#Ground Beef | Jill's Cooking

We have a house of teen and young adult children, which means I try to be creative in our low carbohydrate meal options. My goal is delicious dishes that are not boring or repetitive for any of us. This Baked Cheesy Meatball recipe fits all requirements. It is a cheesy topped casserole with a tangy, sweet tomato sauce that couldn’t be easier to make or more delicious.

Baked Cheesy Meatballs (Low Carb/Keto/Gluten-Free)

Ingredients:

1 cup onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, smashed or minced

4 TBSP olive oil

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

1 pound Italian Sausage

1/2 cup seasoned Keto breadcrumbs, almond flour or Gluten-Free Panko such as Aleias

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup and 1 TBSP parsley, finely chopped

2 large eggs

1 TBSP fresh chopped basil, rosemary, thyme and/or oregano

Salt and ground pepper to taste

2 cups tomato sauce such as Yo Mama’s Foods Keto brand, Cento Tomato Sauce or Barilla Vero Gusto Sauce

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F with rack positioned in the middle. Butter or spray a casserole dish. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs or panko, parmesan, 1/2 cup parsley, eggs, fresh herbs, salt and ground pepper to taste. Then, add the sautéed onions and garlic. Combine all ingredients thoroughly. (I use my clean, washed hands to kneed the mixture and combine completely.)
Use a spoon to scoop out enough meat to make 1 1/2″ round balls. You can also use a cookie scoop but I like to form them in my hands and roll into balls that are all the same size. Place the meatballs in the prepared casserole dish. This will make about 25 to 30 meatballs.
Bake them for 15 to 20 minutes until fully-cooked and brown. Remove from the oven and drain the grease.
Then, top the meatballs with the tomato sauce and shredded cheese.
Place the casserole dish back in the oven and cook for 5 additional minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
Garnish with the remaining parsley.

This serves 6. I added a side of steamed broccoli. The kids got to top these delicious Baked Cheesy Meatballs over a bed of pasta. You can also add a side salad for a complete meal.

Enjoy! XOXO Jill

It’s Taco Tuesday and the perfect day to get adventurous! I know…I know…tacos are a major food group for many of us and a thing of edible beauty but every once in awhile we need variety. Today, instead of tacos, we’re making Cheesy Mexican Tortilla Pizza.

Almost forgot to take a pic before it was all gone!

I found this recipe on @thesoccermomblog.com and it’s easy and fantastic. It changes things up for a family that loves pizza. What could be better than cheese, beans, taco meat and enchilada sauce on a super large tortilla? I include Mexican Rice or Cilantro Rice on the side and serve with extra toppings of shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and chips to round out the meal.

This is my version of the recipe!

Cheesy Mexican Tortilla Pizza

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained

1 package taco seasoning (any brand such as McCormick or Lawry’s)

2 12″ Grande Tortillas for 1 pizza (such as Guerrero other brand of extra large tortillas)

1 cup refried beans (any brand such as Rosarita or Old El Paso)

2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

1/4 to 1/2 cup red enchilada sauce (such as El Pato, Las Palmas, Rosarita or Old El Paso)

1/4 cup Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained (you can use Mild, Medium or Hot) or salsa

Extra cheese, olives, sour cream, guacamole, salsa for garnish (your choice)

Directions:

In a large skillet cook ground beef until browned. Drain grease and return to the pan. Add taco seasoning, 2 TBSP water and mix completely. Remove from heat and set aside.
Heat the tortillas side-by-side on a baking sheet in the oven at 375 degrees for 4 minutes on each side. You want to crisp and brown the tortillas slightly. Remove from the oven to begin building your Cheesy Mexican Tortilla Pizza.
Place one tortilla on a round pizza stone/pan or baking sheet and frost with the refried beans. You’ll want to smooth the beans over the tortilla to 1/8″ of the edge. Next, top the beans with a nice layer of shredded cheese and then add the ground beef smoothing it over the cheese layer.
Add another tortilla on top and press down. Then, spread enchilada sauce on top with a pastry brush leaving 1/4″ space from the edge. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Broil the pizza for about 4-6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through and checking to make sure it doesn’t burn and the cheese is completely melted. Your oven may cook quicker so pay attention!
Remove from the oven and add some (not too much) drained diced tomatoes or salsa on top. Use a pizza cutter and divide in equal parts like you would a pie. Serve with any toppings or sides you choose.

You will find most ingredients in the Mexican food isle of your local grocery store. For a family of 5, we make 2 of these Cheesy Mexican Tortilla Pizzas and serve with rice for a super, easy, alternative Taco Tuesday Dinner!

Enjoy! XOXO Jill