Category: Beef

Southwest Steak Salad w/ Avocado & Cilantro Dressing

Southwest Steak Salad is a main course salad, with romaine lettuce, steak, tomatoes, avocadoes, beans & peppers in avocado cilantro dressing.Southwest Steak Salad is a main course salad, with romaine lettuce, steak, tomatoes, avocadoes, beans & peppers in avocado cilantro dressing.
As I write this post, I am still savoring the memory of the delicious Southwest Steak Salad with Avocado & Cilantro Dressing my husband and I enjoyed for dinner last evening! It was absolutely delicious! We had leftover grilled steak  and I decided to see what I could do with it. I found a recipe on Pinterest that sounded great, gave it a try, and it was a fantastic main course salad.

Romaine lettuce, thin slices of grilled steak, black beans, corn, sweet cherry tomatoes, and an absolutely amazing Avocado & Cilantro Salad Dressing that makes the salad PERFECT in Southwestern flavor!  THANK YOU to Krista, at Joyful Healthy Eats for this delicious recipe! I encourage you to check out her blog!

I used grilled steak this time, and next time I’m going to try it using grilled chicken breasts. Either would be fantastic in this salad! Whatever you use, steak or chicken, JUST MAKE SURE TO MAKE THE SALAD DRESSING. It is amazing  since it uses avocado as the main creamy ingredient. Let’s get those “healthy” fats in, okay?

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Grill The Steak And Make The Salad Dressing

Grill your steak or chicken either outdoors on a BBQ, or indoors on a grill. Let it rest a few minutes after it is finished cooking, then thinly slice it into strips. Set the steak aside.

Make the salad dressing by combining the dressing ingredients. They are avocado, cilantro, lime juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, cumin and red pepper flakes.. Mix the salad dressing in a blender until smooth and creamy.

Ingredients gathered to make salad dressing for the Southwest steak salad.

This is what the lime cilantro salad dressing looked like right after removing it from my blender. It’s thick and creamy, and yummy! (I could eat it by the spoonful, but that’s an entirely different story!  Let’s NOT go there).

Creamy Avocado Cilantro Salad Dressing has been blended and is ready to use.

Put The Southwest Steak Salad Together And EAT!

Place the chopped romaine lettuce, orange bell peppers, corn, and black beans into two serving bowls or onto plates.

Romaine lettuce, corn, beans and orange bell peppers are the foundation for the salad.

Add warm, thin slices of steak (or chicken), cherry tomato halves, and the garnish the top of the Southwest steak salad with slices of avocado and cilantro leaves.

Avocado and steak slices are added to the top of the Southwest steak salad.

Spoon a big dollop of the salad dressing on top. Give it a big stir to combine, and dig in! You’re gonna LOVE this salad’s amazing Southwest flavors!

A dollop of avocado cilantro dressing tops the salad.

Really hope you will give this salad a try… we really enjoyed it, and were quite full afterwards!  Have a great day, and remember to be KIND. Everyone is facing a battle of some kind and YOU might be the one person to brighten their entire day!

Looking for More MAIN DISH SALAD Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful main course salads you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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Recipe Source:  http://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/southwestern-steak-salad-with-cilantro-avocado-dressing/

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Southwest Steak Salad w/ Avocado & Cilantro Dressing
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

Southwest Steak Salad is a main course salad, with romaine lettuce, steak, tomatoes, avocadoes, beans & peppers in avocado cilantro dressing.

Category: Main Course Salad
Cuisine: Southwest
Keyword: southwest steak salad, steak salad
Servings: 2 large servings
Calories Per Serving: 614 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For Salad Dressing:
  • 1 medium avocado
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro , chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt and Pepper , to taste
For Salad:
  • 6 ounces Ribeye steak , pre-grilled (with salt/pepper or Montreal seasoning), thinly sliced
  • 4 cups Romaine lettuce , chopped
  • 1/2 cup corn (canned, drained)
  • 1/2 cup black beans (canned, drained)
  • 1/2 cup orange bell pepper , diced
  • 1/2 medium avocado , peeled and thinly sliced (for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
Prepare Salad Dressing:
  1. Prepare salad dressing by placing all ingredients except salt and pepper into a blender. Blend very well, until it is very smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. (If it is too thick, you can thin it a bit by adding a tiny bit more olive oil and red wine vinegar). Set aside.
Prepare Salad:
  1. Place chopped lettuce onto serving plate. Top lettuce with corn and black beans; top this with orange bell peppers, thin slices of steak or chicken breast (quantity is your choice), cherry tomato halves. Garnish with chopped cilantro. Top with a large dollop of the salad dressing.
  2. Serve, and enjoy this great salad!
Recipe Notes

Note: Didn't add a cooking time, as it varies between steak or chicken. I used leftover grilled steak, so the prep time was minimal.

Nutrition Facts
Southwest Steak Salad w/ Avocado & Cilantro Dressing
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/2 of total))
Calories 614 Calories from Fat 378
% Daily Value*
Fat 42g65%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 51mg17%
Sodium 365mg16%
Potassium 1583mg45%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 17g71%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 10425IU209%
Vitamin C 80.3mg97%
Calcium 72mg7%
Iron 4.8mg27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Southwest Steak Salad is a main course salad, with romaine lettuce, steak, tomatoes, avocadoes, beans & peppers in avocado cilantro dressing.

 

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Mom’s Swiss Steak

Mom’s Swiss Steak is comfort food at it’s very BEST! Sliced round steak with a flavorful onion gravy, and baked until tender. Economical and delicious! Mom's Swiss Steak is comfort food at it's very BEST! Sliced round steak with a flavorful onion gravy, and baked until tender. Economical and delicious!

My family didn’t have a lot of money as I was growing up. Truth is, things were fairly tight most of the time, but my Mom sure knew how to stretch a dollar and feed her family well. This delicious “comfort food” recipe for Mom’s Swiss Steak is one she fixed often for our family.

Mom’s Swiss steak really is quite simple to make and only has a few ingredients: round steak, an onion, some flour, water, a bit of oil, salt and pepper. Not too expensive to make, either!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How Do You Make Mom’s Swiss Steak?

To begin, you need to cut a 1 1/2 – 2 pound round steak into serving pieces (the pieces don’t have to be too big, because they will “get bigger” once flattened by pounding out thinner). Place one piece at a time between two pieces of plastic wrap. This helps to prevent splatters- put one piece plastic wrap on bottom and one on top of meat.

Pound the meat flat with the flat side of a meat mallet, one at a time, until each piece is flattened out and much thinner. Think of this as cheap therapy. Remove the meat from the plastic. Repeat with the remaining pieces until all the meat pieces have been “tenderized”.

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Season each piece generously with salt and pepper, then dredge each piece in flour, to cover all sides of the meat.

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Prepare The Meat

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Once the oil is hot (medium-high), add the pieces of meat. Sear the meat, turning over once, until browned on both sides but not fully cooked. Do this in batches, if necessary, to avoid overcrowding the skillet.

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Lay the browned pieces of meat in a large casserole dish. Top each piece with a round slice of onion. Once one layer is done, add more meat and onion slices to make another layer, until all  pieces of browned meat are in the baking pan. Leave 1/4 cup of the meat oil/drippings in the skillet, and discard the rest.

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Make The Thin “Gravy” For Mom’s Swiss Steak

Make a very thin flour/water gravy and add to skillet. I add 4 cups water to the previously used skillet, then whisk the flour with the remaining one cup of water. Add this flour/water liquid to the skillet, then mix to combine.

Salt and pepper the “gravy” liberally, to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil (and slightly thickens), then carefully pour the thin “gravy” over the meat in the baking pan.

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Time To Bake Mom’s Swiss Steak

Once the thin “gravy” is poured over the meat/onion in the pan, cover the casserole dish with a lid or aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. It doesn’t look too appealing before going into the oven, but trust me, it will come out fabulous!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Serve Mom’s Swiss Steak

When done, the meat will be very tender, and the gravy will taste wonderful, due to the onions infusing flavor while baking. Serve the meat and onions onto serving plates. Spoon some of the gravy over the top, and serve!

We LOVE having Mom’s Swiss Steak with mashed potatoes, and use some of the gravy for the potatoes, as well. This is a definite “comfort food” meal; the smell and taste of the tender Swiss Steak is wonderful!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Sure hope you will consider giving this family recipe for Mom’s Swiss Steak a try. It’s a fairly simple way to stretch your hard earned money, and makes enough to feed a hungry family or provide ample leftovers for a couple (like us)! Have a great day!

Looking For More BEEF Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of recipes featuring beef you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Mom's Swiss Steak / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Recipe Source: My Mom Fredia, who has been making this for over 50 years!

5 from 1 vote
Mom's Swiss Steak
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
 
Mom's Swiss Steak is comfort food at it's very BEST! Sliced round steak with a flavorful onion gravy, and baked until tender. Economical and delicious!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Mom's swiss steak
Servings: 5 servings
Calories Per Serving: 398 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds round steak
  • 1 teaspoon Salt and Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Vegetable oil (approx. 1/2 cup) Enough to fully cover bottom of large skillet
  • 1 large large brown onion , cut into thin round slices
  • 1/2 cup Flour (enough to dredge meat in - approx. 4 heaping Tablespoons)
  • 4 cups water
  • 3 Tablespoons flour
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cut round steak into serving pieces (approx 10- remember each piece will become slightly "larger" after being flattened out by pounding). One at a time, lay each piece of meat between plastic wrap. Pound with flat side of meat mallet until flattened and thinned down and tenderized. Repeat process for each piece of meat. Salt and Pepper each piece of meat, then dredge/fully cover each piece (all sides) in flour (put flour on a dinner plate to do this).
  3. Heat oil on medium high heat. Once hot, brown meat (turning once) until browned on both sides. (You may need to cook the meat in batches, depending on quantity and size of skillet). When done, reserve 1/4 cup of the oil and drippings in skillet ; discard the rest of oil.
  4. Place browned meat pieces in a single layer in casserole dish. Top each piece of meat with a slice of onion. Add another layer of meat, then onion, until all pieces are in dish.
  5. Make a really thin gravy by adding 4 cups water to 1/4 cup of oil/pan drippings remaining in skillet. Mix 1 cup water with 3 HEAPING Tablespoons flour. Mix well, then add to skillet and whisk to combine. Season this thin gravy to taste with additional salt and pepper. Bring "gravy" to a boil. It will slightly thicken. Remove "gravy" from heat, and carefully pour it over meat.
  6. Cover dish with lid or tightly cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
  7. Remove from oven when done. Serve meat, topped with onions and gravy... and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Note- Active prep time is 25 minutes. Rest of the total time for this recipe is inactive time, while meat is baking!

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Swiss Steak
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/5 of total))
Calories 398 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 114mg38%
Sodium 569mg25%
Potassium 682mg19%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 42g84%
Vitamin C 2.2mg3%
Calcium 43mg4%
Iron 4.4mg24%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Mom's Swiss Steak is comfort food at it's very BEST! Sliced round steak with a flavorful onion gravy, and baked until tender. Economical and delicious!

 

 

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Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff is a delicious classic dish, featuring tender strips of beef in seasoned beef/mushroom/onion/sour cream sauce, and served over egg noodles.Beef Stroganoff is a delicious classic dish, featuring tender strips of beef in seasoned beef/mushroom/onion/sour cream sauce, and served over egg noodles.

Do you enjoy Beef Stroganoff? We sure do. This classic dish, which originated over a hundred years ago, features tender strips of beef in a delicious beef/mushroom/onion/sour cream sauce, and is served over egg noodles. It really hits the spot on a cold winter’s day!

It’s really not too difficult to make beef stroganoff.  This classic meal is sure to please even the pickiest eater! IF you are looking for another way to cook this dish (easier), be sure to check out my recipe for Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff. Both of thee recipes will give you the delicious flavor of a traditional stroganoff.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The bottom Of The Page

How To Make Classic Beef Stroganoff

Slice the beef into 1/2 inch thick strips. Coat the beef with flour, salt and pepper. You can use a large resealable bag and shake it up or mix it all up in a large bowl. I used a large bowl and stirred it to combine. Make sure all sides of the meat are coated with flour mixture.

Beef cubes coated with flour and spices

Melt a Tablespoon of butter in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add the meat (will need to do this in batches, adding butter for each batch). Cook and stir until the beef stroganoff meat is browned on all sides, BUT DO NOT OVERCOOK THE MEAT.

Remove browned meat to bowl. Repeat process until all meat strips are browned on the outside. Set meat aside.

Browning stew meat in skillet

Use the same skillet (without cleaning it out). Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and mushrooms. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions and mushrooms are tender.

Mushrooms and onions cooking in skillet

Now stir in the beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring this liquid to a boil. Be sure to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of pan as you go. They add flavor!

Mushrooms and onions cooking in beef broth in skillet

Add the meat (and any juices) back into the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit, and the dish is fully heated through.

Beef stroganoff cubes added to skillet with sauce.

Here’s An Important Note About The Cooking Process

If using beef tenderloin tips or tenderloin, you can go straight to the next step (adding the sour cream). Sometimes I like to use beef stew meat (it’s less expensive, but a little “tougher”) for this recipe. It helps to tenderize the meat if I put it into a crock pot at this point.

I prepare the recipe up to this point, then transfer it all to a crock pot and let it cook on low for 5-6 hours. This way you can do the prep work early in the day, then let it cook in your crock pot until about ready to serve.  It really helps to tenderize the meat, and smells incredible. 

**For purposes of the photos (below), I returned all meat and sauce from my crock pot back into the original skillet to finish.

Finishing The Beef Stroganoff For Serving

Once the meat has cooked and heated through (either on stove top or in crock pot), add a cup of sour cream to the dish.  Continue heating, but do not let the mixture come to a boil once sour cream has been added.

Sour cream added to beef and sauce in metal skillet

Stir well, to fully combine the sour cream. Heat through (but don’t let it boil), and serve.

Heating sauce and meat for beef stroganoff in large skillet

Beef Stroganoff is at it’s very best when served over cooked egg noodles or rice. Here, it is shown over cooked egg noodles.

Garnish the beef stroganoff with a bit of parsley. We enjoyed this dish, served with some of the green beans from our garden that I canned last summer. YUM!

Beef stroganoff served on noodles, with green beans on plate

Beef Stroganoff (with noodles or rice) is a delicious, filling meal. Yes, it takes a little bit of prep time (browning the meat pieces), but I think you will find it worth every minute when you taste how delicious this meal is!

Sure hope you will consider making this recipe for beef stroganoff. I’ve made it countless times over the past 10 years. It tastes wonderful!

Looking For More BEEF Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have some great beef recipes you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Recipe Source:  Cookbook titled “Favorite Brand Name Old-Fashioned Holiday Recipes”, published in 2003 by Publications International, Ltd., page 168.

0 from 0 votes
Beef Stroganoff
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Beef Stroganoff is a delicious classic dish, featuring tender strips of beef in seasoned beef/mushroom/onion/sour cream sauce, and served over egg noodles.

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef stroganoff
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 762 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces egg noodles , uncooked
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/4 pounds beef tenderloin tips or tenderloin (I used 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat)
  • 1/4 cup butter (4 Tablespoons), divided
  • 3/4 cup chopped brown onion
  • 12 ounces fresh button mushrooms , sliced
  • 1 10.5 ounce condensed beef broth , can
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup sour cream , at room temperature
  • Dried parsley or chopped fresh chives , for garnish (optional)
Instructions
  1. Cook egg noodles (or rice) while preparing the stroganoff. Drain noodles, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.
To Prepare Stroganoff:
  1. Mix together flour, salt and pepper in large bowl or resealable bag. Slice the beef into thin 1/2 inch wide strips (this works best if meat is partially frozen-easier to slice). Combine meat and flour mixture. Toss, to coat all sides of beef.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, melt a Tablespoon of the butter on medium-high heat. Add 1/2 of the beef strips and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned on all sides. Do not overcook the beef! Remove beef to bowl. Add another Tablespoon of butter to skillet, and repeat process with rest of beef. Remove beef to bowl; do NOT clean skillet.
  3. Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in skillet. Add chopped onions and mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat, until onions and mushrooms have softened. Stir occasionally.
  4. Add beef broth, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce to onions and mushrooms. Stir well to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet as it heats.
  5. Return the beef strips to skillet. Cook for 5 minutes, until sauce has thickened a bit, and it is heated through. (**If you are using a crock pot, at this point, transfer all the meat and sauce to crock pot, and cook on low for 5-6 hours, then proceed with the rest of the recipe).
  6. Once meat has finished cooking, add one cup of sour cream to skillet. Stir well, to combine. Heat through, BUT DO NOT LET SAUCE BOIL AFTER ADDING SOUR CREAM.
  7. Serve beef stroganoff over cooked, drained egg noodles, or cooked rice. Garnish with parsley or chopped chives, if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

The "Cook Time" indicated does NOT include the time necessary if a crock pot is used to tenderize the beef. I like to do the prep work early in the morning, throw it all (minus the sour cream) into the crock pot later in the day, then at dinner time, all I have to do is cook noodles and add sour cream to the dish! Easy peasy, but it does mean more "Cook Time".

Nutrition Facts
Beef Stroganoff
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 762 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Cholesterol 218mg73%
Sodium 612mg27%
Potassium 963mg28%
Carbohydrates 56g19%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 52g104%
Vitamin A 870IU17%
Vitamin C 6.8mg8%
Calcium 112mg11%
Iron 5.9mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Beef Stroganoff is a delicious classic dish, featuring tender strips of beef in seasoned beef/mushroom/onion/sour cream sauce, and served over egg noodles.

 

 

 

 

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Chili Spaghetti

Looking for a quick and easy pasta dinner with a Mexican twist? How about making a batch of Chili Spaghetti, with chili, green onions, cheese and sour cream?Looking for a quick and easy pasta dinner with a Mexican twist? How about making a batch of Chili Spaghetti, with chili, green onions, cheese and sour cream?
When you really think about it, traditional spaghetti has tomatoes, meat, tomato sauce, onions, garlic and cheese (Parmesan). It’s a straight up, not too hard ITALIAN-INSPIRED meal to prepare. Well- guess what? Many of those same ingredients are found in Chili (homemade or purchased), but with a completely different spices. So why NOT make a MEXICAN-INSPIRED spaghetti meal, right? Right.

If you enjoy chili, and you enjoy spaghetti, read on! This easy meal will be a perfect combo meal for you!  Making chili spaghetti is super simple, and it tastes so very good! The pasta dish is very filling, and full of flavor. My hubby and I love having this meal occasionally. If you are more into “regular” spaghetti, be sure and check out my recipes for Easy Spaghetti Sauce with Italian Sausage or Easy Meatballs for Spaghetti.

I make my Mom’s recipe for homemade chili  so I always seem to have some extra in the freezer. I use that for this recipe, but for crying out loud… if you don’t have homemade, just buy some good quality chili (meat and beans) to make this EASY!

How To Make Chili Spaghetti

Prepare pasta according to package directions. While the spaghetti noodles are cooking, heat up the chili in a large skillet. A couple minutes before the spaghetti has finished cooking, ladle out about 1/4 cup pasta water (this has starch in it), and stir it into the chili.

Cooking pasta for chili spaghetti.

Remove pasta from pan about one minute before it is done. Drain pasta well without rinsing, then add it to the skillet with the chili in it. Stir well or use tongs, to fully combine the chili and the spaghetti noodles.

Cooked pasta is added to chili to make chili spaghetti.

Continue to cook the chili spaghetti for a couple minutes until well coated and pasta is fully cooked through.

Chili Spaghetti is mixed and heated through, in large skillet.

Serving Chili Spaghetti

When done, transfer the pasta onto individual serving plates. Spoon a little leftover chili from pan onto pasta. Garnish the spaghetti chili with grated cheddar cheese, sliced green onions and a dollop of sour cream. Serve piping hot, and enjoy!

Note** If you are using store bought canned chili, be sure you have enough chili in the skillet to completely coat the spaghetti! You will also need to have some extra chili in the skillet to spoon on top of the pasta when you plate it!

Chili spaghetti is garnished with cheddar cheese, green onions and sour cream before serving.

No recipe is really needed for chili spaghetti. IT’S WAY TOO EASY!   Sure hope you will give this a try. It is a very easy meal to “throw together” on a busy day, when you are pressed for time, and the family is starving! Have a great weekend, friends. May you find moments of love, laughter, peace, and great JOY!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of pasta recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Looking for a quick and easy pasta dinner with a Mexican twist? How about making a batch of Chili Spaghetti, with chili, green onions, cheese and sour cream?

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Sundowner Soup

Sundowner Soup is a delicious Italian inspired economical dish that’s easy to make, with ground beef, rice, and vegetables in a tomato based broth.Sundowner Soup is a delicious Italian inspired economical dish that's easy to make, with ground beef, rice, and vegetables in a tomato based broth.
Let me start by saying I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT IS CALLED SUNDOWNER SOUP. I suppose it might be because you can make up a big pot of this soup in about the same time it takes the sun to set? Well, I don’t really know how or why it got its name, but that’s my story… and I’m sticking with it!

Recently I found this recipe in a 20 year old cookbook. The name of the soup intrigued me, since it apparently had NOTHING to do with the ingredients. I had already laid out one pound of hamburger meat to use for dinner, so decided to give this recipe for sundowner soup a try.

What I can tell you after making it is this: Sundowner soup is delicious, only uses one pound of hamburger meat, and has lots of veggies. The recipe makes a large pot of soup, and is ready in a very short amount of time (under 30 minutes). If you can chop/slice  veggies and brown hamburger meat, you can make this soup!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Sundowner Soup

Here’s how you make this tasty (and economical) Italian-flavored soup: Brown the chopped onion and hamburger meat in a large soup pot. Easy, right?

Hamburger meat and onions are cooked before they are added to soup.

When the meat has browned fully, drain off the grease, and then stir in the sliced carrots and celery. Cook these veggies for 3-4 minutes, until they begin to soften.

Celery and carrots are added to the soup pot.

Add canned tomatoes, beef broth, cooking sherry, water, Swiss chard, rice, and herbs to the soup pot. Bring the liquid to a boil, and then simmer (covered) for 15 minutes.

Canned tomatoes, sherry, broth spices and Swiss chard are added to the sundowner soup.

Uncooked rice is also added to the soup where it will cook in the broth.

Finish Making The Soup

After soup has cooked for 15 minutes, add the remaining half of the Swiss chard. Give the sundowner soup a taste, and season with a bit of salt and pepper, to your liking. Cover and cook the soup for 5 additional minutes.

More Swiss chard is added to the soup.

Now uncover the soup pot. The rice should be fully cooked and the soup will have thickened up. If you want the sundowner soup thinner, simply add a bit more water and stir.

The pot of sundowner soup is fully cooked and is now ready to serve.

Serve The Sundowner Soup

Ladle the hot sundowner soup into serving bowls. Garnish the top of each bowl of soup with finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional, but oh, so good!). Serve with some crusty bread on the side, and enjoy. Sundowner soup is quite a filling meal, because it has meat, veggies and rice, all in one dish! I think you will enjoy it!

Each bowl of sundowner soup is garnished with grated Parmesan cheese.

Hope you will give sundowner soup a try. My husband and I LOVED it!  Have a great day. Look around and focus on the multitude of things you (and I) can be grateful for! They are all around.

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

I have lots of soup recipes! They can be found in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: The cookbook called “A Dinner A Day”, by Sally Sondheim & Suzannah Sloan, pg. 46, Published by Warner Books, 1996.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Sundowner Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
Sundowner Soup is a delicious Italian inspired economical dish that's easy to make, with ground beef, rice, and vegetables in a tomato based broth.
Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Sundowner Soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 339 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion , chopped
  • 3 stalks celery , sliced
  • 5 medium carrots , peeled and sliced
  • 1 medium bunch Swiss chard (may substitute spinach, if desired)
  • 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) beef broth
  • 1/4 cup cooking sherry (may substitute beef broth)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/3 cup long grain white rice
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 Tablespoon seasoning salt
  • (additional salt and pepper, to taste)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish - optional, but good!)
Instructions
  1. Brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large soup pot, stirring occasionally. Drain off grease when done.
  2. While meat is browning, slice celery, peel and slice carrots, and chop Swiss chard (or spinach).
  3. When beef and onions are cooked and drained, add sliced celery and carrots to pan. Cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Add tomatoes (and juice), beef broth, sherry, water, HALF of the Swiss chard, rice, basil, thyme and seasoning salt to the pan. Stir well, to combine; bring mixture to a boil on medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, put a lid on pan, and simmer for 15 minutes (covered).
  5. After soup has cooked for 15 minutes, add the rest of the Swiss chard. Taste soup; add salt and pepper, if desired. Put lid back on pan and cook soup 5 more minutes. When done, if soup has thickened too much for your liking, simply add a bit of water to pan, and stir to combine.
  6. Ladle soup into individual bowls; garnish soup with finely grated Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
  7. By the way- the leftovers are great, as well!
Nutrition Facts
Sundowner Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 339 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 1792mg78%
Potassium 925mg26%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 9400IU188%
Vitamin C 19.6mg24%
Calcium 163mg16%
Iron 4.2mg23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Sundowner Soup is a delicious Italian inspired economical dish that's easy to make, with ground beef, rice, and vegetables in a tomato based broth.

 

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Really Good Meatloaf

Take it from me- someone who used to despise meatloaf. This is Really GOOD Meatloaf, especially with the BBQ flavored sauce on top! It’s a cinch to make!Take it from me... someone who used to despise meatloaf. This is Really GOOD Meatloaf, especially with the BBQ flavored sauce on top! It's a cinch to make!

I Have A Sordid History With Meatloaf

I hated meatloaf as a kid. Really, really hated it. My mom coated it with ketchup. Then I married a guy (almost 38 years ago) who happened to LIKE meatloaf (the horror of it all!) . Several years after we married I found this recipe in a church cookbook, and because I loved him, I cooked it for him. Guess what? It is REALLY GOOD MEATLOAF!!!! I actually found a meatloaf (and amazing BBQ sauce) that I LOVE!

And that, my friends, is why I have given it such a dubious recipe name. End of story. Seriously, this meatloaf IS really good, and completely EASY and inexpensive to make, which is always a plus in my book! Here’s what you do:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Really Good Meatloaf

In a large bowl, combine the ingredients for the meatloaf. It is always interesting to me that one of the seasonings used for this meatloaf is POULTRY SEASONING. What? On BEEF? Yep, you got that right. Poultry seasoning contains sage, rosemary, basil, celery seed, oregano, marjoram and thyme, so you can see how those spices add to the flavor of this yummy meatloaf.

Mix all the ingredients for the meatloaf together. That wasn’t too hard, was it? Trust me, the whole meatloaf only takes about 10 minutes prep time!

Ingredients for meatloaf will be mixed together in mixing bowl.

Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, and form the meat mixture into a loaf shape on top of the parchment.

Meat is shaped into a loaf shape, on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Make The Sauce

Place the meatloaf into a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. While it bakes, prepare the sauce that will eventually go on top of the meatloaf. Mix the sauce, and it’s ready (told you this was EASY).

The ingredients for the BBQ sauce for the meatloaf are put into a bowl for mixing.

BBQ sauce for really good meatloaf is mixed together in small metal bowl.

After the meatloaf has cooked for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven and quickly spoon the sauce all over the top and sides of the meatloaf. Once the meatloaf is covered with the sauce, place it back in the oven and continue cooking for another 30 minutes.

BBQ sauce is spooned over half-baked meatloaf.

Half-baked meatloaf is covered with sauce, then put back into oven to finish cooking.

The Really Good Meatloaf Is Baked And Ready To Serve

Once the meatloaf is done cooking (after the additional 30 minutes of cooking time), remove it from the oven. Let it sit for just a couple of minutes before slicing.

Really good meatloaf is done baking, and is ready to slice.

Cut the meat into slices (either 4 or 6, depending on the thickness of the serving size you want). Here’s a peek at the inside of the finished dish. Ooh, that sauce is so good.

A slice of meatloaf has been cut, and is ready to serve.

My husband and I usually eat this dish with a side of mashed potatoes and a fresh steamed or baked veggie. That’s it! Slice yourself a piece, and enjoy the delicious sauce and wonderful tasting beef dish! EASY, EASY, EASY… and it tastes quite good, too. Sure hope you’ll give this recipe a try!

If you enjoy meatloaf, be sure to try my recipes for TexMex Turkey Meatloaf and Cheesy Italian Meatloaf. Both are delicious meals you will enjoy, as well.

Meatloaf slice on a plate, with mashed potatoes and broccoli on the side.

I’ve been making this dish for over 20 years now, and we really enjoy it! That HAS to be some sort of a Christmas miracle (wink, wink)!  Have a great week, and God bless you!

Looking For Other Recipes That Use Ground Beef?

You can find other recipes using beef in the Recipe Index at the top of the page. A few of our favorites include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a great day!

Author's signatureRecipe Source: Mrs. Gordon Rasmussen, Monte Vista Chapel Ladies Cookbook

5 from 1 vote
Really Good Meatloaf
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 
Take it from me... someone who used to despise meatloaf. This is Really GOOD Meatloaf, especially with the BBQ flavored sauce on top! It's a cinch to make!
Category: Beef, Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: meatloaf
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 411 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For The Meatloaf:
  • 2/3 cup dry bread crumbs or crushed crackers (I prefer bread crumbs)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup chopped brown onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning (YES... poultry seasoning!)
For The Sauce:
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
Instructions
  1. Mix all meatloaf ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet (with edges). Place the meat mixture onto the middle of the parchment paper and shape into a loaf.

  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. While it is baking, mix up the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
  4. After 30 minutes, remove meatloaf from oven; spread the sauce completely over the top and sides of the loaf. Put the meatloaf back into the oven and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes. (Meatloaf will cook for a total of 60 minutes).
  5. When done, remove from oven, slice and serve (4-6 servings, depending on portion size). Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation is based on a total of 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts
Really Good Meatloaf
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 411 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 137mg46%
Sodium 682mg30%
Potassium 458mg13%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 215IU4%
Vitamin C 0.9mg1%
Calcium 108mg11%
Iron 3.2mg18%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Take it from me... someone who used to despise meatloaf. This is Really GOOD Meatloaf, especially with the BBQ flavored sauce on top! It's a cinch to make!

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Chili Mac With Summer Squash

Chili Mac with Summer Squash is a budget friendly, easy, delicious meal, with ground beef, pasta, fresh veggies and great Southwest flavor!Chili Mac with Summer Squash is a budget friendly, easy, delicious comfort food meal, with ground beef, pasta, fresh summer veggies and great Southwest flavor!
Well, if you’re looking for an inexpensive, easy to prepare “Comfort Food” kind of meal… this “Chili Mac With Summer Squash” is it!!  I made this Southwestern flavored recipe up as I went along (really), but it is loosely based on the goulash recipe (Italian-flavored) my Mom used to make for us kids when we were growing up.

I fixed this EASY PEASY yummy dish for my husband and I for dinner recently, and it filled us up!  It’s pretty amazing what you can do with a pound of hamburger meat, some fresh veggies from the garden (or store), elbow macaroni, and some tasty Southwestern spices! The recipe serves 4-6 depending on serving size, so all in all, it’s a lot of bang for your hard earned money! Here’s how to make this:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Cook The Meat 

First, brown one pound of ground beef with chopped onions and a bit of diced jalapeno. When it is nearly done, add minced garlic.

Ground beef, onions, garlic and jalapeno are cooked for chili mac
Drain off the grease (discard), then add one small can of diced tomatoes, a little water, some taco seasoning, salt, and pepper to the beef. (I used 3 large Tablespoons of my homemade taco seasoning mix:  “Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix”).

Canned tomatoes and chili spices are added to ground beef mixture
Time To Add The Summer Squash!

Stir well, then add zucchini and yellow squash (cut in quarters). I used my homegrown veggies (yay for my garden). Stir again to combine, then cover the skillet and let it all cook for 9-10 minutes. Only cook long enough to cook the squash, but not let it get “smooshy”.

Sliced summer squash is added to chili beef mixture

Summer squash is cooked with ground beef, tomatoes and spices
To Save Time: While the meat and veggies are cooking, cook the elbow macaroni separately in a large saucepan. Once the meat and veggies were done cooking, I uncovered the skillet to take a photo to show what it will look like.

Summer squash is finished cooking with chili beef
Finish Making The Chili Mac with Summer Squash

Once the pasta noodles have finished cooking, drain the water from them. Put the drained macaroni noodles back into the large pot they were cooked in.

Macaroni noodles are cooked, then drained.
Immediately pour the entire skillet of hot meat and veggies into the pan of cooked/drained macaroni.

Summer squash, chili beef and tomatoes are poured over cooked macaroni
Stir it all together, then heat it another minute or two to make sure it is hot… then taste-test it to make sure it is seasoned with enough salt.

Pasta, beef and summer squash are stirred to combine.
Time to EAT!

Ladle the Chili Mac into serving bowls while it is piping hot!

Chili mac with summer squash is placed into bowls for serving
Sprinkle each bowl with a small amount of grated cheddar cheese, then serve it! There ya have it… a tasty one-dish meal that has meat, pasta, AND yummy veggies!

Chili mac is sprinkled with grated cheddar cheese to serve.
All that’s left to do is grab a fork and dig in! Chili Mac with summer squash is quick, easy, totally inexpensive to make, and really good. How good, you ask? The kind of good where you want to “put on stretchy pants and hang out on the couch watching a great movie while you eat this on a rainy day good”.

Sure hope you will give this recipe a try! The leftovers are amazingly yummy, as well- (speaking with first-hand knowledge!)  I think you’ll like this comforting dish as much as we do, and will LOVE how easy it is to prepare!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of delicious featuring pasta, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Have a GREAT day!

Author's signature

0 from 0 votes
Chili Mac With Summer Squash
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
9 mins
Total Time
24 mins
 
Chili Mac with Summer Squash is a budget friendly, easy, delicious comfort food meal, with ground beef, pasta, fresh summer veggies and great Southwest flavor!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: chili mac
Servings: 5 servings
Calories Per Serving: 562 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound hamburger meat
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 small jalapeno pepper , (de-stemmed and seeded), chopped finely
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 envelope taco seasoning or 3 Tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 green zucchini , sliced, then cut into quarters
  • 1 yellow squash , sliced, then cut into quarters
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni (cooked per package directions)
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • Additional salt (to taste)
Instructions
  1. Before cooking the hamburger meat, bring a large saucepan full of water to a boil (to cook the macaroni in)
  2. In large skillet, brown the hamburger meat, chopped onion and jalapeno. Right before meat is fully cooked, add the minced garlic. Drain grease off meat when fully cooked. Return skillet to stove.
  3. Add tomatoes, taco seasoning, water, salt and pepper, zucchini, and yellow squash. Stir to combine. Cover skillet, then continue to cook on medium-low for approximately 9 minutes. Do not let squash get smooshy!
  4. While meat mixture is cooking, prepare macaroni noodles in a large saucepan, according to package directions. When done, drain macaroni, then return noodles to large saucepan.
  5. Add in the hot meat/squash mixture. Stir to combine. Heat quickly (uncovered) on medium-high for a minute or two, stirring constantly, to heat dish thoroughly. Taste test. If it needs more salt, add it now.
  6. Spoon mixture into individual serving bowls. Top with grated cheddar cheese, and serve hot!
Nutrition Facts
Chili Mac With Summer Squash
Amount Per Serving (1 serving (1/5 of total))
Calories 562 Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Cholesterol 88mg29%
Sodium 809mg35%
Potassium 767mg22%
Carbohydrates 49g16%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 515IU10%
Vitamin C 24.1mg29%
Calcium 231mg23%
Iron 3.7mg21%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Chili Mac with Summer Squash is a budget friendly, easy, delicious comfort food meal, with ground beef, pasta, fresh summer veggies and great Southwest flavor!

 

 

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Meatballs Stroganoff

Easy, budget friendly, and absolutely delicious, meatballs stroganoff, in a creamy mushroom sauce served on top of egg noodles, is comfort food at it’s best!Easy, budget friendly, and absolutely delicious, meatballs stroganoff, in a creamy mushroom sauce served on top of egg noodles, is comfort food at it's best!

Does it seem like Summer is rushing madly by? It does to me! We’ve had family members visiting for a large part of the month of July, and I am stunned that it’s already August and almost time for FALL. You know what that means, right? IT’S time for “MEATBALLS STROGANOFF”!!! (ok, totally lame transition, but work with me here, folks!)

Here’s the backstory. I thawed out some hamburger meat, fully intending to grill burgers. However, it was so hot outside I didn’t want myself or my hubby to have to grill and sweat at the same time.

I decided to cook something on the old stove top. THAT’S why I made these scrumptious meatballs. Now we can all sleep better tonight, knowing all the intricate details, right? Guess what? This dish is inexpensive to make, and the recipe makes 4-6 servings (depending on just how many meatballs one can eat in a serving)!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Meatballs Stroganoff

First thing you will need to do is mix up the ground beef, milk, dry bread crumbs, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Easy, right? Right!

Ground beef, bread crumbs and spices in mixing bowl to make meatballs for meatballs stroganoff.
Shape this mixture into meatballs. Brown them in a small amount of butter in a large skillet.

Meatballs browning in oil in large skillet
Brown the meatballs on all sides. Once they are brown all over transfer them out of the skillet to a plate while the stroganoff sauce is being made. Drain the grease out of the skillet, and give it a quick wash (the skillet, NOT the grease!).

Browned meatballs for meatballs stroganoff are cooking in silver skillet.
Make The Stroganoff Sauce

To prepare the stroganoff sauce, cook the chopped onions, mushrooms, and paprika in a skillet with a bit of butter until tender.

Cooking mushrooms, onions and spices for stroganoff sauce for meatballs
Once the onions are tender, sprinkle the mixture with flour and stir to blend. Add the beef bouillon, salt and pepper to the skillet. Whisk it together to form a sauce.

Flour is added to mushrooms and onions in skilletBeef broth is added to stroganoff sauce in skilletStroganoff sauce (with whisk) thickens as it is cooked in pan
Add The Meatballs to the Sauce

Return the meatballs to the sauce, and cover the skillet.  Cook the meatballs stroganoff for 10-12 minutes on medium/low heat, until they’re completely heated through. Spoon the stroganoff sauce over the meatballs several times during this cooking process. The sauce will thicken slightly as it cooks.

While the meatballs stroganoff are cooking, combine the sour cream and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl, and set aside.

Cooked meatballs stroganoff with sauce in skillet.Cook the Egg Noodles

Cook the egg noodles in a separate pan, according to the manufacturer’s directions. When egg noodles are fully cooked, drain them. Add a little butter and some chopped fresh dill to the noodles if you want (optional).

Egg noodles are cooked to serve with meatballs stroganoff.
Add the blended sour cream/Worcestershire sauce to the meatballs stroganoff and stir, to fully combine. Continue to heat the meatballs stroganoff for a couple of minutes, so they are heated through. Be careful to not let the sauce come to a boil.

Sour cream is added to meatballs stroganoff and sauce at end of cooking time.
Serve the Meatballs Stroganoff

To serve, place the cooked and drained hot egg noodles onto individual plates. Top the noodles with the meatballs stroganoff. A serving size is anywhere from 2-4 meatballs, depending on how hungry you are!

Spoon the extra mushroom sauce over the top of the meatballs and noodles, then sprinkle the top of the meatballs with a bit of fresh or dried parsley.

Meatballs stroganoff is served on top of cooked egg noodles
We really love these “comfort food” meatballs stroganoff! Hope you will give ’em a try! I think you will like them, too. Have a great day!

Looking For More MEATBALL Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have several recipes that feature meatballs, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: Unknown. I wrote it on a 3×5 card many, many YEARS ago, and neglected to add the original source. Sorry, whoever you are, dear recipe provider!

0 from 0 votes
Meatballs Stroganoff
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Easy, budget friendly, and absolutely delicious, meatballs stroganoff, in a creamy mushroom sauce served on top of egg noodles, is comfort food at it's best!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: meatballs stroganoff
Servings: 6 servings (3 meatballs each)
Calories Per Serving: 563 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup dried bread crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 Tablespoons butter , divided
  • 3/4 cup chopped brown onions
  • 1/2 pound mushrooms , sliced
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 can beef bouillon/broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups (cooked) Hot egg noodles , prepared according to manufacturer's directions
  • Chopped fresh dill (optional, for garnishing egg noodles)
  • Chopped parsley (optional, for garnishing meatballs when serving)
Instructions
  1. Mix the ground beef, milk, dried bread crumbs, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Shape meat mixture into 1/1/4 inch balls.
  2. Add 2 Tablespoons butter to a large skillet. Heat on medium to melt butter. Add meatballs to melted butter and brown meatballs completely on all sides. When done, remove meatballs to a plate. Cover plate with aluminum foil to keep meatballs warm.
  3. In a clean skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onions, mushrooms, and paprika. Cook this until onions are tender (3-4 minutes).
  4. Sprinkle flour over onion/mushrooms. Stir to combine. While stirring, add the beef bouillon, salt and pepper, and stir until fully combined.
  5. Begin cooking egg noodles in separate saucepan while you finish making the sauce.
  6. Combine the sour cream and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
  7. Return the meatballs to the sauce in skillet, cover, and simmer on low for 10-12 minutes, spooning the sauce over the meatballs to coat, occasionally.
  8. Stir the sour cream/Worcestershire sauce into the meatballs. Stir to combine. Heat through, but do not let sauce boil once you've added the sour cream.
  9. Drain egg noodles, toss with a small amount of butter (if desired), and add some chopped fresh dill (if desired). Place egg noodles onto serving plate, then top with 2-4 meatballs and sauce (quantity of meatballs depending on how hungry you are). Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Meatballs Stroganoff
Amount Per Serving (3 meatballs + noodles)
Calories 563 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Cholesterol 127mg42%
Sodium 1117mg49%
Potassium 621mg18%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 715IU14%
Vitamin C 5.1mg6%
Calcium 123mg12%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Easy, budget friendly, and absolutely delicious, meatballs stroganoff, in a creamy mushroom sauce served on top of egg noodles, is comfort food at it's best!

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Southwestern Cobb Salad with Chili-Rubbed Steak

You’ll enjoy this Southwestern Cobb Salad, with chili-rubbed steak, Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, orange slices, jicama, tomatoes, avocado & a delicious salad dressing.You'll enjoy this Southwestern Cobb Salad, with Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, orange slices, jicama, tomatoes, avocado & a delicious salad dressing.
Last summer I found a Food Network cookbook in a used bookstore. The original price was listed as $29.95, but because it was used, I only paid $1.99 for it. SCORE!  I’ve marked several recipes in it that I want to try… the first one that I’ve “officially” tried is this one for a delicious Southwestern Cobb Salad with Chili-Rubbed Steak. This Southwestern cobb salad has it all- meat, veggies, fruit, cheese, sweet, crunch, and spice. WOW!  You’re gonna love it!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Why I LOVE This Southwestern Cobb Salad!

I made this entree salad for our dinner a couple of nights ago. It was fantastic… as well as a gorgeous looking salad!  The salad was fairly easy to prepare, and the tastes were amazing! From the homemade salad dressing with a touch of spice and orange burst of freshness, to the simple chili-rubbed steak, this salad is filled with fresh, wonderful flavors!

The flavors I just described are the supporting stars of this Southwestern cobb salad, which features Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, fresh orange slices, jicama, tomatoes and avocado. My husband and I both LOVED it, and he’s already asked me to prepare it again soon.

How To Make The Salad Dressing For Southwestern Cobb Salad

First thing I did was to make the salad dressing. Making the salad dressing is easy. I loved the addition of orange zest to it… the citrus zest helped make it very fresh tasting! Place the salad dressing ingredients into a small bowl. Easy enough so far, right?

Ingredients for salad dressing for Southwestern cobb salad, in a small bowl

Give the salad dressing ingredients a good whisking, and it’s done! Now all you will need to do is cover the bowl, and refrigerate the dressing until ready to use! EASY!

Whisking salad dressing ingredients for Southwestern cobb salad.

Make A Chili Spice Rub For The Steak

The next thing to do is make the chili spice rub mixture in another small bowl.  It’s simply olive oil and chili powder that you can mix together using a fork.. Making this rub is quick and EASY.

Preparing the spice rub mixture for the steak used in the Southwestern cobb salad.

Once fully mixed, put a little bit of the rub on the steaks. TIP:  The chili rub mixture is fairly spicy, so use discretion how much you put on the steaks.

Chili spice rub is put on steaks before cooking them to use in the Southwestern cobb salad.

Rub the chili powder/oil mixture onto both sides of the steaks, before cooking.

Steaks for Southwestern cobb salad are covered with chili spice rub berore cooking.

How To Peel and Cut Orange Slices For Southwestern Cobb Salad

Once salad dressing, spice rub and steaks are ready, it’s time to chop the fresh veggies and fruit. Start with the orange. Cut the top and bottom peel off of an orange. Then cut down the sides of the orange, removing all peel and white “pith”.

You’ll be left with something that looks like this (below). Use a sharp knife and cut between each of the sections and remove the orange slices for the salad. Get the white membrane cut off the orange slices. It’s not too difficult.

Sectioning a whole peeled orange for slices to use in Southwestern cobb salad.

Preparing Jicama For The Southwestern Cobb Salad

This strange looking thing is a jicama, also known as a Mexican turnip. It has the firm texture of a raw potato. Use a sharp knife and carefully cut the peel off. It will look like a potato once it has been peeled.

Jicama must be peeled to use for Southwestern cobb salad.

Cut the peeled jicama into 1 inch slices, then cut each slice into small cubes.

Raw jicama is sliced then cut into cubes for Southwestern cobb salad.

Assembling The Salad

The prep for the salad involves cubing the jicama, cutting the orange into gorgeous sections, chopping the tomatoes, and cutting a fresh avocado into cubes.

These ingredients for the Southwestern cobb salad were layered in rows, along with crumbled feta cheese, on top of the romaine lettuce. Make sure to leave a couple rows open to add the steak after it has been cooked! The platter with the lettuce and veggies was covered with plastic wrap and went into the refrigerator to keep cold, while I cooked the steak.

Cooking The Steak For Southwestern Cobb Salad

The steak was cooked per the original recipe instructions in the broiler of our oven. It was convenient and delicious, using this oven method. The next time I make this Southwestern Cobb Salad, I will throw the steaks on our Weber grill to achieve an even more smoky taste!

Here’s the what the steak looks like, right after coming out from the oven broiler. Let the meat rest for 5 minutes before cutting. It is important to let the meat rest. This will keep most of the good juices inside the meat, instead of all over the pan. More juice INSIDE the steak means more FLAVOR! Once meat has rested, cut into small cubes.

Chili-rubbed steak is cooked under oven broiler for Southwestern cobb salad.

Remove the salad from refrigerator, and add the steak cubes, as shown. This Southwestern Cobb Salad with chili-rubbed steak sure is pretty to look at!

Roadmap For Assembling and Serving Southwestern Cobb Salad

Here’s the “roadmap” for the salad: Place chopped Romaine lettuce on bottom of serving platter (or individual plates). Arrange rows of prepped fruit and veggies for a colorful presentation.

The order I used for the rows, left to right, were Feta cheese, chopped tomatoes, orange slices, steak cubes, jicama cubes, avocado, and more steak cubes. After the salad is layered, the only thing left to do is pour the dressing on top of the Southwestern cobb salad, and toss gently to combine. That’s it!

Ingredients for Southwestern cobb salad are placed in rows on Romaine lettuce before serving.

This Southwestern Cobb Salad is an all in one dinner salad, and it is delicious! Hope you will give it a try. I confident you will LOVE it!  Enjoy!

If you enjoy Main Course Salads, be sure to check out these recipes below. These and others can be found in the RECIPE INDEX, found in the menu toolbar at the top of each page.

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  Author's signatureRecipe Source: “Food Network Kitchens Cookbook”, published 2003, The Meredith Corporation, page 78.

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Southwestern Cobb Salad with Chili-Rubbed Steak
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 
You'll enjoy this Southwestern Cobb Salad, with chili-rubbed steak, Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, orange slices, jicama, tomatoes, avocado & a delicious salad dressing.
Category: Entree/Salad
Cuisine: Southwestern
Keyword: Southwestern Cobb Salad
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 694 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the dressing:
  • 2 cloves garlic cloves , minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup mayonaise
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 Tablespoon chipotle hot sauce (I used sauce from a can of adobo chiles)
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh minced cilantro
  • 1 stem scallion (use the white and green parts of the onion), thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
For the steak:
  • 1.75 pounds tri-tip steak or other sirloin steak ( I used 2 steaks), for a total of about 1 3/4 pounds meat
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 Tablespoons chili powder
For the salad:
  • 5 cups head Romaine lettuce , torn or chopped
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 2 ripe medium tomatoes , diced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese , or more (can also use Cotija cheese)
  • 1 orange , peeled, cut into sections
  • 1/2 medium jicama , peeled and cubed (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
Instructions
  1. Make the salad dressing: Smash the garlic cloves with the flat side of a butcher knife, then sprinkle with salt. Mix together to form a thick paste. Put the garlic "paste" into a msall bowl, then add the rest of the salad dressing ingredients (mayo, buttermilk, chipotle hot sauce, cilantro, scallion and orange zest). Whisk ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate.
  2. Prepare the steak: Lightly salt and pepper the steak. In a small bowl, mix the chili powder and olive oil together until combined into a thick paste. Put this on the meat, and rub the spices into both sides of the meat. If you are grilling steak outside, put on grill and cook until medium. If you are going to be broiling the steak (as per recipe), here's what you need to do: Put a broiler rack and pan about 6 inches away from the broiler in your oven. Turn broiler on and let the pans PREHEAT for several minutes before putting the meat on the pan. When the broiler pan is really HOT, add the steak. (You should hear it sizzle as it hits the broiler pan). Cook for 7-8 minutes on each side for medium, turning once. When done, remove the steak to a cutting board. Let the meat rest for about 5 minutes, then cut into cubes.
  3. To make the salad: Halve, seed, peel and cube the avocado. Peel and section the orange. Peel and cube the jicama. Chop the tomatoes. Put the chopped Romaine lettuce onto a large serving platter (or in a large salad bowl). Arrange the feta, chopped tomatoes, orange sections, steak, jicama and avocado in strips on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the salad dressing over the salad, and toss to combine. (if making individual serving plates, use 3 Tablespoons of dressing per salad).
Recipe Notes

NOTE: This recipe can be adapted to serve 6, by creating smaller portion sizes.

Nutrition Facts
Southwestern Cobb Salad with Chili-Rubbed Steak
Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))
Calories 694 Calories from Fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47g72%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 157mg52%
Sodium 891mg39%
Potassium 1393mg40%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 47g94%
Vitamin A 6800IU136%
Vitamin C 46.6mg56%
Calcium 228mg23%
Iron 4.9mg27%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin to your Pinterest boards!You'll enjoy this Southwestern Cobb Salad, with chili-rubbed steak, Romaine lettuce, feta cheese, orange slices, jicama, tomatoes, avocado & a delicious salad dressing.

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Chili & Cheese Stuffed Spud

Need a quick, filling lunch or dinner that is REALLY easy? Why not make a chili cheese stuffed spud, with sour cream, cheddar cheese and green onions!Need a quick, filling lunch or dinner that is REALLY easy? Why not make a chili cheese stuffed spud, with sour cream, cheddar cheese and green onions!
Ever have those moments when you just don’t want to cook dinner? What? You do, too??? Shocking! I had one of those moments recently (several times, actually). I ended up making a Chili Cheese Stuffed Spud for my husband and I.

I was too tired to “want” to fix anything, so I  heated up some leftover chili I had in the fridge (Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili). Use any kind of chili you like! Then I stuffed a big beast-like “baker” potato with the chili.  You know – the BIG potatoes!

That humongous potato was filled with the chili, then topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions, and POOF! Dinner was served! Or as I like to say: “Dinner is served. I am offering two choices tonight for your dining pleasure. 1) Take It, or 2) Leave It.”

A Chili Cheese Stuffed Spud Is A Filling Meal!

This was a delicious, filling, “all-in-one” dinner.  “Ya got your potato, ya got your chili with meat and beans, ya got your cheese, ya got your sour cream, and ya got your green onions” (said with a deep New York accent, of course!). Geepers, if you threw some chocolate on there, you would have almost ALL the food groups represented… but I digress.

I threw (translation: gently and lovingly placed) the potatoes in the oven and baked them, but if you’re pressed for time, just microwave them… easy peasy, either way! Did you know that potatoes are the world’s 4th largest field crop? Yep. It’s true. (Random factoid for the day).

This is such an easy dish to prepare… and it really did fill up our hungry tummies! It’s so versatile… you can take away, or add anything you want (like veggies) to “make it yours”. Just thought I’d share it with you on the ol’ blog today. We sure don’t eat these too often at our house, but every now and then, it’s a quick, economical, and filling meal.

Chili cheese stuffed spud, topped with sour cream, grated cheese & scallions.

The Basics of Making A Chili Cheese Stuffed Spud

I’m not even going to post a recipe for this, because it’s so very basic… Bake (or microwave) a large potato, slice open, generously fill it with hot chili, then top with grated cheddar cheese, a generous dollop of sour cream, and some sliced green onions.

Seriously… how easy is that? Hope you will consider making these Chili & Cheese Stuffed Spuds, especially for those moments when your private chef, caterer, or entire kitchen staff get horribly sick and can’t prepare your evening meal. (*cough, cough*).  But we ALL know this situation would NEVER happen on Downton Abbey, would it now?

Have a wonderful day. Be sure and check out ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have a LOT of family-friends recipes I am confident you will enjoy.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Need a quick, filling lunch or dinner that is REALLY easy? Why not make a chili cheese stuffed spud, with sour cream, cheddar cheese and green onions!

Save

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