Cover recipe from: Pillsbury One Dish Meals Cookbook, Copyright 1999
Chuck Wagon Skillet Dinner
The full title of this cookbook is Pillsbury One Dish Meals Cookbook: More Than 300 Recipes for Casseroles, Skillet Dishes and Slow-Cooker Meals. I’m pretty sure I got this as a Christmas present at some point in my young, married life. It’s the sort of cookbook that home cooks who are looking for family-friendly, comfort food dishes will find useful. The recipes call for using shortcuts like instant rice, jarred sauces, canned goods and frozen vegetables. I’ve never really used a lot of shortcuts, so this cookbook hasn’t seen much action in my kitchen. I did try the Easy Taco Casserole a while back, which my family liked a lot.
The cover recipe showcases the Chuck Wagon Skillet Dinner, a very simple dish utilizing taco-seasoned beef, instant rice, canned tomatoes & corn and fresh zucchini. A sprinkle of melted cheese tops it off. See my notes below for the results.
Chuck Wagon Skillet Dinner
Source: Pillsbury One Dish Meals Cookbook
ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
One (1.25 oz.) package taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced zucchini
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
One 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 1/2 cups uncooked instant rice
4 ounces (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
directions:
1. In large skillet, brown ground beef and onion until beef is thoroughly cooked. Drain. Stir in seasoning mix, water, zucchini, corn and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
2. Remove from heat. Fluff mixture with fork; sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. If desired, garnish with diced red bell pepper and jalapeño chiles.
Serves: 6 (serving size – 1 cup)
Nutritional Information:
calories: 390, calories from fat 150, total fat 17g, saturated fat 8g, cholesterol 65mg, sodium 850mg, total carbohydrate 37g, dietary fiber 2g, sugars 4g, protein 21g
Notes from Culinary Covers:
*I tested out this recipe using ground turkey and instant brown rice.
*I didn’t like the stewed tomatoes in the dish… I think petite chopped tomatoes might be better.
*This was a very simple recipe to make. I’d say it’s a good choice if someone is looking for a family-friendly dinner. Kids can pick out the zucchini easily enough if they won’t eat it, but if it’s tucked under that melted cheese then perhaps they won’t notice it.
*I thought it was pretty good for a quick and easy meal. My family enjoyed it with a little sour cream added on top. For leftovers, my son suggested tucking the mixture into some corn tortillas for tacos (add lettuce, sour cream, guacamole).
Did this recipe deserve the cover? Yes. Although it doesn’t represent my style of cooking, it’s a good example of the types of recipes the reader will find as they explore the rest of this cookbook. One caveat… I really hate the name that they gave this recipe. I’m pretty sure I could have come up with something better.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Your notes are right on: I agree with them all! Instant rice bothers me: I prefer normal. It doesn’t take that much longer. I think your photo looks better than the cover, by the way.
when i was in elementary school we would get the lunch menu each week and I didn’t know what “chuckwagon” was. I imagined a covered wagon constructed out of vegetables–that would be impressive for cafeteria food! alas, it was awful. this looks much better!
This sounds like something my son and his friends would enjoy. Nothing wrong with something quick and easy when in a hurry. And your son’s suggestion about the tortillas is perfect. We would probably serve this in tortillas to begin with.
I agree with you about the title. If I hadn’t seen your review of the Chuck Wagon Skillet Dinner, I probably never would had looked twice at the recipe.
I have this cookbook, but have never made this dish. I will have to give it a try, with the diced tomatoes.
This is a recipe I might try for my son, minus the zucchini. I’m sure he would see them even if it’s under the cheese. I’d use mushroom instead. Thanks Lori for posting the recipe
Hi! I have not visited you over here yet. Yes, you could have come up with a much better name for this dish! This looks super simple, I like your changes.
I’d probably add some drained black beans and sauteed mushrooms too. Like you, this isn’t my style of cooking, but it seems a good basic recipe to have on hand that could please most.