Allow me to tell you about two of my favorite new Simple Meals tricks! From Burrito Bar to Casserole, here are two meals that go together super easily!
The first favorite Simple Meals trick is this: Any time I’ve been privileged to feed a large crowd lately, I have been setting up a Burrito Bar. I fed Asa’s soccer team this way (35+ college male athletes, phew!). I fed Matt’s soccer team this way (20+ college women athletes – Matt’s their assistant coach).
It is important, yet frustrating, to note that I took no pictures of either meal because I always get too busy with the food and the fellowship and I forget to take a picture. I regret this every time. But moving on…
What is great about setting up a Burrito Bar is that each person can build a burrito (or three) to his or her liking. And best yet, those who have food allergies can still eat this meal! (My gluten free friends skip the tortilla but can eat everything else. My dairy free friends can skip the cheese and sour cream and eat everything else. It’s so simple!)
Burrito Bar Fixin’s
- Salsa Chicken
- Seasoned Hamburger Meat (cooked in the Instant Pot because it’s so easy!)
- Brown Rice (seasoned with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and a splash of lime juice)
- Black Beans and or Pinto Beans
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sauted onions and peppers
- Mixed Greens or Spinach
- Shredded Cheese
- Tomatoes
- Olives
- Corn
- Sour Cream
- Tortillas
And now for my second favorite Simple Meals trick! After I’m finished serving the Burrito Bar, I stir together the leftovers and spread it into a casserole dish. This makes it super easy to put away leftovers! And it makes for a very delicious meal on another day, which takes zero effort!
I fully admit that this doesn’t look super appetizing. For shame. Something so delicious should not look so…blah.
I will now attempt to give you an idea of measurements so that you, too, can stir together Burrito Bar leftovers and create a new meal of…what shall we call it? Burrito Bar Casserole? Cheesy Mexican Rice? Mom’s Night Off? Yes, let’s call it that.
From Burrito Bar To Casserole
- Leftover cooked chicken or hamburger (1-2 pounds)
- Leftover cooked rice (2-3 cups)
- Leftover beans (up to 2 cups)
- Salsa (2-3 cups)
- Sour Cream (2-3 cups)
- Shredded cheese (1-3 cups, optional)
- Stir these leftovers together, not worrying much about the measurements!
- Spread the mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
- Top it with cheese (optional).
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to warm and serve. Or cover and freeze for up to two months.
- When you are ready to serve this meal, cover it with foil and slide it into a cold oven.
- Bake a refrigerated casserole at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Bake a frozen casserole at 275 degrees for 2-3 hours or until hot and bubbly.
Do not get stuck on the measurements for this “casserole.” Simply stir the leftovers together until it looks right for your family. Then your kids might do what mine did, take one bite, and say, “This is actually pretty good.”
Actually?
Yes, because it’s so shocking that my food would taste good. (Okay, but in their defense, it didn’t look super tasty, right?)
More Simple Recipes
- Simple Baked Salmon and Asparagus
- Simple Crock Pot Chicken Soup with a Kick
- Simple Skillet Taco Pasta
- Last-Minute Lentil Chili
- Simple Sweet and Sour Baked Chicken Legs
- 20-Minute Taco Soup
- Simple Cheesy Baked Chicken
- Simple Creamy Chicken Stew in the Crock Pot
- Simple Italian Beef and Broccoli Skillet
- Simple Bacon Ranch Chicken
- Simple Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken
- Simple Taco Rice Dinner
- Simple Last Minute Nacho Plate
- Simple Chicken Cheeseballs with a Kick
- Simple Beanie Weanies
- Simple Crock Pot BBQ Spareribs
- Simple Pizza Chicken Bake
- Simple Italian Chicken and Green Bean Bake
- Last Minute Creamy Bacon Spaghetti
- Simple Hamburger Soup
- Simple Parmesan Broiled Fish
- Simple Overnight Saucy Crock Pot Chicken
- Simple 15-Minute Meal
- Simple Overnight Melt-in-Your-Mouth Beef Roast
- Simple 3-Cheese Crock Pot Pasta
- Simple Oven Fried Chicken
- Simple Honey Mustard Chicken Legs
- The Easiest Mashed Potatoes in the World
- Simple Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Simple Crunchy Ranch Chicken Strips
- Simple Crock Pot Shredded Ranch Chicken (for salad or tacos)
- Simple Crock Pot Pizza Casserole
- Simple Barbecue Beef Roast
- Simple Spanish Rice Bowls
- Simple Roasted Rotiserie Chicken
- Simple Green Chile Chicken
- Simple Tex-Mex Creamy Chicken
- Simple Waffle Omelets
- Simple Crock Pot Taco Pasta
- Simple Grilled Chicken
- Simple Hawaiian Beef Roast
- Simple Crock Pot Creamy Stew Meat
- Simple Cheese Stuffed Burgers
- Simple Hashbrown Casserole (For Instant Pot, Crock Pot or Oven!)
- Simple Lasagna Casserole (For Instant Pot or Crock Pot)
- Simple Chili Mac
- Simple Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Join Simple Meals
Make life even simpler when you sign up to receive our weekly Menu Planning Packets. One tiny price, loads of weekly help. Read about this and sign up here!
I do the same thing, but in an effort to make it look pretty, layer the ingredients. Crunched-up chips on bottom, meat and beans next, salsa and sour cream mixed together poured/spread over the meat and beans, all topped with cheese. Bake until bubbly. Easy peasy!
We love doing a burrito (or taco) bar for a crowd here, too! Such a fun, easy meal that everyone loves. ;) One tip that I do at times, instead of mixing everything together in a casserole dish, you could try layering the leftover ingredients with tortillas, making a type of taco lasagna. I usually top it with shredded cheese and a sprinkle of sliced olives. Later, pop it in the oven for a super tasty, super easy meal. :)
I knew about the wonder of the burrito bar (I call it a taco bar, though), but the use of leftovers to make a casserole? Brilliant. I think we just found our Friday *and* Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend suppers (I’ll be feeding 11).
I was just coming here to say the same thing! Layers are much prettier :) I love using up leftovers! Thanks for the post, Laura. Keep calm and burrito on!
I do this on a smaller scale after taco night…making individual serving portions by layering leftovers. I’m really the only one that would eat them, so this works perfectly. Sometimes I refrigerate them, sometimes I freeze them.