In keeping with my line of thrifty tips and hints for the home and kitchen, I wanted to share some economical recipes that don’t taste cheap.

The main bulk of the meat in my freezer is ground beef because it is so versatile. Some of the most frugal meals are made with ground beef. Not only do the dishes taste great and are easy to make, feeding a large group with them is a snap.

Many of my ground beef recipes can be made up ahead of time and frozen; just thaw and heat for a quick and delicious dinner.

Meal in a Dish Casserole

You could use this dish as a meal by itself or do like I do and add a salad. It’s perfect for making and freezing for future meals; just thaw and cover loosely with aluminum foil and reheat at 375F for about 20 minutes.

1-pound ground beef, browned and drained

1 medium diced onion

1 16-ounce can stewed or Italian style diced tomatoes (can use plain diced if preferred)

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 potatoes diced into 1-inch cubes.

1/3 cup flour

1 10 ounce bag frozen corn

1 10 ounce bag frozen peas

1 bell pepper seeded and diced

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 F degrees.

Combine in bowl, ground beef, onion, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and sea salt. Spoon into a greased, 3-quart casserole dish. Mix potatoes, flour, corn and green peppers then layer over meat.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. When done, sprinkle with cheddar and continue baking, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Italian Taco Casserole

Being on a tight budget means cheap casserole dishes are a necessity. This dish is so easy to make, and the kids will love it.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In large skillet, brown 1 ½ pounds, lean ground beef and drain. Stir in 1 package of taco seasoning mix and water. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place (1) 40-ounce can of meat ravioli with sauce, in lightly greased baking pan (13” X 9”); spread beef mixture over top and sprinkle with (1) 8-ounce package shredded cheddar cheese, reserving ½ cup of cheese.

Bake, uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Before serving, crush tortilla chips over the top; add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, black olives and remaining cheese.

These final ingredients are optional. This casserole is delicious without the extra fixings.

Simple Beef Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Brown 1 pound, lean ground beef in skillet and drain. In bowl, mix 1 small package cream cheese, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can whole-kernel corn and 1 small jar pimentos (optional).

Pour into a two quart, lightly greased casserole dish and add cooked and drained ground beef. Top with 1 can of refrigerator biscuits and bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Ground beef is the most economical meal ingredient available that’s not a processed meat. With an arsenal of easy and delicious ground beef recipes, your meals are always a hit with the family.

Bon Appetite!