I added a dash of Worcestershire sauce and used frozen mashed potatoes and frozen veggies as that's what I had on hand. Worked great!

I have also used cream of mushroom soup instead of brown gravy over the meat and vegetables and topped with the potatoes n sprinkle with Parmesan.. My family loves it!!!

I put cheese on top.

I used lamb cubes, topped with mashed potatoes (sandwiched cheese between 2 layers of mashed potatoes) and baked till brown.

I would suggest seasoning the meat after you drain it... otherwise you wasting delicious seasoning. For extra bonus points, I would suggest browning the meat slightly, enough to drain it, and then placing it aside. In the pan, saute some onions in olive oil, and add in garlic when the onions are almost translucent, followed by the beef maybe 3 minutes later. This will produce a great flavor, for about ten extra minutes of work, that the garlic / onion powder just cant replicate.

If you don't care about fat content and want something extra delicious, I'd use the drippings from the ground beef to make a gravy. Super simple, put equal parts flower with equal parts fat (ex. 1 flour means you need 1 cup of fat. So if you have 1/2 cup drippings, top it off with some buttah). Slowly simmer over low heat for a while, add in some nice herbs for flavor (bay leaf and rosemary would be standard) and maybe a zest of lemon. It will taste like sex makes you feel. Unless you have terrible sex, but then, you're probably alone anyways.

And please. Don't use canned veggies or instant potatoes. Go the extra mile and buy some frozen veggies and squash a potato with some butter, salt, pepper, and parsley. Ooh and garlic.

Or don't take my suggestion, and cook this meal via Beth's instructions, to tell your family how much you don't love them and would be better off without them.

And no "but I work" excuses. I'm a 24 year old single dude who works full time and I manage to cook better than this crap.

LOL at Captain Crunch... can we all guess as to why he's single? There is a huge difference between a working mom and a "single dude" only cooking for himself. Through a hungry hubby and a few kids needing help with homework and don't forget their after school activities/sports... then I bet he'd take a few shortcuts too. :)

Captain Crunch -- no wonder you're a single "dude".

I thought this wa a fabulous "quick" meal. I feel it is important to reply because of the negative feedback you received from the single working guy. First of all, there is an enormous difference between a working Mom and a guy who can cook for himself. AND it simply was not necessary for you to be so rude. Be careful, your immaturity is shining in your post. The beginning when you made the suggestions on you thought the dish could be improved were nice. You should have left it at that. Here is hoping that your future mother of your children never gets talked to like you spoke to this working mom. Have a great day!

Good answer.

The single Mom recipe was perfect! I also like to sprinkle a little shredded cheese on top to brown. The young man with no manners WAS rude....good luck to his wife , should he get married/have kids. Let's try & keep this polite! PS: Yum & thnx for all the great recipies i've tried over the years! Peace & Piece of pie !

I too am a working mom of three. I am always looking for ways to bring something good to the dinner table...no fast food if I can help it. (I really think that eating out is a waste of money...and should be reserved for special occasions, jmo)

I am going to make this dish tomorrow night and might sprinkle the top with either shredded cheddar cheese...or fried onions. Thought that added crunch might kick it up a bit. Thanks for submitting this recipe, mam.

And the kid that posted the rude remarks...what comes around goes around. Good luck young man. Being single vs feeding children...no comparison...not even close.

The main problem with restaurants is definitely when people use them for most meals. My husband and I try to eat at a local restaurant once a week. He owns a business and another small business gives me a part-time job. So we want to support other small business owners in turn.

Quick and easy! I used ground chicken and added steak seasoning to it and the gravy, as well as on top of the mashed potatoes.

Great recipe! I am a working dad with two kids and this it perfect for its simplicity. I make this recipe with venison instead of beef. And yes, I do hunt the deer myself. If you can find it, venison is a great low fat substitute for ground beef.

An easy vegetarian version, that takes about 25 minutes from start to eat:

12 oz of Morningstar Crumbles or similar, heated.
1 can of creamed corn
1 can of sweet corn, drained
1 package of your local deli's mashed potatoes (1 lbs.)

Spread Crumbles on bottom of 9x11 baking dish, followed by both cans of corn; spread using bottom of spoon, for even coverage.
Heat potatoes and stir to make them spreadable. Spread evenly on top of corn layer.
Cover with foil, bake at 375°F for 20 minutes, then remove foil and broil for 2-3 minutes for golden brown top. Enjoy.

No cholesterol, low sodium, almost no fat. Delicious.

Why not submit your own recipe??

I use 1 can of tomato soup, mix into the beef and then layer with green beans, mashed potatoes on top and cheese!

I've made this for years, and it's a great, quick meal. Add some french bread or garlic toast and a salad, and you're all set! I always use frozen veggies, but if you're in a time crunch, canned will work. It beats picking up fast food or having pizza for the 4th time that week! Great suggestions from all. Too bad Captain Crunch is so classless. He needs to take some lessons from Rob (Oklahoma).

Made this last night and it was great and easy.. I used real mashed potatoes with mine :)

This is a delicious recipe. I am in my seventies, and this was very nutritious. My husband and I got two nights of meals. Thanks for sharing.