Hands Down Easiest, Favorite Dinner

 This is one of my go to meals. All my sous chefs can make it and love it. I hope yours do too. This is one recipe in my book Cook--You Can Cook Fast, Healthy Meals For Your Family, Published by Whitecap Books

Hamburger Pasta Meal

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Equipment: Heavy pot with lid

Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red or green pepper, chopped

1 lb lean ground beef

¼ tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1 clove garlic, crushed

1½ cups elbow macaroni

1 (700 mL) bottle spaghetti sauce

2 cups water

1½ cups cheddar or mozzarella cheese, grated

Order of Events

1. In a large skillet or heavy pot over medium-high heat, brown beef in oil with onion and pepper. With a wooden spoon, break beef into large chunks and stir constantly until completely cooked through and browning.

2. Stir chili powder, salt and crushed garlic into beef mixture.

3. Reduce heat to medium-low; add macaroni, spaghetti sauce and 1½ cups water. Bring to a simmer; cover with lid.

4. Simmer until macaroni is cooked and liquid is absorbed, approximately 6-8 minutes.

5. Stir in cheese and mix until melted through.

Kitchen Gossip

Vegetarian option – Omit the ground beef and substitute ground soy. You could also make the dish with ground turkey.  Pump up the vegetables by adding chopped carrots in step 1.

FOOD MECHANIC