Comfort Food Nights
Hearty classics for chilly evenings including chili, casseroles, and meat sauce pasta. Each dinner feels like a hug on a plate.
Serves 4
3 recipes
150 min total cook/prep
Priced at Food 4 Less - Hammond Shopping Center
$63.27 combined ingredient estimate
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Dinner · Day 1
Hearty Beef Chili$19.32
Slow-simmered chili with beans and warm spices.
Serves 6 · medium · 65 min
Ingredients & prices
- ground beef $8.00
- beans $1.00
- onion $1.25
- tomato paste $1.29
- chili powder $3.79
- cumin $3.99
How to prepare
About this recipe
Hearty Beef Chili is a slow-simmered pot of ground beef, beans, and warm spices—a filling dinner that tastes even better the next day. This american recipe serves 6 and is rated medium difficulty. Plan about 15 minutes of prep and 50 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 1.5 lb ground beef
- 2 can beans
- 1 onion
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
Step-by-step
1. Dice 1 onion. Brown 1.5 lb ground beef with onion in a Dutch oven over medium-high, breaking up meat.
2. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir in 2 tbsp chili powder and 1 tbsp cumin; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add 3 tbsp tomato paste; cook 1 minute, stirring.
5. Add 2 can beans with liquid and enough broth or water to reach desired consistency.
6. Simmer partially covered 40–50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust spices.
8. Skim fat from surface if desired.
9. Simmer longer for thicker chili if needed.
10. Serve hot in bowls.
Serving
Top with cheese and sour cream if available. Freezes up to 3 months; refrigerate up to 4 days.
Cook tips
- Bloom spices in fat for deeper flavor.
- Long simmer tenderizes flavors.
- Salt gradually—beans and tomato paste vary.
- Rest overnight for best flavor if you can wait.
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Dinner · Day 3
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce$16.01
Classic spaghetti topped with rich ground beef tomato sauce.
Serves 4 · easy · 40 min
Ingredients & prices
- pasta $1.99
- ground beef $8.00
- pasta sauce $2.49
- onion $1.25
- garlic $0.99
- tomato paste (optional) $1.29
How to prepare
About this recipe
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a family dinner staple: rich tomato sauce with browned ground beef and aromatics over al dente spaghetti. This italian recipe serves 4 and is rated easy difficulty. Plan about 10 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- 1 onion
- 3 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
Step-by-step
1. Dice 1 onion and mince 3 clove garlic.
2. Brown 1 lb ground beef with onion in a large pot over medium-high, breaking up meat, until no pink remains.
3. Add 3 clove garlic; cook 1 minute.
4. Stir in 24 oz pasta sauce and 2 tbsp tomato paste. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Meanwhile boil 12 oz pasta in salted water until al dente; drain.
6. Taste sauce and adjust salt and pepper.
7. Toss pasta with sauce or serve sauce over pasta.
8. Simmer uncovered if sauce needs thickening.
9. Keep sauce warm on low while pasta cooks.
10. Serve immediately in warm bowls.
Serving
Serve with garlic bread and salad. Sauce freezes well up to 3 months; refrigerate up to 4 days.
Cook tips
- Long simmer melds flavors—do not rush.
- Salt pasta water generously.
- Skim excess fat from beef if needed.
- Tomato paste adds depth—cook it 1 minute before adding sauce.
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Dinner · Day 5
Tuna Noodle Casserole$27.94
Baked casserole with tuna, noodles, and creamy sauce.
Serves 4 · easy · 45 min
Ingredients & prices
- noodles $9.99
- tuna $1.99
- cream $3.99
- frozen vegetables $2.69
- breadcrumbs $5.99
- butter $3.29
How to prepare
About this recipe
Tuna Noodle Casserole is old-fashioned comfort food: egg noodles mixed with tuna, cream, vegetables, and a breadcrumb topping baked until bubbly. This american recipe serves 4 and is rated easy difficulty. Plan about 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 12 oz noodles
- 2 can tuna
- 1 cup cream
- 1.5 cup frozen vegetables
- 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter
Step-by-step
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook 12 oz noodles until just al dente; drain.
2. Drain 2 can tuna and flake into a large bowl.
3. Mix noodles, tuna, 1 cup cream, and 1.5 cup frozen vegetables in the bowl.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
6. Toss 0.5 cup breadcrumbs with melted 2 tbsp butter; sprinkle over top.
7. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and topping is golden.
8. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
9. Check center is hot throughout before serving.
10. Serve scooped from the dish.
Serving
Serve with green salad. Refrigerate leftovers 3 days; reheat covered in 350°F oven.
Cook tips
- Slightly undercook noodles—they finish in the oven.
- Drain tuna well.
- Buttered breadcrumbs brown better.
- Let rest so filling sets for cleaner scoops.