The Wannabe Chef: Skillet Beef Casserole

Beef Goulash

Growing up, I remember hearing the term “goulash” for when my mom would throw a bunch of ingredients together to make a one-pot meal.

While goulash sounds kind of gross, mom’s one-pot meals always seemed to work out perfectly. Recently, I needed to clean out the pantry a little, so I checked out what I had left…potatoes, squash, onions…. Add a little ground beef and I had a stovetop casserole that was quick, easy and could definitely be considered a goulash. In fact, when my husband walked in the door from work and took a look at the skillet, the first word out of his mouth was, “goulash?” Yes, indeed. And thankfully, it was a yummy goulash, too. The salsa and chili powder added a Mexican flair to the dish, and you can never go wrong with melted cheese.

Skillet Beef Casserole

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 2 yellow squash, diced
  • 1 can diced potatoes, drained
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 jar salsa
  • 1⁄2 cup water
  • 1 Tbl. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • green onions, diced for garnish

Brown ground beef in cast iron skillet or large saucepan. Drain the fat.

Add onions and squash. Simmer until just tender. Add potatoes. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili powder.

Add salsa and water and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Top with cheese, allow to melt, then garnish with green onions.

Serve over rice or pasta.

You Might Also Like:

e1b70596-05c8-11f1-92e0-1248ae80e59d-3-2026rueanemone--credit-Joe-Cook

March’s Mountain Wildflower: Rue Anemone

A member of the buttercup family and found in the open woodlands, rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) has long, thin stems that tremble in the slightest of winds—prompting its other common name, windflower.
Pokeweed growing in Floyd County, Virginia.

January’s Wild Edible: Pokeweed

Pokeweed is one of the wild plants that is most associated with the Blue Ridge Region.
A purple-spored puffball growing in a field in Botetourt County, VA.

December’s Wild Edible: Purple-Spored Puffball

The purple-spored typically grows in this region’s fields, often appearing from October through December and into early January.
d289022c-696f-11f0-a179-1248ae80e59d-CGZ_0845-011

Ride the Rails, Explore Rockbridge County: Make a Weekend of the 611 in Goshen!

This fall, one of America’s most iconic steam locomotives is making tracks and memories.
The compound, lancelike leaflets of the bitternut are a good identifier.

November’s Wild Edible: Bitternut Hickory

Frankly, this native species to the Blue Ridge mountains comes by its name honestly.
Mullein growing in Ingram's backyard.

October’s Wild Edible: Mullein

Earlier, this year, a lone mullein plant appeared along the fence that encloses my garden, which made me curious about this plant.
An indigo milk cap growing in Botetourt County, Virginia.

September’s Wild Edible: Indigo Milk Caps

When young, indigo milk caps are one of the most stunningly beautiful mushrooms in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
ec3b964c-5201-11f0-968d-1248ae80e59d-9-2025spottedjewelweed--credit-Joe-Cook-and-Monica-Sheppard

September’s Mountain Wildflower: Spotted Jewelweed

Seek out spotted jewelweed growing beside a stream or along a moist area and you will have a good chance of getting to watch one or more ruby-throated hummingbirds flit from flower to flower.
A black staining polypore growing in Botetourt County, VA.

August’s Wild Edible: Black-Staining Polypore

The black-staining polypore is certainly one of the more fascinating wild edible mushrooms.
Northern Dewberry growing in Botetourt County, Virginia.

July’s Wild Edible: Northern Dewberry

For several reasons, the northern dewberry is often overlooked as a summer berry in the Blue Ridge.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS