Taco Casserole & Harvest Apple Salad

 Hi Friends, 

If you're looking for an easy, delicious dinner that your family will love try this meal: Taco Casserole & Harvest apple salad.

It is one of our fall favorites because it's so filling and feels festive with  fall colors (red & yellow bell peppers). Enjoy!🧡

Taco Casserole: 

◇Ingredients- Filling:
▪︎3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
▪︎1 cup onion, chopped
▪︎1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
▪︎1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper (*any bell peppers you have on hand are fine)
▪︎1/2 bag frozen corn (*or 1 11oz can whole kernel corn, drained)
▪︎1 (8oz) can organic tomato sauce (*or homemade sauce)
▪︎1 cup shredded cheese (*I prefer a mix of mozzarella & cheddar)

◇Ingredients-
Topping:
▪︎1/2 cup pancake mix (*prefer Kodiak Cakes/waffle & pancake mix)
▪︎2/3 cup 2% milk
▪︎ 1 egg, slightly beaten
▪︎2 tsp.  Vegetable Oil (*prefer avocado or melted coconut oil)

◇Prep: 

▪︎Preheat oven 350°
▪︎Spray 9×9 or 8x8 glass baking dish with coconut oil cooking spray (*can do 9x11 if  doubling amount of pancake mix)
▪︎Add meat, onion, bell peppers, corn & tomato sauce in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
▪︎Pour meat mixture into baking dish & sprinkle with cheese, then set aside.

◇Topping:
▪︎combine pancake mix, milk, egg & oil in mixing bowl. Whisk together until large clumps disappear.
▪︎pour over meat mixture & spread evenly.
▪︎Bake 30-35 minutes or until top is golden
▪︎Sprinkle top with additional cheese, if desired.

◇Salad: 

▪︎Add a bag of mixed greens to large bowl
▪︎Chop 5 slices of freeze dried apples into medium size pieces
▪︎Chop pecans *or candied pecans
▪︎Add above ingredients to salad greens, toss to combine.
▪︎Sprinkle with shredded white cheddar cheese
▪︎Drizzle Spiced apple vinaigrette over salad


We love to make extra of this easy recipe to freeze  to keep on hand for a really quick meal during a busy week. It's so simple & delicious :)

*To freeze: Add meat mixture to a freezer safe container or freezer bag & seal. Should keep well for 3-6 months.

*Tips: Plan to mix topping to add right before baking to keep topping mixture from mixing with meat mixture & to ensure it will bake properly.

When you're planning to prepare, allow to thaw for 1-2 hours before adding the topping and for best results. Bake for an additional 20-40 minutes depending on how frozen your meat mixture is. Remove from oven and check around the 45 minute mark & check to see if baked evenly, also if topping is browned. If meat mixture is not thoroughly cooked continue baking on lower rack in oven for additional increments of 5-10 minutes and check regularly so topping doesn't over cook. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts or comments if your family loved this recipe or anything you changed or added to it. Leave me a message in the comments or shoot me an email, I'd love to connect with you! :)  Also, for other tips, homeschool insights, travel tips, recipe ideas etc check out my insta pages: 

https://www.instagram.com/thishomeschoolerslife/ & https://www.instagram.com/thislandisfamilytravels/

Happy baking!

~K