Adventures of Mel

Category: Quick & Easy Meals

  • Cheesy Delicious Taco Tater Tot Casserole

    Cheesy Delicious Taco Tater Tot Casserole

    Cook up a deliciously cheesy taco tater tot casserole with ground beef, cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings. Family favorite dinner recipe.

    taco tater tot casserole topped with tomatoes and green onions in a blue baking dish

    Did you know you can spice up tater tot casserole for Taco Tuesday? And wowsers, does it ever take this family favorite casserole to a whole new level!

    I’m talking full on Mexican tater tot casserole with all the fixin’s, including Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, green onions, sour cream, and a Tex-Mex beef mixture that is so delicious.

    Now I never said this recipe was healthy. In fact, let’s just think of it as more of a comfort food treat.

    It’s tater tot hotdish on steroids. Tex-Mex steroids, that is.

    And I know y’all love tacos because some of my most popular posts and videos are taco related. Remember these?

    Tacos are life, am I right? I know, I’m so cheesy (no pun intended), but let’s just say I get very excited about tacos.

    Mexican tater tot casserole topped with sour cream and green onions on white plate

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE CARD FOR TACO TATER TOT CASSEROLE?

    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 tater tot taco bake recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    LET’S TALK RECIPE LOGISTICS…

    This is the part where I try to answer any questions you may have as you follow along with the recipe. And if I don’t answer your question, just leave me a comment, and I’ll answer you there.

    WHAT KIND OF MEAT SHOULD I USE IN TACO TATER TOT HOTDISH?

    I prefer to use ground beef for this particular recipe. However, you can also use ground turkey or sausage.

    WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE CHILI BEANS?

    Listen, I get it. Beans all have different textures and flavors.

    I prefer chili beans (in their sauce) because that sauce really adds to the flavors of the entire tater tot hotdish.

    However, you can also use black beans. You might even give kidney beans a try.

    CAN I MAKE AHEAD TATER TOT CASSEROLE AND FREEZE IT?

    Yes, you can make it ahead and put it in the freezer for later. Just be sure to put it in the fridge in plenty of time to thaw before baking or add a little additional cook time, maybe 20 minutes or so.

    tater tot taco bake with scoop missing in blue baking dish

    You’ll also want to cover it well before freezing, so it doesn’t get freezer burn. If you have a covered casserole dish, that will work well.

    You can also make it the day before and put it in the fridge for baking the next day.

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE TACO TATER TOT CASSEROLE

    Making taco tater tot hotdish is really simple and easy, even though it does require a bit of prep. There’s no taco seasoning mix or enchilada sauce in this recipe, since the meat mixture is made from scratch.

    cooking ground beef mixture for taco tater tot hotdish in cast iron skillet with wooden spatula
    • In a large skillet, sauté the garlic, onion, and bell pepper in bacon grease (or olive oil) for 3 to 5 minutes.
    • Add the lemon juice, chili powder, salt, pepper, and ground beef, cooking until the meat is almost browned.
    • Next stir in 2 to 3 chopped Roma tomatoes, browning the meat.

    HOW TO LAYER MEXICAN TATER TOT CASSEROLE

    • 1st Layer: Chili beans
    • 2nd Layer: Monterey Jack cheese
    • 3rd Layer: Ground beef mixture
    • 4th Layer: Nacho cheese soup
    • 5th Layer: Tater tots

    At this point, bake the casserole, per instructions in the recipe card below.

    • 6th Layer: Cheddar cheese
    6 steps to layer a taco tater tot casserole in baking dish

    And then you’ll bake it again for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

    And that’s all there is to it. Sprinkle with your favorite taco toppings, like sour cream, tomatoes, and green onions, and it’s ready to serve.

    My family loves a good Mexican tater tot casserole, and so do I.

    Mexican tater tot casserole on white plate with fork, also topped with sour cream and green onions

    MORE TEX-MEX CASSEROLE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

    SHOP KITCHEN TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE:

    Cast Iron Skillet – for browning the ground beef. You could also layer the casserole in a larger cast iron skillet.

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

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

    Spatula – especially helpful for scooping out and spreading the soup.

    Casserole Dish

    TACO TATER TOT CASSEROLE RECIPE

    If you love this taco tater tot bake 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!

    taco tater tot casserole recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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    Cheesy Delicious Taco Tater Tot Casserole

    Cook up a deliciously cheesy taco tater tot casserole with ground beef, cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings. Family favorite dinner recipe.

    • 1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1/2 large yellow onion (chopped)
    • 1 large bell pepper (chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 3 Roma tomatoes (chopped)
    • 31 ounces chili beans
    • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
    • 21 ounces nacho cheese soup
    • 32 ounces tater tots
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

    Taco Toppings:

    • 3 Roma tomatoes
    • 3 green onions (chopped)
    • 1 cup sour cream
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
    2. In a large skillet, sauté the garlic, onion, and bell pepper in bacon grease (or olive oil) for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they begin to soften.
    3. Add the lemon juice, chili powder, salt, pepper, and ground beef, cooking until the meat is almost browned.
    4. Next stir in 2 to 3 chopped Roma tomatoes, browning the meat.
    5. Begin assembling the casserole by layering the chili beans in the bottom of your greased baking dish.
    6. Next layer the Monterey Jack cheese.
    7. Add the ground beef mixture as a third layer.
    8. Spread the soup over the ground beef mixture.
    9. Finally, add the tater tots to the top of the casserole.
    10. Bake the casserole at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until the tots are golden brown and everything is cooked thru.
    11. Sprinkle on a final layer of cheddar cheese, and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
    12. Serve with all your favorite taco toppings, including tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream.

    *You can use olive oil instead, if preferred.

    Dinner Ideas
    American
    Mexican tater tot casserole, taco tater tot casserole, taco tater tot hotdish, tater tot taco bake
  • Perfectly Cooked Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    Perfectly Cooked Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    Simplify mornings with a quick and easy homemade maple brown sugar oatmeal. Dairy free Instant Pot oatmeal recipe using rolled oats and real maple syrup.

    white bowl of maple brown sugar oatmeal with blueberries and pecans

    I remember as a kid when the boxes of instant oatmeal came out on store shelves. They were pretty much an instant hit with most every kid, especially with flavors like peaches and cream, strawberry and cream oatmeal and maple brown sugar oatmeal.

    Both my mom and my grandma were HUGE fans of the maple and brown sugar oatmeal. We’d make it to go with our breakfast and even for the occasional snack.

    Now with the help of my Instant Pot, I like to make it homemade, giving me the option to add less sugar and maybe make it a bit more healthy than those instant packs probably are. My family prefer steel cut or old fashioned oats, so I like to use old fashioned rolled oats.

    If you’ve never made Instant Pot oatmeal, it’s really easy to make. And I’ve got a few tips for you below, especially to help prevent scorching and get that perfectly cooked texture to your oatmeal.

    Looking for more Instant Pot breakfast recipes? Learn how to make easy peel pressure cooked hard boiled eggs, a super quick breakfast when you’re on the go.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”grgy7ldnvwwjtho6re2o” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1581779863/hf4xw2mrxjxgjzzabknu.jpg” title=”Perfectly Cooked Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE MAPLE BROWN SUGAR OATMEAL 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 maple brown sugar oatmeal recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    Not Quite Sure How to Use Your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?

    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!

    spoonful of maple and brown sugar oatmeal above white bowl of oatmeal with pecans and blueberries

    What Kind of Oats Should I Use for Instant Pot Oatmeal?

    For maple oats, I prefer to use old fashioned rolled oats.

    However, you can use steel cut oats. Just keep in mind, you may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two, since steel cut oats can take longer to cook.

    The nice thing is, with the pressure cooker, things tend to cook more quickly.

    The Kitchn has a great article explaining the difference between steel-cut, rolled, and instant oats.

    Tips for How to Make Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    With this oatmeal recipe, you can literally throw all your ingredients into the Instant Pot, set it, and forget it. It’s so quick and easy, but here are a few tips that may help you along the way.

    making maple cinnamon oatmeal with old fashioned rolled oats, cinnamon, and water in Instant Pot

    Tips for How to Keep Oatmeal from Scorching

    While I have used milk in the past, and it does tend to leave a film or scorch (but never leaves a burnt flavor), I prefer to use water now.

    With water, the oatmeal doesn’t scorch. In fact, it turns out perfectly cooked, and my family and I all think it tastes just as good or even better than oatmeal cooked with milk.

    maple oats in white bowl with spoon, pecans, and blueberries

    If you don’t want to use water, you may also be able to avoid scorching with the following methods:

    • Substitute another kind of dairy product (like almond milk).
    • If you find you just can’t make it without it scorching, reduce the cook time by a minute or two.
    • Throw everything in, adding the liquid last, and don’t stir. Just cook it.
    • Use the Instant Pot Porridge setting to cook oatmeal.

    Flavor Tips for Oatmeal in the Instant Pot

    How much brown sugar you should put in oatmeal depends on how sweet you want it. For this recipe, I use both maple syrup and brown sugar, so I only use 1/3 cup brown sugar.

    I also like to add a little cinnamon because I love the combo of maple cinnamon oatmeal!

    cooked maple and brown sugar Instant Pot oatmeal with a wooden spoon

    What to Put in Oatmeal

    When the oatmeal is ready to serve, have the following ingredients handy:

    • Sugar or Brown Sugar
    • Cream or Milk
    • Pecans
    • Blueberries
    • Bananas
    • Other Fruits

    I’ve always added cream or milk with a little sugar to my oatmeal after it’s cooked. Makes it oh so delicious!

    white bowl with maple brown sugar oatmeal, made with pressure cooker oatmeal

    More Oatmeal Recipes You May Enjoy

    I love baking, and I love these oatmeal cookies that remind me of my grandma. When I don’t want raisins, oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips will do.

    One of my go to dinner recipes is this easy meatloaf, made with old fashioned rolled oats. It’s by far one of our favorite family meals.

    Shop Kitchen Tools for This Recipe:

    Instant Pot – We’ve used both our 6-quart and our 8-quart Instant Pot.

    Liquid Measuring Cup

    Wooden Spoon

    Fun Cereal Bowls

    PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD FOR MAPLE BROWN SUGAR OATMEAL

    If you love this maple brown sugar oatmeal 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!

    maple brown sugar oatmeal recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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    Perfectly Cooked Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    Simplify mornings with a quick and easy homemade maple brown sugar oatmeal. Dairy free Instant Pot oatmeal recipe using rolled oats and real maple syrup.

    • 2 cups rolled oats (*)
    • 3 1/2 cups water
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
    • 1/3 cup maple syrup
    1. Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot, stirring the mixture together.
    2. Place the lid on your Instant Pot.
    3. Set the Instant Pot on the Porridge setting for 6 minutes, and let it cook and do a natural release.
    4. When the oatmeal has finished cooking, serve it with sugar, brown sugar, milk, cream, blueberries, pecans, bananas, and other fruits. 

    *We use old fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. If you prefer to use steel cut oats, you may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two.

    Breakfast & Brunch
    American
    Instant Pot oatmeal, maple and brown sugar oatmeal, maple brown sugar oatmeal, maple cinnamon oatmeal, maple oats, pressure cooker oatmeal
  • Dump and Go Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Dump and Go Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Make an easy Instant Pot vegetable soup with potatoes, okra, and other frozen veggies. Healthy pressure cooker recipe the whole family will love!

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup is one comfort food that warms a body up on a chilly day.

    white bowl of Instant Pot vegetable soup with spoon and crackers

    One of the things I love about this vegetable soup recipe is that it’s a vegetable soup without tomatoes. With Dan trying to stay low carb and my sometimes sensitive tummy, I know full well we can all eat it and enjoy it.

    I also love that it’s pretty much a dump and go soup. The hardest part about this recipe (and it isn’t even hard) is chopping up the garlic, potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery.

    While it does have potatoes, we fill this chunky vegetable soup with all sorts of veggies, including okra and green beans. Cooked in a beefy broth, it’s got the beef flavor without any meat.

    The only seasonings we use are salt and pepper. The vegetables do the rest, and it’s packed with flavor.

    Love a good chunky soup recipe? Me too. Some of my favorites include slow V8 vegetable soup, slow cooker white chicken chili, and creamy potato corn chowder.

    white bowls of chunky vegetable soup with crackers on a wooden cutting board

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE CARD FOR INSTANT POT VEGETABLE SOUP?

    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 vegetable soup recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    Things to Keep in Mind When Making Pressure Cooker Vegetable Soup

    There are a few things you should keep in mind when making foods in your Instant Pot, including cook time and release.

    While the cook time is only 30 minutes, keep in mind that if you let the pressure cooker naturally release, it will take more time. It’ll also take time for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, so it’s important that you add these times into your cook time.

    You can do a quick release (with protection, of course, so you don’t get burnt), but because we usually dump and go with this recipe, we just let it naturally release. That way the veggies get a little more time to soften up through the cooking/release process.

    scoop of pressure cooker vegetable soup in ladle above Instant Pot

    What Kind of Broth Should I Use for This Soup?

    You can use a vegetable based broth or a beef based broth. We use beef because we like the flavor of the beef base with the vegetables.

    You can either use broth you’ve saved from a roast, or you can use a beef base or bullion to make a broth. This beef base is the one we regularly use.

    Tips for How to Make a Chunky Vegetable Soup

    chopped potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery for Instant Pot vegetable soup recipe, on cutting board
    • Begin by washing and prepping all of the fresh vegetables, including the celery, carrots, and potatoes. You’ll also need to chop up the onion and garlic.
    • Just dump all of your chopped and frozen veggies, along with the beef broth, into your Instant Pot.
    fresh and frozen veggies for vegetable soup in Instant Pot pressure cooker
    • Put the lid on the Instant Pot and secure in place. Then set it to “Soup” for 30 minutes.
    • And that’s about it… You can just let it go, let it cook and naturally release, and then dinner will be ready.
    cooked vegetable soup in Instant Pot with wooden spoon

    What to Serve with Vegetable Soup

    Vegetable soup pairs well with crackers, cheddar cheese, toasted sourdough, homemade biscuits, bread rolls, grilled cheese, buttermilk cornbread, etc.

    Alternative Options for Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    There are a few alternative ingredients you can add to this vegetable soup recipe to kinda switch it up…

    • Add a little pasta or rice.
    • Include other vegetables like lima beans or spinach, although you may need to increase the amount of liquid you add by a cup or so, depending on how much you add.
    • Add meat! You can add hamburger, stew meat, sausage, etc.

    Looking for more delicious Instant Pot recipes?

    Also, 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!

    chunky vegetable soup in white soup bowl with spoon

    Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make This Soup:

    8 Quart Instant Pot – We use our Instant Pot almost every day. It makes a lot of meals in our house.

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

    Soup Bowls – Who doesn’t love a pretty bowl?

    INSTANT POT VEGETABLE SOUP RECIPE

    If you love this vegetable soup recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Dump and Go Instant Pot Vegetable Soup Recipe

    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:

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    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Make an easy Instant Pot vegetable soup with potatoes, okra, and other frozen veggies. Healthy pressure cooker recipe the whole family will love!

    • 2 stalks celery (chopped)
    • 4 carrots (chopped)
    • 1/2 large yellow onion (chopped)
    • 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
    • 5 medium potatoes (washed, peeled, and chopped)
    • 12 ounces frozen okra
    • 12 ounces frozen green beans
    • 12 ounces frozen corn
    • 12 ounces frozen peas
    • 4 cups beef broth (*)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    1. Prep all the veggies, including the celery, carrots, onion, garlic, and potatoes.
    2. Add all the chopped and frozen veggies to the Instant Pot.
    3. Add the beef broth to the Instant Pot.
    4. At this point, you can give it all a good stir.
    5. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and secure in place.
    6. Set to “Soup” for 30 minutes, and let it do its thing. 
    7. Once the soup has fully cooked and the valve has naturally released, the soup should be ready to serve.

    *If you don’t want to use a beef base, you can also use a vegetable base.

    Soups & Stews
    American
    chunky vegetable soup, Instant Pot vegetable soup, pressure cooker vegetable soup, vegetable soup
  • Classic Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

    Classic Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

    Tater Tot Casserole – How to make a classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, vegetables, and mushroom soup. Easy delicious dinner recipe you can make ahead and freeze.

    Busy nights call for easy dinner ideas, like this deliciously easy tater tot casserole recipe. You can even make it ahead of time and put it in the freezer.

    tater tot casserole with veggies served on white plate with blue casserole dish

    I’ve found the easier the meal on those busy nights, the less tempted I am to go through the fast food lane or order takeout. And tater tot hotdish is so easy to make, requiring very little prep time.

    While this hamburger casserole isn’t the lowest carb recipe you can make, it’s still a kid-friendly, quick meal option that will save your sanity.

    Not to mention, it’s a tater tot casserole with veggies. So you’ve got everything in one simple casserole dish.

    If you love a good casserole, you’ll also love this delicious taco tater tot casserole and sloppy joe casserole with potatoes.

    scooping tater tot hotdish out of blue casserole dish

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE FOR TATER TOT CASSEROLE?

    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 tater tot casserole recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    WHAT KIND OF VEGGIES SHOULD I USE IN TATER TOT HOTDISH?

    While I prefer to use canned veggies, you can use frozen or fresh, as well, depending on your preference.

    layering canned green beans and mixed vegetables to make tater tot casserole with veggies in blue and white casserole dish

    Although, do keep in mind that if you choose to use fresh root vegetables, like carrots, you may want to parboil them. Food Fanatic has a great guide for how to parboil.

    WHAT KIND OF MEAT SHOULD I USE?

    I prefer to use ground beef. But you can also use ground turkey or sausage.

    cooking ground beef for tater tot hamburger casserole in cast iron skillet

    WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP?

    That’s ok. You can use any creamed soup you want; or even create your own creamy beef broth, using beef bullion and heavy whipping cream (or milk), to add to the casserole.

    layering cream of mushroom soup onto ground beef in tater tot casserole, in blue and white casserole dish

    We’ve also used cream of celery soup, which gives hamburger casserole a really delicious flavor.

    CAN I MAKE AHEAD TATER TOT CASSEROLE AND FREEZE IT?

    Yes, you can make it ahead and put it in the freezer for later. Just be sure to put it in the fridge in plenty of time to thaw before baking or add a little additional cook time, maybe 20 minutes or so.

    layering tater tots on tater tot hotdish for baking, in blue and white casserole dish

    You’ll also want to cover it well before freezing, so it doesn’t get freezer burn. If you have a covered casserole dish, that will work well.

    You can also make it the day before and put it in the fridge for baking the next day.

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE TATER TOT CASSEROLE

    Making tater tot casserole is super easy with only a few prep steps.

    • Mince the onion and garlic, and then sauté for a few minutes, until they begin to soften.
    • Then add in the ground beef and cook until it’s nicely browned.
    layering browned ground beef in blue and white casserole dish for tater tot casserole recipe
    • Then just layer the ingredients in a greased casserole dish. Start with the green beans, then the mixed veggies, the ground beef, the soup, and finally the tater tots to top it all off.
    • And it’s ready to bake, according to the instructions in the recipe card below.
    topping tater tot casserole with tater tots in blue and white baking dish

    MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

    If you’re looking for a lower carb option, this Instant Pot cauliflower, sausage, and chicken casserole is always a dinnertime hit in our house. We also enjoy this turkey enchilada skillet casserole.

    Mommy Hates Cooking has a delicious chili cheese tater tot casserole. A Farmgirl’s Dabbles shares how to make a delicious tater tot hotdish without canned soup.

    layers of tater tot casserole in blue and white casserole dish

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE TATER TOT CASSEROLE

    Cast Iron Skillet – for browning the ground beef. You could also layer the casserole in a larger cast iron skillet.

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

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

    easy tater tot casserole with veggies served on white plate with fork

    Can Strainer – so nifty for straining the liquid out of canned veggies.

    Spatula – especially helpful for scooping out and spreading the soup.

    Casserole Dish

    cooked tater tot hotdish in blue and white baking dish

    TATER TOT CASSEROLE RECIPE

    If you love this tater tot casserole 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!

    tater tot casserole recipe

    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:

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    Classic Tater Tot Casserole

    How to make a classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, vegetables, and mushroom soup. Easy delicious dinner recipe you can make ahead and freeze.

    • 1 tablespoon bacon grease (*)
    • 1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
    • 1 clove garlic (minced)
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 14.5 ounces green beans (**drained)
    • 15 ounces mixed vegetables (**drained)
    • 21 ounces cream of mushroom soup
    • 32 ounces tater tots
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
    2. Sauté the minced onion and garlic in the bacon grease until they begin to soften.
    3. Then add the ground beef to the onion/garlic mixture, and cook until it’s browned.
    4. Layer the vegetables in the bottom of a greased casserole dish.
    5. Add a second layer with the browned ground beef over the vegetables.
    6. Spread the soup over the ground beef mixture.
    7. Finally, layer the tater tots on top.
    8. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 40 minutes, or until the tots are a golden brown color.
    9. Remove from the oven and serve while warm.

    *You can use bacon grease, butter, or olive oil to cook the onions and garlic.

    **While I prefer to use canned veggies, you can use frozen or fresh, as well, depending on your preference. Using fresh root vegetables, like carrots, may require parboiling.

    Dinner Ideas
    American
    casserole recipes, easy casserole recipes, easy tater tot casserole, hamburger casserole, tater tot casserole, tater tot casserole recipe, tater tot casserole with veggies, tater tot hotdish

    Update: This recipe was originally published in April 2013, but was re-published with bigger photos and more details in January 2019.

    easy tater tot casserole recipe
    tater tot hotdish recipe
  • McDonald’s Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich

    McDonald’s Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich

    McDonald’s Egg McMuffin, made with Canadian bacon, eggs, and cheese, is a delicious homemade breakfast sandwich and easy copycat recipe for busy mornings!

    holding a homemade McDonald's Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich

    McDonald’s Egg McMuffin is a delicious breakfast sandwich and an easy recipe to make on those busy mornings when you need to fly out the door. Mornings when school and work are calling.

    I know… It can be tempting to skip breakfast altogether and just get a move on.

    But this recipe makes it easy to enjoy a quick meal or make it ahead, warm it up, and grab it on the go. No need to skip out on the most important meal of the day.

    Want sausage instead? Try making this sausage and egg McMuffin instead.

    Next to eggs in a basket, ham and cheese egg muffins, and bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast muffins, it’s easily one of my favorite breakfast recipes. I think the melted cheesy goodness is my favorite part.

    homemade Egg McMuffin on baking sheet with other breakfast sandwiches

    We usually don’t eat out for breakfast unless we’re on a trip, or Dan and I have gone out for a breakfast date. And why pack everyone up in the car when I can totally throw this sandwich together at home?

    Homemade is everything. All you need are a few ingredients to make a quick, simple breakfast the whole family will enjoy.

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE FOR MCDONALD’S EGG MCMUFFIN?

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

    Homemade Egg McMuffin with melted cheese, Canadian bacon, and eggs, on a baking sheet

    CAN I MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZE A BATCH OF EGG MCMUFFIN SANDWICHES?

    Yes, you can. You can make these while doing meal prep for the week and put them in the freezer, then re-heat later on.

    The only thing I’d mention is to make sure you have something airtight to store them in, such as an airtight container or freezer bags.

    TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST AWESOME EGG MCMUFFIN

    Gather your ingredients… You’ll need English muffins, salted butter, American cheese, eggs, and Canadian bacon.

    • To get the round shape of the eggs, you can use a round egg mold.
    • We fry our eggs up in just a little bit of bacon grease on a round iron griddle. You can use butter in place of bacon grease if you don’t have any.
    • Before compiling your sandwiches, place the cheese laden English muffins on a cookie sheet and into the oven, and allow the cheese to just slightly melt; it will only take about 3 to 5 minutes.
    a delicious English McMuffin made with Canadian bacon, eggs, and cheese on an English muffin, sitting on a baking sheet

    ALTERNATIVE RECIPE OPTIONS FOR YOUR EGG MCMUFFIN

    There are a few things you could do a bit differently, to make this sandwich suit your tastes even more.

    • Use bacon or sausage instead of Canadian bacon.
    • Make this sandwich using egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs.
    • Scramble your eggs instead of frying them.
    • Do you need the round egg mold? Not if you don’t care whether or not your egg is round… We usually make ours without one, so totally not necessary.
    • Substitute a different kind of cheese, like cheddar, Swiss cheese, etc. The sky’s the limit when it comes to cheese.
    • Instead of English muffins, make this same recipe using bread thins, bagels, toast, or biscuits.
    • Add a dollop of salsa for a li’l kick.
    homemade Egg McMuffin, McDonald's copycat recipe, on baking sheet with other breakfast sandwiches

    HUNGRY FOR MORE BREAKFAST SANDWICH RECIPES?

    We love making this easy omelet breakfast muffin when we’re at home and these bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast burritos when we’re camping. If you don’t want the bread, you can easily make a batch of delicious sausage egg muffins.

    Oh my word, Sugar Dish Me’s recipe for cheesy hash brown breakfast sliders looks so delicious! And Whatever You Do has a yummy recipe for a bacon spinach breakfast sandwich.

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE AN EGG MCMUFFIN

    Round Egg Mold – It allows you to make perfectly round eggs, pancakes, etc.

    Round Iron Griddle – Comes in so handy for so many things, even grilled cheese.

    Flipper Spatula – A kitchen staple for flipping eggs, burgers, grilled cheese, etc.

    Bread Slicing Knife – for slicing the English muffins in half.

    Toaster – for toasting the English muffins before making the sandwiches. Or you could just do all the toasting and melting of cheese in a toaster oven.

    Cookie Sheet – This’ll come in handy when it’s time to bake the English muffins and melt the cheese.

    MCDONALD’S EGG MCMUFFIN BREAKFAST SANDWICH RECIPE

    If you love this Egg McMuffin recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    McDonald's Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich Recipe

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

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    McDonald’s Egg McMuffin Breakfast Sandwich

    McDonald’s Egg McMuffin, made with Canadian bacon, eggs, and cheese, is a delicious homemade breakfast sandwich and easy copycat recipe for busy mornings!

    • 6 English muffins
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter
    • 12 slices American cheese
    • 12 large eggs
    • 6 slices Canadian bacon
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 300°F. 
    2. Fry the eggs, ’til they’re well done, using a round egg mold if you really want a round egg.*
    3. Warm the sliced Canadian bacon by frying it on the griddle, as well. 
    4. Slice the English muffins in half, and toast them in a toaster. 
    5. Spread a thin layer of butter on each toasted English muffin half.
    6. Add a slice of cheese to the bottom half of each English muffin.
    7. Place the English muffins on a cookie sheet and into the oven, and allow the cheese to just slightly melt; it will only take about 3 to 5 minutes.
    8. Remove the English muffins from the oven and begin layering… You’ll add an egg to the cheese covered bottom, add another slice of cheese on top of that egg, add a second egg, and then a slice of Canadian bacon, followed by the English muffin top.
    9. Serve while warm and enjoy! 

    *We fry our eggs in just a little bit of butter (or bacon grease) on a round iron griddle.

    Breakfast & Brunch
    American
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    Egg McMuffin recipe
    McDonald's Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich copycat recipe
  • Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe

    Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe

    Make ahead a large batch recipe for peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal, and start mornings with a family favorite, kid approved homemade breakfast!

    Instant Pot oatmeal makes a great breakfast, lunch, or even snack idea. As a teen, I had a thing for Instant Oatmeal, more specifically, Peaches and Cream Oatmeal and strawberries and cream oatmeal. I absolutely loved it.

    bowl of peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal on white marble countertop with blue placemat and fresh peaches

    Now I can just make it myself, giving me the freedom to add less sugar and make it a bit more healthy than those instant packs probably are. My family prefer steel cut or old fashioned oats, and to be honest, I prefer to keep things simple too, especially when it comes to the food we eat.

    My guys like this particular oatmeal recipe because it’s not too sweet. Not gonna lie, I’m the sweet tooth in the family, but they definitely keep me in check and make me re-think certain recipes and how much sugar I’m adding.

    Looking for more Instant Pot breakfast ideas? You’ll love maple brown sugar oatmeal.

    wooden spoonful of peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal
     

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE FOR PEACHES AND CREAM OATMEAL?

    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 peaches and cream oatmeal recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    NOT SURE HOW TO USE YOUR INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER?

    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!

    SHOULD I USE STEEL CUT OATS, QUICK OATS OR OLD FASHIONED OATS FOR INSTANT POT OATMEAL?

    For this recipe, I use old fashioned or rolled oats. However you can use steel cut oats; you just may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two, since steel cut oats can take longer to cook.

    Ingredients for peaches and cream oatmeal in Instant Pot, cooking oatmeal in the Instant Pot pressure cooker

    The nice thing is, with the pressure cooker, things cook more quickly.

    The Kitchn has a great article explaining the difference between steel-cut, rolled, and instant oats.

    SHOULD I USE FRESH OR FROZEN PEACHES?

    I’ve used both fresh and frozen peaches, and they work equally well. If you’re in a hurry, though, I highly recommend frozen peaches.

    You can also use canned peaches, but be sure to drain the liquid before adding them to the oatmeal.

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE OATMEAL IN THE INSTANT POT

    This oatmeal recipe literally just takes throwing all your ingredients into the Instant Pot and setting it to cook. It’s so easy, but here are a few tips that may help you along the way.

    cooked peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal in the Instant Pot pressure cooker

    TIPS TO KEEP YOUR OATMEAL FROM SCORCHING

    Some people say not to use milk because it can scorch on the bottom of the pan. While it’s left a bottom film that kinda clings to the pot, it’s never burned or tasted burnt.

    Also, you may be able to avoid scorching with the following methods:

    • Use all water and no dairy.
    • Substitute another kind of dairy product (like almond milk).
    • If you find you just can’t make it without it scorching, reduce the cook time by a minute or two.
    • Throw everything in, adding the milk last, and don’t stir. Just cook it.

    MY FAVORITE TIPS FOR COOKING OATMEAL IN THE INSTANT POT

    • I use half water/half milk for a more creamy texture to our oatmeal.
    • I also like to add cinnamon because I love the combination of peaches and cinnamon, especially when I make peach cobbler… So good!
    • When you go to serve the oatmeal, you can have things like sugar, brown sugar, cream or milk, and maybe even extra fruit handy for anyone who wants it. I’ve always added cream or milk with a little sugar to my oatmeal after it’s cooked.
    bowl of peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal with spoon and fresh peaches

    MORE OATMEAL RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY

    I love baking, and I love these oatmeal raisin cookies that remind me of my grandma. When I don’t want raisins, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies will do.

    One of our favorite dinnertime meals is this easy meatloaf recipe, made with old fashioned rolled oats. Mmmm, it’s so delicious!

    Sugar Dish Me has a deliciously yummy recipe for apple cinnamon stovetop oatmeal. And Crazy Adventures in Parenting has a decadent recipe for chocolate peanut butter banana overnight oats.

    bowl of peach oatmeal made in the Instant Pot, on a white marble countertop with fresh peaches

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE INSTANT POT OATMEAL

    Instant Pot – We used our 6-quart Instant Pot.

    Liquid Measuring Cup

    Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife – if you’re cutting up fresh peaches or even if you want to cut up the frozen peaches.

    Wooden Spoon

    Fun Cereal Bowls

    PEACHES AND CREAM INSTANT POT OATMEAL RECIPE

    If you love this peach oatmeal 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!

    peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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    Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Oatmeal

    Make ahead a large batch recipe for peaches and cream Instant Pot oatmeal, and start mornings with a family favorite, kid approved homemade breakfast!

    • 4 cups rolled oats (*)
    • 3 1/2 cups water
    • 3 1/2 cups whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1/3 cup pure cane sugar
    • 2 cups peaches (**)
    1. Start by prepping your peaches; this will depend on whether you’re using fresh or frozen.***
    2. Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot, stirring the mixture together.
    3. Pop the lid on your Instant Pot.
    4. Set the Instant Pot on Multigrain for 6 minutes, and let it cook and naturally release.
    5. When the oatmeal has finished cooking, serve it with sugar, brown sugar, milk, cream, and extra sliced peaches. Enjoy!

    *We use old fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. If you prefer to use steel cut oats, you may need to increase the cooking time by a minute or two.

    **You can use fresh, frozen, or canned peaches.

    ***If using fresh, you’ll need to wash, peel, and chop or slice the peaches. If using frozen, you can put them in whole or chop them; they can easily be chopped up, even with a wooden spoon, after cooking. If using canned peaches, drain the liquid before adding them to the pot.

    Breakfast & Brunch
    American
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    Peaches and Cream Instant Pot Oatmeal
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  • Ham and Cheese Egg Muffins

    Ham and Cheese Egg Muffins

    Simple ham and cheese egg muffins are an easy and healthy breakfast and brunch recipe, perfect for busy mornings or make ahead freezer meals and snacks.

    There are times when we’ll make breakfast ahead of time, like when we’re headed out on a dispersed camping trip or for mornings we know we may not have enough time to make a good breakfast. We love making Instant Pot hard boiled eggs, as well as bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast muffins for just such occasions.

    bite out of ham and cheese egg muffins on white plate

    Ham and cheese egg cups are also the perfect take along meal or snack. They keep well in the fridge, freezer, and cooler, and they’re full of delicious flavor.

    Eat them with a fork, or eat them with your fingers, making them the perfect breakfast on the go. They’re a quick, healthy, low carb breakfast, giving you a boost of protein to give you a good start to your day.

    ham and cheese egg cups on white plate with blue cloth

    Rather have sausage? No problem! Make low carb sausage egg muffins instead.

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE HAM AND CHEESE EGG MUFFIN 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 ham and cheese egg muffins – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    CAN YOU MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZE BREAKFAST MUFFINS WITH EGGS?

    Yes, you can. In fact, you can make enough for a whole week in just a short amount of time.

    • Make a batch or two of breakfast egg muffins and allow them to cool.
    • Then place them all in a freezer bag or airtight container and freeze.
    • When morning comes, simply warm them up in the microwave or the oven, whichever your preference.

    Enjoy easy breakfasts every single morning of your week. Or feed a holiday crowd with egg muffin cups you’ve already made before the big day.

    ham and eggs breakfast muffins on white plate

    TIPS FOR HOW TO BAKE MUFFIN TIN EGGS

    Baking ham and eggs in a muffin tin is actually really easy, even when you have multiple ingredients you’re trying to fit in each small muffin cup.

    Make sure all of your ingredients are ready first… Ham is cooked and chopped (no need to cook deli ham), green onions are chopped, cheese is shredded, and eggs are whipped up with either heavy whipping cream or milk.

    beating eggs and heavy whipping cream for breakfast muffins recipe

    Spray the muffin pan with cooking spray before adding any ingredients to it. Then start by adding your meat.

    ham in muffin cups for ham egg cups

    Add the cheese.

    adding cheese with ham to muffin cups for breakfast egg muffins

    Then sprinkle in the green onions.

    adding green onions with ham and cheese for egg muffin recipe

    Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full; this will leave a little room for expansion in baking.

    raw eggs, ham and cheese, and green onions in muffin pan ready to bake into egg muffins

    Finally, bake the ham and cheese egg muffin cups, following the recipe instructions.

    Ham and egg cups are another one of my favorite ham recipes to use up leftover ham or pineapple ham from the holidays or family dinners.

    HOW TO TELL WHEN EGG MUFFINS ARE DONE

    You’ll be able to tell when your egg muffins are done by both sight and touch. They’ll be fluffy and not jiggly in the middle.

    baked egg cups in a muffin pan

    Of course, if you really want to make sure the eggs are cooked through, you can always use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature. According to the Egg Safety Center, any type of quiche or egg casserole should reach a temperature of 160°F.

    WAYS YOU CAN CHANGE UP BAKED EGG MUFFINS

    • Add minced onions (yellow onions or sweet onions).
    • Add chopped up spinach to the egg mixture.
    • Use smoked cheese, Queso Fresco, or Cotija cheese in place of cheddar, colby jack, or pepper jack.
    • Add a different type of meat, like sausage or bacon.
    • Or go meatless.

    LOOKING FOR MORE EASY BREAKFAST IDEAS?

    One of my favorite breakfast sandwiches is the Egg McMuffin, so it stands to reason I’d create McDonald’s Egg McMuffin and sausage egg McMuffin copycat recipes. And eggs in a basket has been one of my favorite breakfast treats since I was a little girl.

    Moscato Mom has a delicious finger food breakfast idea for Ham, Cheese, and Bell Pepper Mini Quiche. Midlife Boulevard has a list of 10 easy and delicious keto breakfast recipes.

    ham and cheese egg muffin cups on a white plate

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE HAM AND CHEESE EGG MUFFIN CUPS:

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

    Cheese Grater

    Liquid Measuring Cup

    Mixing Bowl and Whisk

    Muffin Tins

    Cooking Thermometer (optional)

    HAM AND CHEESE EGG MUFFINS RECIPE

    If you love this easy breakfast recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    ham and cheese egg muffins recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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

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    Ham and Cheese Egg Muffins

    Simple ham and cheese egg muffins are an easy and healthy breakfast and brunch recipe, perfect for busy mornings or make ahead freezer meals and snacks.

    • Muffin Tin
    • 4 ounces ham (chopped)
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 3 green onions (chopped)
    • 10 large eggs
    • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 375° F and grease a muffin tin.

    2. Place a little bit of chopped ham in the bottom of each muffin cup.

    3. Next sprinkle a little cheese on top of the ham in each muffin cup.

    4. Then sprinkle green onions into each muffin cup.

    5. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.

    6. Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full; this will leave a little room for expansion in baking.

    7. Bake the muffins at 375° F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the egg muffins are fluffy, not jiggly, and have reached 160° F with a meat thermometer.

    8. Allow the muffins to cool for 2 to 3 minutes in the pan; then run a table knife around the edges of the muffin cups, and pop the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool. 

    9. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sides!

    *You can use any kind of cheese you like, including cheddar, American, pepper Jack, smoked cheese, Queso Fresco, Cotija cheese, etc.

    *You can serve them immediately, or you can refrigerate or freeze them. Then pop them in the microwave in the morning, and enjoy a warm breakfast with hardly any effort! They’re perfect for a quick, on the go, healthy breakfast!

    Breakfast & Brunch, Main Course
    American
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  • Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes

    Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes

    Enjoy the best of both worlds with grilled cheese sloppy joes, the ultimate comfort food sandwich made with ground beef, homemade sauce, and melted cheese.

    Grilled cheese has to be one of the most comforting of all comfort foods, besides maybe macaroni and cheese. Combine grilled cheese with sloppy joes, though, and you’ve got the ultimate comfort food.

    grilled cheese sloppy joes on butter bread with basil on gray plate

    My kids love a good grilled cheese sandwich. I mean, who doesn’t? Especially when the weather starts to turn cold, it’s one of our favorite go to lunch ideas.

    I love a little bit of meat on my grilled cheese too, whether it’s ham, turkey, or sloppy joe meat. It just adds a real oomph to the whole sandwich.

    This grilled cheese recipe is an easy meal you can throw together in no time, especially if you’ve already made the homemade sloppy joes ahead of time. Did you know that you can make slow cooker sloppy joes?

    Pair it up with a batch of homemade steak fries, and you’ve got a meal the whole family will love time and time again.

    grilled cheese sloppy joes on sourdough bread on gray plate with potato chips

    If you love this easy sloppy joe recipe, you may also enjoy Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes.

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE GRILLED CHEESE SLOPPY JOE 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 grilled cheese sloppy joes – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    WHAT EXACTLY ARE GRILLED CHEESE SLOPPY JOES?

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

    Grilled cheese sloppy joes are exactly what they sound like. A loose meat sandwich with melted cheese, grilled between two slices of buttered bread.

    grilled cheese sloppy joes made with ground beef, sloppy joe sauce, and melted cheese, sandwiches on gray plate

    DO I HAVE TO USE GROUND BEEF?

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

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

    I recommend using bacon grease for added flavor to the meat mixture (maybe even for grilling the sandwiches, but we’ll get to that in a minute). However, no worries if you don’t have bacon grease; you can also use butter or olive oil.

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

    saute onions and garlic for grilled cheese sloppy joe recipe in iron skillet

    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.

    mixing onion, garlic, and ground beef together while making grilled cheese sloppy joe recipe in cast iron skillet

    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.

    mixing sloppy joe sauce ingredients into ground beef mixture in cast iron skillet

    TIPS FOR HOW TO CREATE SLOPPY JOE GRILLED CHEESE

    Meanwhile, while the juicy burger meat is simmering, prep your bread and cheese.

    Butter the outside of 2 slices of bread, a set of slices for each person you’re feeding. You can even brush on a bit of bacon grease, or you can add a little bacon grease to the griddle for frying.

    grilled cheese sloppy joes frying on cast iron griddle

    TYPES OF CHEESE YOU MAY WANT TO USE FOR GRILLED CHEESE:

    • American
    • Cheddar
    • Smoked Cheddar
    • Pepper Jack
    • Smoked Gouda
    • Gruyeré
    • Swiss

    Honestly, the list could go on and on. In fact, The Daily Meal has a list of the 11 best cheeses for a grilled cheese sandwich.

    PUT YOUR GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH TOGETHER

    Once the sloppy joe meat has finished cooking, add the desired amount of meat to each sandwich, along with 2 or 3 slices of each person’s favorite cheese.

    open grilled cheese with juicy burger meat on sourdough bread on cast iron griddle

    Slap the cover on your sandwich, and fry it in a skillet or on a griddle until each side is golden and the cheese has melted. Turning the sandwich with loose hamburger meat can be tricky, but a little easier if you use a wider spatula.

    sourdough grilled cheese sloppy joes on gray plate

    You can even sprinkle a little bit of fresh basil on each sandwich once they’re fully cooked. Yum!

    grilled cheese juicy burger or loose meat sandwich with fresh basil on gray plate

    MORE SLOPPY JOE RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY:

    Taco Sloppy Joes

    Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

    Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes

    25+ Sloppy Joe Recipes for Dinner Tonight

    holding grilled cheese sandwich sloppy joes in hands

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES

    Skillet and Griddle – 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

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

    Cheese Slicer

    Grilled Cheese Spatula

    GRILLED CHEESE SLOPPY JOE RECIPE

    If you love this grilled cheese 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!

    Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes Recipe

    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:

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    Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes

    Enjoy the best of both worlds with grilled cheese sloppy joes, the ultimate comfort food sandwich made with ground beef, homemade sauce, and melted cheese.

    • 1 tablespoon bacon grease ((or olive oil))
    • 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
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
    • 8 slices bread
    • 8 slices cheese

    1. Heat the bacon grease, or olive oil, in a large skillet over medium heat 'til hot. 

    2. Sauté the garlic in the bacon grease for 1-2 minutes.

    3. Stir the onion in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.

    4. 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.

    5. Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the meat, stirring until combined.

    6. Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer over low to medium heat for at least 5 minutes.

    7. Meanwhile, prep your bread and cheese. Butter the outside of 2 slices of bread, and repeat with a set of slices for each person you’re feeding.

    8. Once the sloppy joe meat is finished cooking, add the desired amount of meat to each sandwich.

    9. Then add 2 or 3 slices of each person’s favorite cheese.

    10. Slap the cover on your sandwich, and fry it in a skillet or on a griddle over low heat 'til each side is golden and the cheese has melted, probably about 5-10 minutes.

    11. Once your sandwiches are grilled, they're ready to serve with your favorite side!

    *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.

    *You can use your choice of cheese. We usually choose between American, extra sharp cheddar, pepper Jack, etc.

    *Turning the sandwich with loose hamburger meat can be tricky, but a little easier if you use a wider spatula.

    Burgers & Sandwiches, Main Course
    American
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  • Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes

    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.

    pepperoni pizza sloppy joes with toasted buns and potato chips on gray plate

    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.

    open faced pizza sloppy joes on toasted buns with potato chips, served on a gray plate

    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.

    ground beef mixture for pizza joes, with wooden spatula in iron skillet

    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.

    holding a pizza sloppy joe in hands

    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.

    sauté garlic in bacon grease in iron skillet on stovetop for pepperoni pizza sloppy joes

    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.

    mixing ground beef and garlic together for pizza sloppy joe recipe in iron skillet with wooden spatula

    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.

    ingredients for pizza sloppy joe sauce in iron skillet with wooden spatula

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

    adding mozzarella cheese to pizza sloppy joes meat in iron skillet

    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!

    pepperoni pizza juicy burger, open faced, served on a gray plate with potato chips and a sprinkling of fresh basil

    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!

    Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes Recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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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)
    1. Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot. 
    2. Then add in the garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes
    3. 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.
    4. Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
    5. Mix the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and pepperoni into the meat, stirring until combined.
    6. Let the pizza sloppy joe mixture simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.
    7. 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.
    8. 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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  • Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    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.

    open faced Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes on toasted hamburger buns with potato chips on gray plate

    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!

    holding a Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe in hands

    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.

    close up of Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes on gray plate with toasted hamburger bun and potato chips

    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.

    ground beef for Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, cooked in cast iron skillet with green bell peppers and wooden spatula

    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.

    onion, bell pepper, garlic, and mushrooms for Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes cooking in cast iron skillet
    • 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.
    ground beef and veggie mixture for Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, cooking in cast iron skillet
    • 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.
    beef broth in Pyrex measuring cup for Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes
    • 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.
    provolone cheese topping Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes meat in cast iron skillet

    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!

    closed face Philly cheese steak sloppy joes with potato chips on gray plate

    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

    open faced Philly cheese steak sloppy joe on gray plate with potato chips

    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!

    Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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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
    1. Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot. 
    2. Then add in the garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
    3. Add the onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper in with the garlic and sauté for another 3-5 minutes.
    4. 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.
    5. Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking
    6. Whisk together the beef broth and flour in a separate measuring cup.
    7. Mix the beef broth mixture, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, salt, and black pepper into the meat, stirring until combined.
    8. Let the cheesesteak sloppy joe mixture simmer for a good 5-10 minutes.
    9. Finally, top the meat with the Provolone right in the skillet and let it melt.** Then stir the melted cheese into the meat mixture.
    10. 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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  • Taco Sloppy Joes

    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!

    open faced taco sloppy joes sandwich with avocado, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, and shredded cheddar on a gray plate with tortilla chips

    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.

    holding taco sloppy joe in hands

    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.

    taco sloppy joe or juicy burger made with taco seasoned ground beef

    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.

    taco sloppy joes ground beef mixture in cast iron skillet

    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.

    garlic, onions, and peppers minced and sautéing in cast iron skillet for taco sloppy joe recipe

    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.

    ground beef mixture for taco sloppy joes cooking in cast iron skillet on stovetop

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

    adding ingredients for taco seasoning to taco sloppy joes meat in cast iron skillet on stovetop

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

    taco meat for homemade sloppy joes

    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.

    toasting hamburger buns for taco sloppy joes loose meat sandwich on cast iron griddle

    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.

    taco ingredients like avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, and shredded cheddar piled on sloppy joes on gray plate with tortilla chips

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

    taco sloppy joes on toasted buns served on gray plate with tortilla chips and cast iron skillet of juicy burger meat behind it

    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!

    Easy Homemade Taco Sloppy Joes Recipe

    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)
    1. Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot. 
    2. Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
    3. Add the onion and bell pepper in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
    4. 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.
    5. Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
    6. Mix the lemon juice, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and chopped tomato into the meat, stirring until combined.
    7. Let the taco sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 10 minutes.
    8. Meanwhile, prep the taco ingredients, including lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocados, green onions, and whatever else you like on your tacos.
    9. 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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  • Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes

    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.

    open faced sloppy joes with potato chips on gray plate and sloppy joe meat in iron skillet

    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.

    holding a sloppy joe or juicy burger with 2 hands above a plate of potato chips

    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.

    ground beef sloppy joes mixture in iron skillet with wooden spatula

    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.

    sauteeing onions and garlic for making sloppy joes

    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.

    adding ground beef to sloppy joes mixture with onions and garlic in cast iron skillet

    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.

    cooking ground beef mixture for sloppy joes in cast iron skillet

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

    mixing ingredients for sloppy joes sauce into meat mixture in cast iron skillet on stovetop

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

    simmering sloppy joes ground beef mixture in cast iron skillet on stovetop

    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.

    toasting hamburger buns in a little bit of bacon grease on cast iron griddle for the most delicious sloppy joes

    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.

    homemade sloppy joes on plate with potato chips

    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

    meat for sloppy joes or juicy burger recipe in cast iron skillet

    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!

    Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

    CONNECT WITH ADVENTURES OF MEL!

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

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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
    1. Heat the bacon grease in a large skillet until hot. 
    2. Then add in the garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
    3. Add the onion in with the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
    4. 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.
    5. Be sure to drain off any excess oil when the meat has finished cooking.
    6. Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar into the meat, stirring until combined.
    7. Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for at least 5 minutes.
    8. 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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  • Low Carb Sausage Egg Muffins

    Low Carb Sausage Egg Muffins

    Low carb sausage egg muffins you can make ahead for an easy, healthy breakfast both for you and your kids. Freezable, simple ingredients, quick and delicious recipe!

    We pretty much eat the same thing for breakfast every single morning, but sometimes we just need to switch it up. These sausage egg muffins, filled with sausage, bell pepper, cheddar, pepper jack, and basil, are an easy way to do that.

    sausage egg muffins recipe

    Like bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast muffins, this egg muffin recipe is bursting with incredible flavor. It also makes a very fluffy egg muffin cup.

    Eat them with a fork, or eat them with your fingers, making them the perfect breakfast on the go. They’re quick, low carb, and healthy, giving you a boost of protein to start your day off right.

    sausage egg muffins on a white plate

    If you love these egg cups, you’ll also love these ham and cheese egg muffins.

    I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR LOW CARB SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS!

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

    sausage egg muffins in a cast iron muffin tin

    CAN YOU MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZE BREAKFAST MUFFINS WITH EGGS?

    Yes, you can. In fact, you can make enough for a couple weeks in a very short amount of time.

    • Make a batch or two of sausage and egg muffins and allow them to cool.
    • Then place them all in a freezer bag or freezer tight container and freeze for easy breakfasts all week.
    • When morning comes, simply warm them up in the microwave or the oven, whichever your preference.
    sausage egg muffins popped out of muffin tin, ready to eat for an easy breakfast

    TIPS FOR HOW TO BAKE EGGS IN A MUFFIN TIN

    Baking eggs in a muffin tin is actually really easy, even when you have multiple ingredients you’re trying to fit in each small muffin cup.

    • Make sure all of your ingredients are ready first… Sausage (or bacon or ham) is cooked, peppers and onions are sautéed, cheese is shredded, veggies are washed and ready, and eggs are whipped up with either heavy whipping cream or milk.
    cooking sausage and peppers in a cast iron skillet
    • Spray the muffin pan with cooking spray before adding any ingredients to it.
    • Start by adding solid ingredients, like your meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.
    layering sausage and cheese for sausage egg muffins in cast iron muffin pan
    • Then pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full; this will leave a little room for expansion in baking.
    fill egg cups with egg mixture for easy sausage egg muffins
    • Then bake the sausage egg muffins, following your recipe instructions.
    cooked sausage egg muffins in cast iron muffin pan

    HOW TO TELL WHEN EGG MUFFINS ARE DONE

    You’ll be able to tell when your egg muffins are done by both sight and touch. They’ll be fluffy and not jiggly in the middle.

    Of course, if you really want to make sure the eggs are cooked through, you can always use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature. According to the Egg Safety Center, any type of quiche or egg casserole should reach a temperature of 160°F.

    low carb sausage egg muffins in a muffin pan

    IF YOU LOVE THIS SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER BREAKFAST FAVORITES:

    WAYS YOU CAN CHANGE UP BAKED EGG MUFFINS

    • Add minced onions.
    • Or if you like them better, add chopped green onions.
    • Add chopped up spinach to the egg mixture.
    • Use smoked cheese or Queso Fresco in place of cheddar, colby jack, or pepper jack.
    • Add a different type of meat, like ham or bacon.
    • Or go meatless.
    low carb sausage egg muffins from scratch with basil on top

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE EGG MUFFINS WITH SAUSAGE:

    Frying Pan and Spatula

    Cutting Board and Sharp Knife

    Cheese Grater

    Liquid Measuring Cup

    Mixing Bowl and Whisk

    Muffin Tins

    Cooking Thermometer (optional)

    LOW CARB SAUSAGE EGG MUFFINS RECIPE

    If you love this low carb sausage egg muffins recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    low carb sausage egg muffins recipe from scratch

    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

    Sausage Egg Muffins

    Low carb sausage egg muffins you can make ahead for an easy, healthy breakfast both for you and your kids. Freezable, simple, and delicious!

    • Muffin Tin
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • 1 medium bell pepper (minced)
    • 1 pound breakfast sausage
    • 1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
    • 10 large eggs
    • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 1/2 cup pepper Jack cheese (shredded)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 375° F and grease a muffin tin. 

    2. Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat.

    3. Sauté the minced bell pepper in the melted butter for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the peppers begin to soften.

    4. Add the sausage to the skillet, combining it with the peppers.

    5. Stir in the chopped basil leaves, and cook the sausage thoroughly.
    6. Remove the sausage and pepper mixture from the heat, and drain well.

    7. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.

    8. Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of sausage in the bottom of each muffin cup.

    9. Sprinkle on a layer of cheddar and pepper Jack.

    10. Pour the whipped egg mixture over the sausage and cheese, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 of the way full.

    11. Bake at 375° F for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the egg muffins are fluffy, not jiggly, and have reached 160° F with a meat thermometer. 

    12. Allow the muffins to cool for 2 to 3 minutes in the pan; then run a table knife around the edges of the muffin cups, and pop the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool. 

    13. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sides!

    *You can serve them immediately, or you can refrigerate or freeze them. Then pop them in the microwave in the morning, and enjoy a warm breakfast with hardly any effort! They’re perfect for a quick, on the go, healthy breakfast!

    Breakfast & Brunch, Main Course
    American
    easy breakfast, low carb breakfast, sausage egg muffins
  • Easy Ground Beef Tacos from Scratch

    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.

    ground beef tacos with all the toppings on a wooden cutting board

    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.

    beef tacos in corn tortilla taco shells set in a muffin pan for filling with all the toppings

    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)…

    frying a corn tortilla into a taco shell in a cast iron skillet with tongs
    • 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.

    cooking ground beef and seasoning for tacos in cast iron skillet

    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.

    cooking ground beef with onion, peppers, and tomatoes in a cast iron skillet for a delicious taco recipe

    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.

    layer toppings in a fried corn tortilla shell for homemade tacos

    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!

    beef tacos in a muffin pan with all sorts of toppings ideas

    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.

    best ground beef tacos ever on a wooden cutting board with colorful toppings like cheese, tomatoes, and green onions

    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
    1. Add the ground beef, garlic, lemon juice, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large skillet. Brown the meat well.
    2. 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.
    3. Meanwhile, prep all your fresh ingredients. Wash and chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions. Also, shred the cheese.
    4. Fry up a batch of corn tortillas to form taco shells. You can use bacon grease or oil.
    5. 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.
    6. 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
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  • Easy Meatloaf with Oatmeal (How to Make + Video)

    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.

    meatloaf with oatmeal baked in white baking dish

    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!

    easy meatloaf recipe with oatmeal sliced on a pretty white plate ready to serve with a fork

    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.
    mixing ingredients for meatloaf recipe with oatmeal in blue mixing bowl
    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.
    hands shaping oatmeal meatloaf in white baking dish on white marble countertop
    1. Then an optional step, but one I highly recommend… Squirt ketchup all over the top of the meatloaf.
    unbaked oatmeal meatloaf covered with ketchup in a white baking dish

    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.

    homemade easy meatloaf recipe with oats in a white baking dish

    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!

    forked bite of meatloaf with oatmeal on white plate

    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)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

    2. 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.

    3. Transfer the meat mixture to the greased 9×13 baking dish, and shape it into a loaf.

    4. Squirt ketchup all over the top of the meatloaf.

    5. 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.

    6. 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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  • Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos

    Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos

    Made with Instant Pot chicken, corn tortillas, and fresh ingredients, shredded chicken tacos are an easy homemade dinner recipe the whole family will love!

    Shredded chicken tacos, as well as fish tacos and beef tacos, have been a favorite meal around our house for quite some time. I think it’s both the ease of making them with our favorite taco chicken recipe and our love for delicious Tex-Mex food.

    shredded chicken tacos with fresh ingredients on a muffin pan

    As mentioned, they really are easy to make, especially if you’ve already cooked the chicken. All that’s left is prepping a few fresh ingredients to go on your tacos.

    As long as you have lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream, you’re in business. Extras you may want to add include avocado, green onions, black olives, queso, fruit salsa… The sky’s the limit when it comes to easy chicken tacos.

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

    easy chicken tacos on a cutting board close up with fresh ingredients and sour cream

    If you love Tex Mex, you’ll love these beef taco stuffed peppers. And if it’s less mess, less stress you’re after, try our taco in a bag recipe!

    How to make taco shells for easy chicken 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 shredded chicken tacos:

    You’ll need to gather your ingredients, including already cooked taco chicken, lettuce, Roma tomatoes, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, green onions, corn tortillas, and sour cream. You may also want extra ingredients like avocado, black olives, queso, mango peach salsa and basil salsa.

    loaded pressure cooker chicken tacos on a cutting board

    While the chicken is cooking in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, you can take time to wash and chop your 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 your chicken is fully cooked and shredded, 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 chicken into the taco shell first, then the cheese (it gets all melty on the warm chicken), 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 chicken; that way I have sour cream in every single bite).

    And that’s it. I love the ease of making pressure cooker chicken tacos for dinner!

    how to make shredded chicken tacos with fresh ingredients, Instant Pot taco chicken, fresh ingredients, and sour cream

    More Tex-Mex recipes with chicken:

    Kitchen tools you may need to make pressure cooker chicken tacos:

    Instant Pot – We use our Instant Pot almost every day. It really does make the most delicious taco chicken for easy chicken tacos.

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

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

    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.

    Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos

    Shredded chicken tacos, made with Instant Pot chicken, corn tortillas, and fresh ingredients, are an easy homemade dinner recipe the whole family will love!

    • 3 cups Instant Pot taco chicken
    • 16 corn tortillas
    • 3 to 4 tablespoons bacon grease or oil of choice
    • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce
    • 6 Roma tomatoes
    • 6 green onions
    • 4 ounces cheddar cheese
    • 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
    • 1/2 cup sour cream

    Corn Tortilla Taco Shells:

    1. Heat about a tablespoon of bacon grease in a skillet; let it melt and heat up.
    2. Add a corn tortilla to the skillet, letting it cook on one side.
    3. Use tongs to turn the tortilla and let the other side cook.
    4. Finally, remove the tortilla from the skillet and let it drain on a paper towel or paper bag for maybe 30 seconds or so.
    5. Fold into a taco shape and place in either a taco holder or the bottom side of a muffin pan.
    6. Continue cooking tortillas until you have the desired number of taco shells.

    Shredded Chicken Tacos:

    1. Cook a batch of taco chicken in your Instant Pot.
    2. Prep and cook taco shells, per the steps above.
    3. Wash and chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and green onions.
    4. Shred or grate both cheeses.
    5. Layer ingredients in any order you want, but I prefer to add the chicken into the taco shell first, then the cheese (it gets all melty on the warm chicken), and go from there.
    6. Add a layer of lettuce, a layer of tomatoes, green onions, and whatever else your heart desires.
    7. Don’t forget a dollop of sour cream (though I love adding a good layer of sour cream before I even add the chicken; that way I have sour cream in every single bite).
    Dinner Ideas
    Tex-Mex
    chicken tacos, Instant Pot recipes, Instant Pot tacos, shredded chicken tacos, tacos
    Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos
    how to make the most delicious chicken tacos with shredded chicken and fresh ingredients
  • Easy Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo

    Easy Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo

    Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo, made with shredded chicken and an easy homemade Alfredo sauce, is a healthy recipe for dinner. So creamy and delicious!

    spaghetti squash chicken alfredo on a plate with fork

    Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo is one of my family’s favorite weeknight meals, probably because it’s so easy to make, especially when we cook the spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot.

    I love it too because it’s a healthy meal we can all enjoy together. And it pairs really well (minus the chicken) with fish fillets and salmon patties.

    While I do love pasta, I’ve grown quite accustomed to replacing all our favorite pasta dishes with spaghetti squash instead. It’s actually a really delicious alternative to carb heavy pastas.

    We make an easy homemade alfredo sauce that calls for 4 simple ingredients. Heavy whipping cream is the base for this sauce, mainly because it has no carbs. Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese) adds some pretty excellent flavor to the sauce, as well.

    healthy chicken alfredo with spaghetti squash on a blue plate

    If you’ve never had spaghetti squash chicken alfredo, now’s the time to make it. Pair it with a batch of quick garlic breadsticks, and it’ll quickly climb to the top of your favorite dinner ideas.

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    Tips for how to make healthy chicken Alfredo:

    Gather your ingredients… You’ll need an already cooked spaghetti squash, 2 cooked chicken breasts, heavy whipping cream, Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano) cheese, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley.

    1. Cook the spaghetti squash and chicken beforehand. An easy option is to cook either or both in the Instant Pot.
    2. Prep the spaghetti squash by pulling the squash out of the skin.
    3. Shred the chicken.
    4. To make the sauce, pour the heavy whipping cream into a large skillet or saucepan.
    5. Stir constantly to avoid scorching, and allow the cream to come to a boil.
    6. Slowly whisk the cheese into the simmering cream. The sauce will start to thicken.
    7. At this point, whisk the salt and pepper into the sauce.
    8. Use tongs to add spaghetti squash to your plate.
    9. Add a handful of shredded chicken on top.
    10. Finally, add Alfredo sauce to your liking.
    11. Top it all off with a light sprinkling of parsley.
    Plate full of easy chicken fettuccine alfredo made with spaghetti squash

    More Pasta Dishes You May Enjoy:

    Kitchen tools you may need to make easy chicken fettuccine Alfredo:

    plated chicken fettuccine Alfredo recipe using spaghetti squash as a low carb alternative

    Instant Pot – We use our Instant Pot several times a week, if not every day, and it makes cooking the spaghetti squash a breeze.
    Cutting Board – Perfect for prepping the squash and shredding the chicken.
    Large Skillet or Saucepan – We love using a deeper iron skillet to make the sauce.
    Heat Resistant Spatula – One of my favorite tools to use for stirring.
    Whisk – For stirring in the cheese, salt, and pepper.
    Tongs – They make it easy to serve up the squash.

    Print this chicken fettuccine Alfredo recipe:

    Easy Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo

    Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo, made with shredded chicken and an easy homemade Alfredo sauce, is a healthy recipe for dinner. So creamy and delicious!

    • 1 cooked spaghetti squash
    • 2 cooked chicken breasts
    • 3 cups heavy whipping cream
    • 1/2 pound Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese)
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • Fresh parsley
    1. Cook the spaghetti squash and chicken beforehand. An easy option is to cook either or both in the Instant Pot.
    2. Prep the spaghetti squash by pulling the squash out of the skin.
    3. Shred the chicken.
    4. To make the sauce, pour the heavy whipping cream into a large skillet or saucepan.
    5. Stir constantly to avoid scorching, and allow the cream to come to a boil.
    6. Slowly whisk the cheese into the simmering cream. The sauce will start to thicken.
    7. At this point, whisk the salt and pepper into the sauce.
    8. Use tongs to add spaghetti squash to your plate.
    9. Add a handful of shredded chicken on top.
    10. Finally, add Alfredo sauce to your liking.
    11. Top it all off with a light sprinkling of parsley.

     

    Pasta
    Italian
    chicken alfredo, spaghetti squash chicken alfredo

    Pin this recipe for future dinner ideas!

    Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo
    Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo with fork on a plate
  • Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice – A healthier version of your favorite takeout food. Cauliflower chicken fried rice is made with riced cauliflower, chicken, eggs, and veggies,. It’s a delicious dinner idea the whole family will love!

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice and Chinese pork fried rice are my new favorite homemade version of takeout food. You can even use it to make chicken fried rice spring rolls. Yum!

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice you can make at home. Skip the takeout and choose a healthier option. Easy recipe your family will love!

    I feel like Chicken Fried Rice gives the appearance of being a hard dish to master. But really, it’s not that difficult to make; in fact, it’s probably one of the quicker meals you can throw together.

    The key is to have all of your veggies and ingredients ready to go, because this recipe moves fast once you start cooking.

    While we love Chicken Fried Rice, we’ve had to come up with creative and healthy solutions for a lot of our favorite dishes. Cauliflower is a very worthy substitute for rice, especially when you mince it up really small.

    Forget takeout and make a healthier dinner at home with Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice. It’s one meal my guys can’t get enough of, and it’s so delicious!

    It works quite deliciously, in fact. And it really isn’t much more work than cooking up a pot of rice would be.

    If you’re looking for a lower carb option for your favorite takeout dish, Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice may be just the ticket. And just in case you’d rather have rice, we also have a regular chicken fried rice in a wok recipe you may enjoy.

    How to make a healthier version of your favorite takeout food at home. Even my boys love this simple Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice. It’s easy to make too, making it a win win dinner recipe in my book.

    Tips for how to make Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Gather and prep all of your ingredients first and have them ready to go… You’ll need cauliflower, onion, garlic, chicken that’s already been cooked, frozen peas and carrots, eggs, sesame oil, and soy sauce.

    • Wash and finely mince the cauliflower.
    • Chop the onion and garlic.
    • Shred the already cooked chicken.
    • Heat the sesame oil in a large pan or wok on medium heat.
    • Stir the onion and garlic into the oil; sauté ’til they soften.
    • Add the peas and carrots, and continue to sauté, ’til they become tender.
    • Make a well in the center of the onion mixture, and add the eggs, scrambling them.
    • Stir everything together well, keeping the wok on medium heat.
    • Add the shredded chicken, as well as the cauliflower, to the wok, stirring well.
    • Add the soy sauce and continue to stir.
    • Place the lid on your wok and let the mixture steam or cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
    • When everything is heated thoroughly, it’s ready to serve.
    Looking for a low carb alternative to traditional chicken fried rice? Make Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice instead. It’s delicious, healthier, and such an easy recipe to make.

    Looking for more healthy dinner options using cauliflower?

    Baked Italian Cauliflower Meatballs

    Sausage and Cauliflower Casserole

    Low Carb Meatloaf Recipe

    Want to see how to make this recipe? Watch our cooking show!

    Kitchen tools you may need to make Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Large Pan or Wok – Dan purchased this wok for us a couple years ago, and we’ve used it time and time again. It’s wonderful for cooking up Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice.

    Wok Spatula – This comes in really handy for stirring and scraping the wok as you toss the cauliflower rice while cooking.

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

    Stuck in a dinner rut? Make an easy recipe for Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice, and put on a movie. Homemade takeout and a movie with your family!

    More Asian recipes you may enjoy:

    Asian Chicken Salad Wonton Cups

    Print the recipe for Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice is a healthier version of your favorite takeout food. Made with riced cauliflower, chicken, eggs, and veggies, it’s a delicious dinner idea the whole family will love!

    • 3 cups finely minced cauliflower
    • 1 large onion
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 1/2 pound cooked and shredded chicken
    • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
    • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
    • 2 eggs (beaten)
    • 1/4 cup soy sauce
    1. Gather and prep all of your ingredients first and have them ready to go.
    2. Wash and finely mince the cauliflower.
    3. Chop the onion and garlic.
    4. Shred the already cooked chicken.
    5. Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet or wok on medium heat.
    6. Stir the onion and garlic into the oil; sauté ’til they soften.
    7. Add the peas and carrots, and continue to sauté, ’til they become tender.
    8. Make a well in the center of the onion mixture, and add the eggs, scrambling them.
    9. Stir everything together well, keeping the wok on medium heat.
    10. Add the shredded chicken, as well as the cauliflower, to the wok, stirring well.
    11. Add the soy sauce and continue to stir.
    12. Place the lid on your wok and let the mixture steam or cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
    13. When everything is heated thoroughly, it’s ready to serve. 
    Dinner Ideas
    Asian
    cauliflower chicken fried rice

    Pin this recipe to save it for dinner!

    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice is a healthier version of your favorite takeout food. Made with riced cauliflower, chicken, eggs, and veggies, it's a delicious dinner idea the whole family will love!
    Cauliflower Chicken Fried Rice is a healthier, lower carb version of your favorite takeout food. Made with cauliflower, chicken, eggs, and veggies, it’s a delicious dinner idea your friends and family will love!
  • Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Maple Pork Chops – Grilled to perfection and topped with apples and onions for a delicious, satisfying, home cooked dinner the whole family will love.

    Grill up Maple Pork Chops and top them off with apples and onions for a weeknight meal your family will love. Delicious recipe!

    Maple pork chops on the grill… Does it get any better than this for a weeknight meal? Top them off with an old-fashioned mixture of fried apples and onions, and you’ve got the makings of a meal the whole family will enjoy.

    Sometimes it does the soul good to go back to our roots with a good old-fashioned meal of meat and potatoes. And when that meat has flavors that are out of this world delicious, even better.

    Dan loves to grill all sorts of things, including Maple Bourbon Grilled Shrimp Kabobs, and I’m all for it when he’s in the mood to do so.

    He also loves collecting special seasonings and spices different places that we go. When he does, it’s a treat, because we end up getting to try different flavors right in our very own kitchen.

    I love it when my husband grills dinner. Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions do not disappoint. Delicious family dinner idea!

    If you love pork recipes, you may also enjoy our roasted pork tenderloin and oven roasted pork roast recipe. Don’t forget to try this easy slow cooker pork roast!

    Tips for Making Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    • You’ll need however many pork chops will feed your family. For our family of 5, we cook 4 to 6 chops and usually have plenty of leftovers.
    • Rub the pork chops down with a special seasoning called Twisted Q Crooked Pig Seasoning BBQ with Maple and Cane Sugar Twist. It doesn’t take a lot, but it adds a whole lotta flavor. Place the chops in a bowl, and put them in the fridge so they can marinate.
    • Grill the pork chops slowly, letting all the flavors infuse as they cook. We also prefer to grill on a charcoal grill, adding even more grilling flavors in.
    • Meanwhile, while the maple pork chops are grilling, melt the butter in a skillet. Add sliced apples and onions to the skillet on low-medium heat.
    • Fry the apples and onions at a lower temp, adding salt and pepper for added flavor.
    • Once the chops are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165° F. and done grilling, add a helping of apples and onions on top before serving. Sometimes I even top them off with fresh mango peach salsa or regular fruit salsa!

    Pair these juicy pork chops with delicious sides like mashed potatoes, vegetables, buttermilk cornbread, pork fried rice, etc. It all combines to make a delicious home cooked meal.

    Looking for more recipes that involve apples? Here are 50 mouthwatering apple recipes!

    Sometimes it does the soul good to go back to our roots with a good old-fashioned meal of meat and potatoes, like Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions.

    More grilling recipes you may enjoy:

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    Maple Bourbon Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

    Simple and Delicious Grilled Fish Fillets

    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Classic Grilled Chicago Hot Dog

    Grilled Cheeseburger Pizza

    Tools You May Need to Make Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

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    Print the Recipe for Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Maple Pork Chops grilled to perfection and topped with apples and onions for a delicious, satisfying, home cooked dinner the whole family will love.

    • 4 to 6 pork chops
    • 2 to 3 tablespoons Twisted Q Crooked Pig Seasoning BBQ with Maple and Cane Sugar Twist
    • 2 tablespoons salted butter
    • 4 apples
    • 1/2 large onion
    • Salt and pepper
    1. Rub the pork chops down with the Crooked Pig Seasoning.
    2. Place the chops in a bowl, and put in the fridge for 20 minutes to marinate.
    3. Grill the pork chops slowly, letting all the flavors infuse as they cook. We also prefer to grill on a charcoal grill, adding even more grilling flavor.
    4. Meanwhile, wash the apples.
    5. Slice the apples and onions.
    6. Melt the butter in a skillet.
    7. Add the sliced apples and onions to the skillet. 
    8. Fry the apples and onions at a lower temp, adding salt and pepper for added flavor. 
    9. Once the chops are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165° F. and done grilling, add a helping of apples and onions on top before serving. 
    10. Serve with mashed potatoes, vegetables, etc. It all combines to make a delicious home cooked meal.

     

    Pork Recipes
    American
    maple pork chops, pork chops, pork chops with apples and onions

    Wanna save this recipe for a future dinner idea? Pin it for later!

    Maple Pork Chops grilled to perfection and topped with apples and onions for a delicious, satisfying, home cooked dinner the whole family will love.
    Looking for delicious dinner ideas? How to make Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions.
  • Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin cups

    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin cups

    Bacon, egg, and cheese muffins made with eggs, bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Easy, make ahead, low carb breakfast idea!

    Breakfast Muffin Cups are a healthy breakfast idea, and they’re super easy to make ahead of time. You can add a crescent roll crust to the bottom of each muffin, or you can go with the low carb option and just leave the crust out.

    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups filled with bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil! Easy, make ahead breakfast idea!

    When I mixed up this particular batch of muffins, I actually put them in the fridge overnight. Next morning I popped a couple in the microwave, and they were good to go.

    If you prefer sausage, you’ll love this Sausage Egg Muffins recipe; and if you prefer ham, you’ll love these ham and cheese egg muffins.

    I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BACON, EGG, AND CHEESE BREAKFAST MUFFIN CUPS!

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

    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups are a healthy and easy breakfast. Fill them with bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil for a delicious start to your day!

    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups are so easy to make. Here’s how!

    Cook your bacon first. While it’s cooking, you can chop up the pepper and tomatoes.

    Once the bacon is fully cooked, crumble it up.

    Beat the eggs, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper together with a fork or whisk. Add in the chopped pepper, tomatoes, basil, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese, mixing it all together well.

    Spray your muffin tin with cooking spray.

    If you choose to use crescent rolls, tear each one into a piece large enough to press into each muffin cup. If not, just skip this step.

    Then pour the egg mixture into each muffin cup, filling ’til each cup is about 3/4 of the way full.

    Bake at 375° for about 30 minutes or until egg is set and cooked thru.

    Make Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups ahead of time, and warm them up the next morning for a delicious breakfast on the go!

    Serve and enjoy the Breakfast Muffin Cups while they’re warm! Or you can let them cool, refrigerate overnight, and warm them up the next morning!

    Ways you could switch up the recipe…

    • Add minced onions.
    • Or if you like them better, add chopped green onions.
    • Add chopped up spinach to the egg mixture.
    • Use smoked cheese or Queso Fresco in place of cheddar or Colby Jack.
    • Add a different type of meat, like ham or sausage. Or go meatless.

    Looking for more breakfast ideas involving eggs?

    Print the recipe for Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups!

    Need a healthy breakfast on the go? Make Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups, a delicious low carb breakfast idea.

    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Muffins

    Bacon, egg, and cheese muffins made with eggs, bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Easy, make ahead, low carb breakfast idea!

    • Muffin Tin
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • 1 medium bell pepper (minced)
    • 10 large eggs
    • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 12 cherry tomatoes (chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon basil (chopped)
    • 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 375° F and grease a muffin tin.

    2. Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat.

    3. Sauté the minced bell pepper in the melted butter for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the peppers begin to soften. Then remove the peppers from the skillet and set aside.

    4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.

    5. Stir in the bell pepper, chopped tomatoes, basil, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese, mixing everything together well.

    6. Then pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin, filling each muffin cup about 3/4 of the way full.

    7. Bake at 375° F for about 30 minutes, or until the egg muffins are fluffy, not jiggly, and have reached 160° F with a meat thermometer.

    8. Allow the muffins to cool for 2 to 3 minutes in the pan; then run a table knife around the edges of the muffin cups, and pop the muffins out onto a wire rack to cool. 

    9. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings and sides!

    *You can serve them immediately, or you can refrigerate or freeze them. Then pop them in the microwave in the morning, and enjoy a warm breakfast with hardly any effort! They’re perfect for a quick, on the go, healthy breakfast!

    Breakfast & Brunch, Main Course
    American
    bacon egg and cheese, bacon egg and cheese muffins, bacon egg muffins, breakfast muffin cups, egg cups, egg muffins
    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups with bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Simple, easy, make ahead, low carb breakfast idea!
    Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Muffin Cups with eggs, bacon, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Easy, make ahead, low carb breakfast idea!