Belly Buster

"This recipe is in about its third or fourth generation, passed down from Grandma to Mom to Me. It became my children's favorite, and now my grandchildren love it. It was a staple in each household, with or without the hamburger. The children named it "Belly Buster" because they always ate too much when we had it. Freezes well."
 
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photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by Michael B. photo by Michael B.
photo by Michael B. photo by Michael B.
photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
Ready In:
1hr
Ingredients:
8
Serves:
6
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ingredients

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directions

  • This recipe can be made vegetarian, leave out the hamburger and add 2 cups of fresh mixed vegetables,i.e. broccoli, mushrooms,spinach, carrots, etc.
  • Cook elbow macaroni "Al dente",according to instructions on box,drain, add to large casserole.
  • Scramble fry hamburger with spanish onion and garlic, if using,until no longer pink, drain any fat through colander, add drained mixture to casserole.
  • Add cheese soup, no water, to casserole.
  • Add tomatoes to casserole.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Mix thoroughly, in casserole, to evenly distribute ingredients.
  • Spread grated or sliced cheddar evenly over top of casserole.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees, bake, uncovered for 30 minutes or util bubbling around edges of casserole and cheese topping is melted and slightly browned.
  • Serves 4-6 or with a salad 8.

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Reviews

  1. This recipe was a sort of 'mock' lasagne. I reduced the amount of tomato's by 8 oz because my husband is sensitive to them. I added a can of olives, and some parmessan cheese. I added some shredded jack cheese in with the meat, onions, etc. Then I cooked the casserole for 20 minutes, then added slices of White American cheese on the top, and cooked it for an additional 10 minutes so the cheese could melt. All in all, it passed the 'family test'. Thank you! Lea Evans
     
  2. This dish was suprisingly and pleasantly alot more tastey then the finished dish appeared to be. It was a great hit with the family - and with 3 boys (age range from 4 to 13) that is quite an accomplishment!!
     
  3. It was ok.The cheese soup didn't seem to add much flavor.I will try and different soup next time and stir cheese into the cassarol as well as on top.
     
  4. My family loved it! It isn't the most "gourmet" looking thing, but it was very yummy. I might add a couple squirts of tabasco to give it a little kick. Very good.
     
  5. I made this last night for dinner for the family. It was extremely easy to make and tasted great. This is definitely becoming a family favorite. I made the incorrect assumption that there would be enough left over for me to bring some to work for lunch today. I didn't realize how much my brother could eat until I watched him go back for 3rds.
     
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Tweaks

  1. After reading everyone's posts, and hearing that some felt this main dish was bland tasting, I decided to kick this dish up a notch, so I used a mild Italian sausage in place of the hamburger, and boy did that really give this main dish lots of flavor. Also when making this... I decreased the elbow macaroni to 12 ounces, and used a 1/4 cup of yellow diced onion, plus I used 1-1/2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic, also used 1-(14.5 oz.) can of plain/regular diced tomatoes, and 1-(14.5 oz.) can Del Monte Diced Tomatoes with Garlic and Onion (in place of the 28-oz. can of whole tomatoes). After I browned the sausage, onion and garlic, (and draining off any excess grease), I then heated the meat, tomatoes, and soup all together in the same skillet while I cooked the macaroni. And once the soup was incorporated into the meat/tomato mixture, I then added 1-cup of shredded (sharp) cheddar cheese, and stirred till the cheese was all most mixed in, but not completely melted in. After I added the meat/tomato mixture and the macaroni into a 4-quart baking dish, I topped the casserole with 1-cup of the shredded cheese. I loved how the cheese on top the casserole, was a bit crusty after it baked in the oven. I really liked how this main dish turned out, and will make it again, but next time, I will make this using ground beef, probably use stewed tomatoes, and a can of Campbell's Fiesta Nacho Soup. The possibilities in making this main dish are endless!!
     
  2. This was pretty good and not as bland as some of the other reviewers made it out to be but I did make a few minor changes due to ingredients on hand! I used 1 box of elbow macaroni, one 14 oz can of stewed tomatoes, one 14 oz can of diced tomatoes, about 1.5 tbsp garlic you get from a jar, 1lb ground beef, onion powder, a can of pepper jack cheese soup, and shredded cheddar on top. It could use a little bit more spice but the guys still ate it up! Next time I might try another users suggestion of hormel no bean chili instead of ground beef even though it is terrible for the body!
     
  3. I am a college student, so I don't have a lot of money to spend on food. I made this recipe because the ingredients were cheap and easy to find and I planned on eating it all week. I loved it! It's delicious, easy to make, easy to reheat, and cheap. The cheese sauce really made it good. I substituted garlic powder for the garlic cloves and used ground turkey instead of ground beef. I will definitely be making this again. I have a picture tutorial of this recipe on my blog: http://www.dreamindomestic.com/2009/10/12/revamping-recipes-belly-buster/
     
  4. Wow, this is a great "Oh crap, I don't know what to make for dinner" meal. It is almost like a homemade hamburger helper. My husband always wants me to make that stuff, but I am not a big fan of the store brand, but I am of this. Instead of whole stewed tomatoes I used a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles. It gave it a slight kick that was extra tasty. Thanks for posting this tasty recipe!
     
  5. My family liked this recipe. I don't understand what it is about this simple meal that makes you want to keep eating it. The ingredients are rather boring, and it doesn't jump out and hit you with flavor, but it really is addictive! Excellent comfort food I think. Instead of the soup I used 1/2 c. water microwaved with enough Velveeta to give it a soupy consistency. The dish reminded me of a cross between spaghetti and mac and cheese.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

<p>November 4th, 2013: &nbsp;Our community lost a wonderful friend when Dorothy passed away on October 24th, 2013. &nbsp;We are shocked and saddened by her passing and there is a thread for expressing your condolences.</p> <p>Mary at Food.com</p> <p><a href=http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=398284>http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=398284</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>********************************************************************</p> <p>I live in the sunny okanogan valley - I am a retired Resort Services Director, love collecting receipes and cooking but am a diabetic so some times i can only collect&nbsp;</p> <p>Love traveling, own a timeshare, went to Portugal in the year 2000, this picture was taken there, so it's 9 years old, but the only decent one I have, I am not photogenic and hate having my picture taken!! <br />I've been enjoying lushious recipes from 'zaar for 9 years now, since January 2001. <br /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/Animation1.gif alt=Image hosted by Photobucket.com /> <img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/berriesblinkie.gif alt=Image hosted by Photobucket.com /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/4treasurehunt.gif alt=Image hosted by Photobucket.com /> <br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/purplechefhat.gif alt=Image hosted by Photobucket.com /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/chef3.jpg alt=Image hosted by Photobucket.com /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/FinishedJollyRoger_1.jpg border=0 alt=Image hosting by Photobucket.com /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/dragonspearls_1.jpg border=0 alt=Image hosting by Photobucket /><img src=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/FFF/completedbanner.gif alt= /> <br /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/untitled.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting /> <img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/200_artistrichardneuman-art-prints_.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/pacbanner.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /><img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/projects/200_PACpic.jpg border=0 alt=Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/TasteofYellow.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Octoberevent.jpg alt= /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1535/cheesesticker.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/personal/FRENCH-foodfun.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/EditBeforeandAfterSTICKER.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e347/Saturn6666/Banners/Photo_Video_577111733_orig.jpg alt= /><img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/Spelling-Bee-stick2jpg.jpg alt= /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/holidaylightssticker.jpg alt= /><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/derf16/food%20photography%20series/Comfortstickercopysmall.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Other/photo-swap-7sticky.jpg alt= /><img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/derf16/food%20photography%20series/MuffinLovesticker.jpg alt= /><img src=http://www.recipezaar.com/members/home/1956/L%5B1%5D.F-stickJPEG.jpg alt= /><img src=http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-11/484938/MayFlowerssticker.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/TasteofYellowSTICKER.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/BBQlSTKR.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/CobblerPieTartSTICKER.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/CROCKPOTSTKR.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/FISHSEAFDSTICKER.jpg alt= /> <br /><br /><img src=http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j166/ZaarNicksMom/CookingSchoolHost1.jpg border=0 alt=Photobucket /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Other/BeyondburgersST.jpg alt= /><img src=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/carolinamoon21/Ingredients/Other/Elves-appreciationSTICKER.jpg alt= /></p>
 
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