Every once in a while, even when I try to plan well, I have groceries that aren’t used for what I originally planned. Maybe I thought we were having tacos on Tuesday but the kids ended up going to a friend’s house and hubby and I decide that a bag of popcorn is just fine for dinner. So this afternoon there sat in my fridge 2.5 lbs of ground beef that need to fulfill its purpose before it becomes a $10 regret in the trash as well as a pound of sausage from a local farm that I needed to use.
I actually love it when this happens because I approach the kitchen and a solution to use these ingredients with a “nothing to lose” attitude!
As I contemplated how to prepare these meats and create a meal. I remembered a few days ago my 16 yr old son had made the comment (after he woke from his teenage/summer sleep…..late afternoon) “breakfast is great any time of the day!” And so Breakfast for Dinner it is!!
Magnificent! This is what my hubby said I should name it….and although that doesn’t seem a likely recipe name – I thought it was awesome that this easy peasy creation on a whim deserved that title!
I only used 1 lb of ground beef in this meal, click here for, Magnificent Meatloaf, the second recipe post to see what I did with the leftover beef so that it wouldn’t go to waste!
Magnificent! Breakfast for Dinner
Ingredients
Method
- Place hash browns in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour queso and milk over hashbrowns. To save a dirty measuring cup and get more queso, fill the queso jar 1/2 way with milk (8 oz.), shake and add to bowl. Save jar for later use!
- Allow this mixture to sit which allows hash browns to thaw while you are cooking the meat.
- Cook the beef and sausage together, over med-high heat until done (no longer pink). The sausage will help to give the beef flavor but you are welcome to add seasonings (S/P and/or Chili Powder) while cooking. Add garlic when meat is almost done.
- Drain with a strainer over a bowl. To keep the grease from the sink drain use your leftover Queso jar to discard!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a small bowl combine eggs (lightly scrambled) and shredded cheese. Then pour over hash brown mixture. Stir mixture WELL! (If the eggs are not completely incorporated you risk having them cook when the meat is added.)
- Add cooked beef/sausage to hashbrown mixture.
- Stir until completely combined. Pour into a lightly greased (using non-stick spray) glass baking dish - I used a deep, round casserole dish. You can use any shape you like! Cover with foil.
- Place in preheated oven, on middle rack and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover dish and bake for 15 more minutes.
- Turn oven off and leave dish inside as oven cools, about 15 minutes. Serve and ENJOY!!