. Add to slow cooker.
Add rest of ingredients to slow cooker, minus the cheese. Mix together well.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours. 20-30 minutes before serving, add shredded cheese. Replace lid and finish cooking.
Once cheese is melted, serve and enjoy!
Soups & Stews
American
shepherd’s pie soup, shepherd’s pie stew, slow cooker recipes, slow cooker shepherd’s pie stew, slow cooker stew
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Follow me on Pinterest!

Follow MamaBuzz – Mel Lockcuff’s board Slow Cooker Recipes on Pinterest.
November 13, 2014
Appetizer Recipe ~ Taco Bites
The big game will soon be here, and even though we don’t necessarily enjoy football, we usually have a movie night right around that time and enjoy a few of the snacks that go along with a big game party.

I’ll usually make our normal Barbecue Chicken Cream Cheese Dip, and sometimes I’ll make one of the boys’ favorites, “Puppy Chow.” This year, I’m adding something new to the mix…. Taco Bites.

These little snacks are super easy to make, and they contain fresh ingredients, making them somewhat healthy, as well. We enjoyed a batch for lunch one day recently.

Below you’ll find a printable recipe. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh veggies on the side. Enjoy!

Looking for more delicious appetizers and snacks?
And since Taco Bites make such a delicious party appetizer, I’m definitely adding them to my list of The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations.
Appetizer Recipe ~ Taco Bites

Little taco bites snacks are super easy to make, and they contain fresh ingredients, like tomatoes, lettuce, and shredded cheese.
12 corn tortillas (mini size)
1/2 lb. ground beef (fully cooked)
3/4 cup Picante Sauce
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 cups lettuce (shredded)
1 cup grape tomatoes (chopped)
3/5 cup Sour cream
Fully cook ground beef in skillet and drain. Add Picante Sauce to ground beef and warm.
Warm mini corn tortillas between 2 paper towels on a plate in the microwave, until they become pliable and easier to work with. The next step involves a muffin tin; you’ll need 12 muffin cups. Place each mini tortilla in a muffin cup, working with it to make it fit down in the cup. It helps to add a tablespoon full of beef at this point.
Once all tortillas are fitted into place and beef mixture added, bake at 350° for about 20-30 minutes or until tortillas are crunchy.
Remove from oven, adding cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Finish each taco bite off with a dollop of sour cream and serve. Enjoy!
Appetizers
Tex-Mex
taco bites
January 30, 2014