Skip to main content

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: 

Happy baking!
~K


 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

  Creamy Chicken Enchiladas: This yummy recipe for chicken enchiladas is sure to be a crowd pleaser and be a hit even with picky eaters! It is super easy and adaptable, you can whip it up in a snap while catering to your families health needs/preferences and individual tastes :)  What I love most is that I can prep multiple dishes all at once, one for tonight and one for later in the week or to pop in the freezer for a night I am short on time and but want to provide a homecooked meal for my family (double bonus🙌).  First start with gathering all your ingredients:  -Tortillas: Either store bought or homemade ( I love to use flat out brand, 5 grain fold it tortilla's (healthier version) or Mission whole wheat or flour tortillas (my kiddos prefer these as they are a bit softer and less chewy texture).  -Meat: Chicken (or any other meat could be substituted. *I also love to use ground elk or organic grass fed ground beef, both are equally delicious) -Rice: Basmati...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cowboy Casserole

 Hello friends,  If your family is anything like mine they will love this super simple & delicious hearty casserole. I love that it is filling, healthy and can easily be made ahead of time or frozen to keep on hand for the busy days we just don't have a ton of time but I still want us to eat a homemade meal. :)  *Check here for link to another yummy meal I think your family will love and that can easily be made out of left over shredded chicken you didn't use for this recipe: *Preheat oven to 375 degrees 1) Start by adding 6-8 frozen chicken breasts (I purchase a big bag of individual flash frozen chicken breasts at Costco) into my Instant Pot and line them side by side. (Also can be made with lean ground beef/lean turkey/sausage or ground elk). Cook on manual for 14-15 minutes, let sit another 5 minutes before quick release. 2) Dice 1/2 of 1 onion * (while chicken is cooking) 3) Drain one 15oz can of sweet corn 4) Add first three ingredients to a large mixing bowl ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Easy homemade Devonshire Cream

  Hi friends, This easy Devonshire Cream recipe is sure to be a hit that will delight your family while whisking you away to the English countryside, (even if it's only in your dreams ;) ). It pairs perfectly with these Pumpkin Scones:  https://thishomeschoolerslife.blogspot.com/2020/10/delicious-pumpkin-scones-recipe.html and these Exposition Scones (recipe found at #thishomeschoolerslife @ instagram and is a delicious topping for many breakfast/brunch dishes.  To make Devonshire Cream you will need:  8 ounces of full fat Cream Cheese 1 cup full fat Sour Cream 2 Tablespoons Cream 1  1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 2 teaspoons vanilla or 1  1/2 for more vanilla flavor *Beat cheese in a kitchen aid mixer or hand held mixer for 1-2 minutes & add in other ingredients one at a time. Stir in sugar gradually and beat for 3-5 minutes until whipped together well.  *Remove from Mixing bowl and place into a serving dish.  *If not se...
Post a Comment
Read more