Shipwreck Casserole Recipe

This dish exceeded my expectations with its surprisingly good taste. It required more cooking time and liquid than the recipe suggested, so I added some beef broth that was already open. I simmered it until the noodles were perfectly cooked. It reminded me of Hamburger Helper, but this homemade version was much tastier. It brought back nostalgic memories of the comforting food I enjoyed in my childhood.

I needed a quick dinner option and this recipe was a perfect choice. I had to make some substitutions since I didn't have all the ingredients on hand. I used individual servings of Mac and cheese instead of the full package, added leftover peas, carrots, and a can of corn. I swapped diced tomatoes for a can of hot ro-tel. Surprisingly, my husband, who usually prefers meat and potatoes, enjoyed this dish. He even suggested using diced potatoes instead of macaroni next time, which I will consider. Overall, it was a delicious, fast, and easy meal. I will definitely be making it again.

I absolutely adored this recipe! I have tried similar versions before and dubbed them "Budget-Friendly Hamburger Helper," but this one is much healthier. I prepared the Mexican variation with jalapeño mac and cheese, green chilies, taco seasoning, fiesta cheese... following the instructions. I will definitely be making this again, but next time I might use Kraft shredded cheese with cream cheese to enhance the creaminess. It had just the right amount of spice (not too fiery), packed with flavor, and incredibly easy to make! I also sprinkled some tortilla tri-color strips on top for an extra crunch, which added a delightful texture to the dish.

While this dish may not win any beauty contests, it shines as a simple, budget-friendly, and comforting weeknight dinner option. Consider it a versatile base recipe that welcomes personalization. I've been preparing a similar version of this dish since my early days of marriage in the eighties. I typically use frozen mixed vegetables for convenience and mix in whatever ingredients are on hand or preferred. In my household, this dish has endearingly been dubbed "Plop On The Plate," much to my kids' amusement. The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability to suit your family's tastes. Drawing from my Dutch and Indonesian heritage, and growing up with my mom's traditional Indonesian cooking, I created an Indonesian-inspired variation of this dish. By adding a packet of Conimex Nasi Goreng seasoning to the beef, drizzling Conimex Ketjap Manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce), and spicing it up with a bit of Conimex Sambal Olek, the dish transformed into a flavorful delight. The key takeaway here is that you can tailor this recipe to any flavor profile you desire. To address any complaints of blandness, simply adjust the seasonings and spices to your liking. Voilà, you now have a customizable recipe that can easily become your family's go-to meal without breaking the budget.

My husband adores this dish! After sautéing the meat with onions, I combined all the ingredients and poured them into a 9x13 baking dish. Baked at 350°F for 1 hour, and it turned out fantastic. Will definitely be making it again.

Quite chewy. Perhaps due to the high 93% beef content. It feels like additional liquid ingredients would have been beneficial. I'll explore other recipes for a shipwreck dish.