Ever since I shared my Firehouse Dump It Taco Soup recipe, I’ve had a lot of requests for more really good large batch recipes that could be made inexpensively for a larger group or big family dinner (like for the fire department shift crew).
So, that’s what I’ve got today, some really good comfort food with ground beef (ie: ground chuck, hamburger meat, ground whatever meat).
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My uncle Bobby (retired fire department) was always in charge of cooking for his shift – so he was a wealth of knowledge when I was trying to figure out how to cook for our large extended family in the cheapest way possible.
He said the rule was “Spend Less on what makes LOTS”
Then he said something about “fancy-schmancy is overrated – don’t make it hard, just make it GOOD”
Bottom line: GOOD food is ALWAYS impressive.
So, here are Uncle Bobby-approved ground beef dinner recipes that can be doubled (or tripled) for large meals.
PLUS, there are 4 Firehouse cookbooks that Uncle Bobby INSISTS I add in – he says they are the BEST fire department recipes from fire stations ALL over the USA.
Not only do they make a great gift, but it’s also another way to THANK A FIREFIGHTER!
You’ll see the cookbooks sprinkled in below.
5-Ingredient Firehouse Rigatoni Bake
Ingredients:
3 pounds browned ground beef
1 box cooked Rigatoni pasta
2 jars pasta sauce
1 can tomato paste
Mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Add pasta sauce and tomato paste to cooked hamburger meat
Toss in cooked pasta
Pour in 9×13 casserole dish
Top with mozzarella.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes
4-Ingredient Firehouse Chili
Ingredients:
2 pounds browned ground beef
2-28 ounce cans chili beans undrained
4 cups tomato juice
2 packets chili seasoning
Directions:
Mix all 4 ingredients together in large pot and bring to boil.
Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
Crockpot: cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
TIP: for a fun twist on that classic chili recipe, use baked beans instead of chili beans – it’s really good!
Cooking with the Firehouse Chef – Over 100 Yummy Recipes✅ Found Here
Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches
These oven baked meatball sandwiches are a perfect easy dinner idea for busy days. Also great for large groups, game day, or as an on-the-go meal.
Not only are they simple to make, but they are total comfort food. The bread smells delicious as it gets toasted in the oven, the meatballs are warm and tender, and the gooey melted cheese might just be the best part!
Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe
Crockpot Meatball Subs
Now, if a dump and go, make ahead type of meal is more what you’re looking for, this crockpot version for meatball sandwiches is really good.
There’s only 4 ingredients (if you buy the meatballs pre-made) – meatballs, pasta sauce, sub buns and provolone cheese.
That’s it!
Amish Poor Man’s Hamburger Steak Bake
At first glance, Amish Poor Man’s Steak Bake is little more than a doctored up hamburger patty drowning in a luscious mushroom soup gravy.
But one bite of this economical dinner comfort food tells you exactly why it’s endured for generations – it just tastes like home.
The base recipes is made with one pound of ground beef and just a few standard pantry items, but go ahead and double or triple the recipe as needed.
Amish Poor Man’s Hamburger Steak Bake Recipe
Cowboy Casserole
We all know I love me a make ahead casserole recipes (I have a ton of make ahead casseroles to freeze here).
This Cowboy Casserole is an easy dinner with ground beef, corn, cheddar cheese and sour cream topped with crispy tater tots.
Tater tots – CHEESE? Yes, please!
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ground Beef Stroganoff is an such a simple dinner recipe made with ground beef, a gravy packet, egg noodles, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup and some seasonings.
If you love beef stroganoff, but hate the process of making it, you will love this shortcut recipe!
Sloppy Joes
This Sloppy Joe recipe is fast and easy to make, with a handful of basic pantry ingredients like ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. The scratch-made sweet and tangy sauce is lightyears better than the canned stuff!
Best part? It’s an easy meal that’s ready to eat in less than 30 minutes!
The Firehouse Cookbook – Inexpensive and Timeless Recipes✅ Found Here
Crockpot Hamburger Stew
Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew (also known as Poor Man’s Stew) is nothing fancy or complicated – it’s just simple, good, comforting food that you can make ahead so it’s ready when you are.
Hamburger stew is very similar to traditional beef stew, but it’s made with ground beef instead of stew meat.
Using ground beef is a little bit less expensive than using stew meat – and you get a little bit of beef in every bite!
Crockpot Hamburger Stew Recipe
Taco Spaghetti
C’mon, is it even a fire station if there’s not spaghetti cooking?
How about trying a new twist on the same ‘ol spaghetti to change things up a bit?
This Taco Spaghetti has the best of tacos AND spaghetti with your hamburger meat cooked in beef broth and taco seasoning which makes it so tasty and a pleasant surprise.
Old Fashioned Hamburger Goulash
This old fashioned goulash recipe is pure comfort. It’s rich, hearty, perfectly seasoned, and only takes 45 minutes to make.
Ground beef, tomatoes, macaroni, and cheese come together to make a hearty comforting meal that’s so easy to make!
Old Fashioned Hamburger Goulash Recipe
Make Ahead Crockpot Tacos
Just 3 ingredients and you’ll have a crock full of ready-to-eat taco meat for nachos or for a full out taco station.
Just brown the hamburger meat early and let it cook for you.
Make Ahead Crockpot Tacos Recipe
Hamburger Vegetable Soup
On cold winter shifts, is there anything better than a steaming hot bowl of hearty soup?
Absolutely not! That’s why I have ALL these soup recipes I make!
This Classic Hamburger Soup is made in a big stockpot soup pot (or a dutch oven) on the stove.
OR, you can make it in the crockpot.
Hamburger Vegetable Soup Recipe
Hamburgers in the Oven
Cooking hamburgers in the oven is EASY and may become your new favorite dinner recipe!
Not only does baking the burgers in the oven make clean-up a breeze (no splattered grease popping all over the stovetop) but this recipe creates the juiciest burger with a “melt-in-your-mouth” trick that makes all the difference!
Big Mac Hamburger Casserole
Oh my – this is SO good! If you’re a McDonald’s Bic Mac lover like I am, you will LOVE this casserole!
This Big Mac Hamburger Casserole tastes just like the famous hamburger from McDonalds. Made with hamburger meat, potatoes and cheese with a tasty Big Mac Sauce and toppings.
Big Mac Hamburger Casserole Recipe
Crockpot Cheddar Chili Mac
This recipe is so easy to throw together with just a few ingredients and ground beef.
Chili beans, macaroni noodles, diced tomatoes with chiles, cheese and 2 seasonings is all you need.
Crockpot Cheddar Chili Mac Recipe
Large Batch Meatloaf Mini Loaves
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves are made with just 6 common ingredients in under an hour!
Mini Meatloaf is so easy to make- just shape and top with the special 3 ingredient sauce and bake.
And – this meatloaf recipe is gluten free, low in carbs and absolutely delicious!
Firehouse Food: Cooking with San Francisco’s Firefighters✅ Found HereThe Healthy Firehouse Cookbook from America’s Fire Fighters✅ Found Here
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