Grandpa's Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Comforting and dependable. These are two words that can be used to describe your grandfather or other treasured family member in your life, but these words can also be used to describe a mealtime staple: ground beef.

When you’re in need of a warm embrace or just want to feel some peace in your life, you might recall treasured childhood memories or indulge in a comforting meal. These recipes, nostalgic as well as filling, are like a walk down memory lane with every bite. We’ve pulled together recipes including Our Best Lasagna, Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls, Cottage Pie, and other classics that likely graced your grandparents dining room table frequently over your lifetime.

Now, we can’t say for sure that our recipes taste like your grandparent's exactly, but we can assure you that the Southern Living Test Kitchen has put its heart and soul into these dishes that aim to please.

Spaghetti Casserole

Jennifer Davick
Jennifer Davick

Grandpa is all about the classics, and this comforting Spaghetti Casserole is a dish he can enjoy as leftovers for the rest of the week. Serve with a salad and a slice of crusty garlic bread.

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls

<p>Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood</p>

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls are just as nostalgic as your favorite family member's oversized sweaters. Everything in this recipe is made with love, from the tomato sauce to the filling which is tenderly wrapped in the softened cabbage leaves.

Sheet Pan Meatloaf

Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

We love this Sheet Pan Meatloaf the comes together much quicker than more traditional versions.

Classic Beef Chili

Greg DuPree
Greg DuPree

A bottle of beer transforms our Classic Beef Chili into something your Grandfather will gladly enjoy on game day or any other night of the week. Make this chili as spicy as your heart desires.

Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers

photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Everything tastes better when it's cooked in a cast iron skillet. That's just the truth. Our Cast-Iron Skillet Burger is no exception, with the skillet building a wonderful level of seasoning that's hard to replicate.

Sloppy Joe Casserole With Dinner Rolls

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Pleasing kiddos and older relatives everywhere, you cannot go wrong with Sloppy Joe Casserole With Dinner Rolls. A gooey layer of cheddar cheese as well as a little bit of mustard and dill pickle relish make this an unforgettable family meal.

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Will Dickey
Will Dickey

A heartwarming, homemade dinner, everyone at your table will love this Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole. You can even make this up to a month in advance and keep it in the freezer.

Beef Sliders With Bacon Jam

Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

You don't have to fire up the grill for this recipe, you just have to turn on the oven, but these sliders are just the thing to take to a cookout or potluck.

West Texas Chili

<p>Southern Living</p>

Southern Living

Frito Pie is a favorite of many, and the key ingredient (other than corn chips) for this unique pie is none other than West Texas Chili. Some might prefer this chili with venison, but ground chuck works just fine.

Doritos Casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Turn your grandpa's favorite snack into his favorite casserole by using Doritos in this take on a tortilla-style casserole. A can of cream of chicken soup, a staple in many grandparents' pantries, also makes an appearance in this delightful, fun dish.

Instant Pot Spaghetti And Meatballs

Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This warm, consoling meal comes together in no time.

Our Best Lasagna

<p>Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless</p>

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Most every family has a recipe they believe stands out above the rest that they bring to family gatherings and other major events. The next time everyone gets together, wow them with Our Best Lasagna which is designed to be the cheesiest and the easiest of them all. Everyone will be blown away by how delicious this recipe truly is.

Cowboy Casserole

Micah A. Leal
Micah A. Leal

Transform your tater tots into something you would serve to legends by adding a little ground beef and plenty of pantry staples you already know and love. This recipe is familiar yet revolutionary at the same time, just like your grandfather's stories.

Cottage Pie With Potato Crust

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr

Few dishes are as homey as Cottage Pie With Potato Crust. Topped in a soft pillow of mashed potatoes, this humble classic is just what the doctor ordered.

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Over Pappardelle Pasta

<p>Greg Dupree</p>

Greg Dupree

The stuff of Sunday suppers, Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Over Pappardelle Pasta will take you right back to your Grandparents' dining room table. The slow cooker does most of the work, but patience is needed for this recipe.

Southern Wedding Soup

Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This soup, inspired by the beloved Italian-American version, has a Southern twist by using pork and other regional staples.

Beef Tamale Pie

Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Skillet suppers always hit the spot, and our Beef Tamale Pie is something special. We use cornbread mix to create a tender topping that perfectly compliments the hearty beef.

Hamburger Stew

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

On a cold, winter day, nothing compares to an inviting bowl of hot stew. We've taken everything you love about a hamburger, and transformed it into a comforting dish.

Classic Patty Melt

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Your grandfather might tell you about the days he went to his local drug store and ordered a patty melt. Now you can surprise him with our Classic Patty Melt and watch his memories come flooding back.

Easy Taco Casserole

<p>Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero</p>

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Using mainly things you probably already have in your fridge, our Easy Taco Casserole is just as simple as the name claims it to be and it's ready in 30 minutes.

Creole Burger

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

What makes this burger different from our other classic options you may ask? The secret's in the seasoning. We use Creole seasoning and cayenne pepper for an extra kick.

Meatball Sliders With Tomato Sauce

Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Sometimes the most delicious recipes are cooked low and slow to add depth of flavor to your dish. With about 8 hours in the slow cooker, this recipe is certainly worth the wait. We broil the cheese on top to make this dish crave-worthy.

Sheet Pan Nachos

<p>Greg DuPree</p>

Greg DuPree

Sheet pans are a wonderful, versatile tool for quick-to-assemble dinners. While we have recommendations for what to put on your nachos, you and Grandpa can customize this dinner in whatever way your hearts desire.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray
Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

With the combination of ground beef, tater tots and a healthy drizzle of ketchup to serve, you have a casserole that the whole family will approve of.

Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy

<p>Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey</p>

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Who doesn't love a classic? Just like Chicken Fried Steak or Fried Pork Chops, Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy is one of those Southern dishes that everyone knows and loves, maybe Grandpa most of all.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.