The Versatile Beef Casserole Makes A Hearty Winter Meal Cold, blustery nights call for a hearty meal that fills you up and chases away the chill. Whether your budget is large or small, the versatile beef casserole fills the bill. There are so many ways to quickly prepare a beef casserole that's an all-in-one-dish meal. Some recipes only require the addition of a crusty bread loaf for a dinner that's nutritious, filling and crowd pleasing. Let's get a quick rundown on some ways you can have dinner on the table in a hurry. Ground beef is a winner in your beef casserole repertoire. Just two pounds of ground beef yields a large family-sized dinner for six. Here's how: Season the beef with taco seasoning mix, salt and pepper. If you enjoy some extra heat, add a half teaspoon of cumin. Using a nine inch square casserole dish, distribute the raw ground beef evenly in the pan. Drain one 15-ounce can of Mexican style corn and layer it on top of the beef. Mix up two cups of instant mashed potatoes and spoon it over the mixture. Grate one cup of cheddar cheese to top off your beef casserole. Sprinkle with more taco seasoning and a small can of sliced jalapeno peppers. Bake at 375 for one hour or until the meat juices run clear. Voila! Dinner's ready. Looking for a more elegant beef casserole? Marinate two pounds of beef stew meat in a mixture of one half cup of good quality burgundy, an equal amount of olive oil and a teaspoon of thyme, for eight hours or overnight. Slice a cup of fresh mushrooms and one medium onion. Saute the mushrooms and onion in butter until just slightly browned. Drain the marinated beef and brown quickly over high heat. Combine the beef, mushrooms and onion and simmer slowly over low heat until done, about 45 minutes. All of this preparation can be done ahead of time. Slice three large potatoes thinly and saute in oil until almost done. Spread half of the potatoes in the bottom of a nine inch casserole dish. Put the beef mixture on top, then add the remaining potatoes. Add one cup of fresh sliced mushrooms and a sprinkling of dried thyme as garnish. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream over each serving. You have a beef casserole fit for company. You can see that a beef casserole is as close as your imagination. Combinations that work well involve the beef, vegetables and the natural partnering of potatoes for a hearty dinner that has your diners asking for seconds. Many beef casserole recipes are perfect do-ahead dishes. While you're fixing one for tonight, make two. Freeze one and you've got dinner ready a week or two in advance. Summary Winter is the perfect time for hot oven baked dishes. Beef casseroles offer hearty meals with minimal work and are a great choice for busy families. Simple recipes include Shepard's Pie, or a mix of your favorte ingredients layered on top of each other. Bake according to ingredients. Make extra to put in the freezer for a quick meal later on. Related Articles Buffalo Meat How To Cook Steak Related Sites