Cheeseburger Pie

I have a handful of favorite foods, things that make the rotation of my monthly dinner menu and cheeseburgers are most definitely towards the top of the list. When I have not planned properly or left an essential item off my grocery list to prepare my perfect homemade cheeseburgers (hello buns, why are you so hard to remember?) we often end up driving into town to grab a burger if we really have a hankering for one. It sounds easy enough, except we live 30 minutes from the nearest burger joint with a burger good enough for me to consider driving into town for. By the time we get home from work or running errands, the thought of turning back around and heading down the hill into town for dinner or lunch isn't as appetizing as the burger we had in our minds eye.

That's when I stumbled upon an old recipe called Cheeseburger Pie.

I don't know if it was my mom who used to make our Cheeseburger Pie or if it was something I had at my grandparents when I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with them, but one bite transports me back to my 10 year old self. This is simplicity at its very best.

Cheeseburger Pie

The ingredients required for this recipe are basic items, things you probably normally have on hand. I tend to be a person that stocks up on pantry and freezer items when they go on sale, so I always have cheese, steaks, ground beef, chicken and fish in the freezer.

There is something about knowing I can open up my freezer and prepare a meal or two for an army of people on a moments notice that gives me an odd sense of security. My husband says I'd be a great doomsday prepper or at the very least we'd be eating really well during a zombie apocalypse. Don't get me started on the number of 50 pound bags of beans, rice, flour and sugar I have bought and stored over the years. I have this nagging feeling that I may have been born into the wrong century. I was an avid Little House on the Prairie watcher when I was a kid (okay, I now own the series on DVD) and loved it when they went into town for supplies and into the old general store, that mercantile with its barrels and sacks of staple items that always made me giddy. But I digress.

Being that I almost always have the basics on hand, Cheeseburger Pie can be assembled in a few minutes and popped into the oven to bake while I set the table or make a quick side dish. The beauty of this recipe is that you can individualize your serving to suit your burger preferences. I prefer basic ketchup with a slice of tomato and pickles. My husband prefers hot sauce, a slice of tomato and avocado next to his slice of burger pie, allowing him to assemble the perfect bite of Cheeseburger Pie. This is also a recipe you can alter to suit your tastes. Sometimes I add chopped, cooked bacon to the meat mixture. You can also add chopped onions or chilies too. Whatever suits your fancy!

This Cheeseburger Pie recipe serves 6-8 people and tastes even better the next day. I always double it to allow for leftovers. Cut a slice, heat for few minutes and enjoy.