Revamping Recipes: Cheesy BBQ Beef Casserole

I’m a bb kind of gal.  I didn’t know that until I was about 17 and dating San, but that was when my whole life changed.  I never would try bbq sauce because the thought of something sweet and salty (at the same time – now way!) to dip my chicken nuggets in was revolting.  However, San introduced me to Famous Dave’s, and I’ve been a new woman ever since.  I’ve been really craving some of that sweet sauce lately, so I looked to my Betty Crocker cookbook for an easy, yet delicious recipe.  I found one for a Cheesy Barbecue Beef Casserole and knew we were meant to be!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (or 10 ounces) uncooked ziti pasta (I used farfalle)
• 1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, if desired (I used dried parsley)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

I chopped up the big, bad, bermuda onion first.

I tossed the three cups of pasta into the boiling water.

I smacked that pound of hearty proteinous (just go with me here) beef and smothered the onion on top of it.

When the meat was browned and the pasta was al dente, I drained both and then mixed them together.

I added their friend barbecue to the mix!

Then the parsley.

And the milk.  Yes, I reused the measuring cup with the bbq sauce in it!  I’m trying to be green, or….I only have one and was too lazy to rinse the barbecue sauce out.  I’m trying to keep it real here, people.

Then I loaded up both the cheeses (all but 1/2 cup of the cheddar which I kept aside) and mixed everything together.

Then I added it to my 3 qt casserole dish, although the recipe calls for a 2 qt dish and I sprinkled the reamining cheddar cheese on top.  I then baked it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, but the recipes says to bake for 30-40 minutes or until heated in the middle.

Doesn’t it look marvelous?  Believe me, it tastes even better!  I got my barbecue fix, so now my stomach and my tastebuds are smiling.  If you or anyone in your family likes barbecue, you have to make this!  It’s incredibly easy, affordable, and deliciously hearty.  I dare you to not eat more than one serving at a time!

Are you a barbecue fan?

This post is a part of Tasty Tuesday over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.