Mexican Meatloaf

I love meatloaf, and I’m not afraid to make it a little different than what one might consider a traditional meatloaf (though I love that too. Gimme plenty of potatoes and carrots too!). This Mexican meatloaf takes meatloaf to a new spicy, flavor-packed place. There’s absolutely nothing boring about it, that’s for sure, from the tender moist meat mixture, packed with vegetables, to the spicy smoky tomato salsa topping. Is it just as great the next day? Oh, it’s even better!

Mexican Meatloaf

I have a little rule about my meatloaf. I like to keep my vegetables cut a big bigger than most. They don’t need to be cooked until mushy. They need to be a little crunchy, but not a lot crunchy. I don’t want to the vegetables to get lost in the this fantastic Mexican meatloaf meatiness.

I love chipotles in adobo sauce. They aren’t too particularly hot, but the smokiness adds a great flavor to just about any dish.

Also try my delicious barbecue meatloaf.

Mexican Meatloaf
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4 from 1 vote

Mexican Meatloaf

This Mexican meatloaf takes meatloaf to a new spicy, flavor-packed place. There’s absolutely nothing boring about it, that’s for sure, from the tender moist meat mixture, packed with vegetables, to the spicy smoky tomato salsa topping. Is it just as great the next day? Oh, it’s even better!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword meatloaf, Mexican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 680kcal

Ingredients

For the meatloaf

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo removed from casing, crumbled
  • 2 poblano chiles roasted, peeled, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 eggs beaten
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup bread crumbs

For the salsa

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook until just starting to soften, 8-10 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook another 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Add the ground beef, chorizo and the roasted poblano.
  • In a separate bowl combine the salt, pepper, cayenne, ketchup, and sour cream.
  • Add mix to the meat mixture. Add bread crumbs and mix everything together. Thoroughly. Using your hands. Don’t be shy.
  • Spray x 9″ x 13″ pan with non-stick spray.
  • Add meat and form into a loaf.
  • Place into the oven and bake until the meat reaches 165 F, 60-90 minuets.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve topped with the salsa from below.

For the salsa

  • Add the canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, and serrano peppers to a blender and pulse until chunky.
  • Transfer to a skillet over medium heat and add the brown sugar, chipotle peppers and adobo sauce and mustard.
  • Simmer until thick then season with salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 205mg | Sodium: 1196mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 3558IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Potatoes

Boy, crispy bacon… spicy Mexican chorizo sausage… cheese… I could actually just have these bacon-wrapped Mexican potatoes for dinner. By themselves. Nothing else. Just give me a platter of them and check on me in 15 minutes to see if I need more. Well, not ‘if’. Go ahead and bring me some more. They’re like grilled potato skins taken to a whole new level. There is so much flavor packed into every bite. What a happy day it was when I first made them!

Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Potatoes

I love the spicy kick from chorizo in these bacon-wrapped Mexican potatoes. But, if you don’t, you can easily change these potatoes up to be a little more mellow by making them Italian-style. Substitute crumbled cooked mild Italian sausage for the chorizo, mozzarella for the queso fresco, and sour cream for the crema. Excellent! You’ll want to make a big batch and serve them as appetizers at your next party!

I recommend that you use a grill basket when making this dish. It makes cooking easier and you don’t have to worry about anything falling through the grates. And cleanup is easier too!

Also try my grilled volcano potatoes.

This recipe was inspired by a recipe from Aida Mollenkamp.

Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Potatoes
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4 from 1 vote

Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Potatoes

Boy, crispy bacon… spicy Mexican chorizo sausage… cheese… I could actually just have these bacon-wrapped Mexican potatoes for dinner. By themselves. Nothing else.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword grilled, potatoes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 20 potatoes
Calories 214kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Brush potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast until tender, 20-30 minutes. Remove and let cool.
  • Fire up your grill for indirect cooking (you can also make these in the oven, so keep your oven going if you’re going to cook these indoors).
  • Meanwhile, crumble the chorizo into a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until browned. Remove from heat. Note: You want to get the chorizo fairly well crumbled. If you are having trouble doing so, just let the cooked chorizo cool a bit then pulss a few times in a food processor.
  • Cut just enough of the bottom of each potato so that they can stand up straight. Then cut just enough off the top so you can scoop them out. Take a small mellon baller or spoon and spoon out the insides.
  • In a bowl combine the chorizo and cheese and spoon into each potato.
  • Wrap a halved piece of bacon around each potato and secure with a toothpick.
  • Place on the grill over indirect heat and cook until the bacon starts to crisp, about 20 minutes, or bake in the oven at 425 F.
  • Serve topped with a small dollop of Mexican crema or cream cheese and garnish with green onions or cilantro.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 799mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 101IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Very few things are as addicting as chorizo-stuffed Fritos made on the Char-Broil Big Easy. These little bite-sized snacks disappear in no time. As an added bonus, they are incredibly easy to make. You can fit a whole bunch of stuffed Fritos on the Big Easy, making it perfect for cooking for a crowd, if you have the available cooking rack.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Just about anything you put in the Fritos is going to taste great. I used Mexican chorizo because I love the spiciness that is brings to dishes, but ground breakfast sausage would also be fantastic.

Be careful when pulling these chorizo-stuffed Fritos off your Big Easy. In no time the chips get mighty hot, so use tongs or let them cool a bit first before handling and eating. You can also make these great Fritos on your grill.

Love your Big Easy as much I love mine? Check out my Big Easy Add-Ons page and my free Big Easy eCookbook!

Note: This recipe was developed using the Char-Broil Big Easy Oil-Less Fryer. If you are cooking using the Char-Broil Smoker-Roaster Grill you should cook with the lid open and the temperature set to High. You might also need to adjust the cooking time.

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy
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4 from 1 vote

Chorizo-Stuffed Fritos on the Char-Broil Big Easy

Very few things are as addicting as chorizo-stuffed Fritos. These little bite-sized snacks disappear in no time. As an added bonus, they are incredibly easy to make.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword Big Easy, Char-Broil, corn chips, sausage, stuffed
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 271kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 bags Fritos Scoops grab 2 bags in case it’s hard to find the perfectly-shaped chips
  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo cooked, finely crumbled (Note: If you cannot crumble the sausage well enough, toss the slightly-cooled cooked chorizo into a food processor and pulse a few times)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese extra sharp cheddar or pepperjack work great!
  • 1 cup Ranch salad dressing
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce or more, to taste, chopped, along with some of the adobo sauce
  • 4 green onions sliced thin, for garnish

Instructions

  • Fire up your Big Easy.
  • Open the bag of chips and place in a large bowl. Go through them and grab the biggest, best scooping chips you can find.
  • Combine the crumbled chorizo and cheese. Press lightly into the chips and transfer to the cooking rack.
  • Lower rack into the Big Easy and cook until the cheese is melted on all levels, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove the rack and let cool slightly.
  • While the chips are cooling whisk together the dressing and chipotle with adobo.
  • Serve chips drizzled with the sauce and garnished with green onions.

Notes

You’ll need the 6-level cooking rack from Char-Broil to heat up a bunch of these treats at once.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 639mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 501IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Grilled Pork Chorizo Potato Skins

I’m a big fan of bar-style potato skins. You know the ones. Crispy skin, cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, green onions, and sour cream. But sometimes I want something just a bit different. Something with some kick to it, like these grilled pork chorizo potato skins. True, you can put Mexican chorizo (not to be confused with Spanish chorizo, which is a cured sausage, Mexican chorizo is a spicy ground pork product) on or in just about anything and I’m going to love it.

Grilled Pork Chorizo Potato Skins

Potato skins only take a few minutes to make, so I often toss them on the grill while I’m making burgers or hot dogs for a quick and easy appetizer or side dish. I also keep a bottle of hot sauce nearby in case I want them to be just a bit spicier. Why not? Spicy grilled pork chorizo potato skins are great too!

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the good stuff.

Also try my grill-roasted herb potatoes.

Grilled Pork Chorizo Potato Skins
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Grilled Pork Chorizo Potato Skins

Potato skins only take a few minutes to make, so I often toss them on the grill while I’m making burgers or hot dogs for a quick and easy appetizer or side dish. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword potato skins, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 251kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 large Russet potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 cup pork chorizo mix or use crumbled cooked Mexican chorizo
  • 1 cup Queso blanco shredded
  • cilantro chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  • Cut each potato lengthwise into four wedges. Don’t make the wedges too thick. If you are using very large potatoes you might have a center portion leftover for other uses.
  • Using a spoon or melon baller, scrape out the potato insides, leaving 1/4″ or so left.
  • Place on a microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 6-10 minutes or until tender.
  • Fire up your grill for direct and indirect cooking.
  • Combine the butter and chipotle powder and brush on all sides of the potatoes.
  • Grill the potatoes, cut side down, over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until they start to char.
  • Turn potatoes over and top with cheese. Grill another 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
  • Serve topped with the bacon, green onions, and sour cream as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 812mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 321IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cedar-Planked Chorizo Portobellos

I’m finding that stuffed mushrooms are becoming more and more a regular part of my grill outs. They’re incredibly easy to make, and you can stuff them with just about anything, from in-season fresh vegetables to pork chorizo. You can cook these cedar-planked chorizo portobellos directly on the grill. The filling has a great spiciness to it, reminiscent of a southwestern Sloppy Joe with a creamy cheese topping and a little hint of cilantro.

Cedar Planked Chorizo Portobellos

I used large mushrooms when I made these cedar-planked chorizo portobellos. Our local grocery store sells them in 2- and 4-packs as ‘grill caps’. They’re the perfect size for 2 or 4 people each, depending on what you use for stuffing. People often buy them and use them as meat substitutes in burgers.

I don’t like to over-char my cedar planks, which increases the aroma and flavor of the cedar. I like just a hint of cedar. Just something different.

Cooking on cedar planks can really change the ordinary into something special, which is why I do it often. Check out my other cedar plank recipes: creamy mashed potatoes, Cajun mashed potatoes, Twinkies, beef sliders, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, shrimp and grits and spicy grilled shrimp.

Cedar Planked Chorizo Portobellos
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Cedar Planked Chorizo Portobellos

You can cook these cedar-planked chorizo portobellos directly on the grill. The filling has a great spiciness to it, reminiscent of a southwestern Sloppy Joe with a creamy cheese topping and a little hint of cilantro.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cedar plank, mushroom
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 113kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 portobello mushrooms gills gently scooped out with a spoon
  • Olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons pork chorizo stuffing or more, or substitute cooked crumbled chorizo
  • 4 tablespoons queso quesadilla cheese shredded
  • cilantro chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  • Soak the cedar plank in water for 30 minutes.
  • Fire up your grill for direct and indirect cooking.
  • Meanwhile, lightly brush the mushrooms on both sides with oil.
  • Place on grill, gill-side up, over direct heat for 3 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly while the plank continues to soak.
  • Transfer portobellos to the plank.
  • Spoon pork chorizo stuffing into mushroom tops.
  • Place on grill over indirect heat and cook for 15 minutes. Check often to make sure the plank doesn’t catch fire. If it does, just blow on it or spritz it with a little water to extinguish.
  • Add the cheese and cook another 5 minutes or until melted.
  • Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Pork Chorizo Stuffing

This is my go-to stuffing for a whole lot of dishes. I use pork chorizo stuffing in baked potatoes, on grilled potato skins, in stuffed mushrooms, dips, omelets, you name it. It’s very versatile and very tasty. It has just enough spicy kick to it but not so much as to overwhelm no matter how I use it.

Here are my tasty mushroom caps with pork chorizo stuffing. Grilled on a cedar plank for even more outstanding flavor.

Pork Chorizo Stuffing

This recipe makes a big batch of stuffing. I divide it into smaller portions and freeze it so I always have some on hand.

I make this stuffing in a cast iron skillet.

Cedar Planked Chorizo Portobellos
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5 from 1 vote

Pork Chorizo Stuffing

This recipe makes a big batch of stuffing.
Course Main or Side
Cuisine American
Keyword pork, stuffing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 3 pounds
Calories 1296kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
  • Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook another minute.
  • Add the crumbled pork, chorizo, cumin and paprika and cook until the meats are done.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 1296kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 102g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 312mg | Sodium: 1259mg | Potassium: 1089mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1689IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

If you want to see something disappear off the plate in mere seconds, make these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders. They are tender, juicy, spicy. And even though you could also make these into full-sized burger versions, they’re great as sliders. Make a slider party platter, half chicken sliders and half beef! The Mexican chorizo does add just a bit of a kick, a bit of spiciness. But I think you’ll be ok serving them to even the most spice-sensitive guests. If you’re worried about the the heat, substitute ground Italian sausage instead.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

You could make the patties ahead of time and assemble these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders just in time to serve for a party. I topped these little yummy bites with our slow-cooker caramelized onions. I can make a big batch of caramelized onions in no time with almost no effort. Just keep them warm until time to assemble the sliders. You can serve them cold, and they’re still good, but they’re definitely better warmer.

I use this nifty little ole burger press to make these burgers. It’s the best thing ever for stuffing burgers with just about anything you can think of!

This recipe is based on a recipe from Sunny Anderson.

Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders
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Chicken Chorizo Patty Melt Sliders

If you want to see something disappear off the plate in mere seconds, make these chicken chorizo patty melt sliders.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, sliders, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 223kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, chorizo, garlic, oregano and salt. Form into 2-3 ounce patties.
  • Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Cook the patties about 3 minutes per side until lightly charred and cooked through.
  • Form sandwiches by placing cheese on bun bottoms, followed by the patties and onions.
  • Serve with a little ketchup on the side for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

These chorizo fried potatoes are so good you almost don’t need anything else with them. I had a batch with breakfast, but you can also use them in tacos or tortillas – just add a little shredded cheese!

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

I love Mexican chorizo. Quite often I mix it half-and-half with ground beef for a more kicked-up dish than using just plain ole beef. It certainly makes for great chorizo fried potatoes.

When I first started cooking I kept running into recipes that called for chorizo, but they didn’t say which kind. Now it’s obvious to me, but there’s a mighty big difference between Mexican chorizo (a spicy ground meat mixture) and Spanish chorizo (a dried, salami-like spicy meat). I love them both, though.

Also try my andouille Cajun potatoes.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Chef Valladolid.

Chorizo Fried Potatoes
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5 from 1 vote

Chorizo Fried Potatoes

Great as a side or on tacos or tortillas.
Course Side
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword potatoes, spicy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 287kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Mexican chorizo
  • 1 small white onion diced
  • 1 pound red potatoes cut into 1/4″ dice

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil until starting to get tender. Remove and drain.
  • Crumble the chorizo into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until browned.
  • Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the chorizo drippings. Add in the onion and potatoes and cook until the onions are tender and the potatoes are starting to brown (I like mine with crispy edges).
  • Add the chorizo back to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 411IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chorizo Sloppy Joes

Wow, these chorizo Sloppy Joes are good. I really liked them, but then, I was already a huge fan of Mexican chorizo. I used extra hot chorizo to really crank these up another notch. Use regular chorizo if you’re not into heat. It’s the wonderful flavor of the sausage that makes these special. The heat is an extra bonus.

Chorizo Sloppy Joes

These chorizo Sloppy Joes are a great twist on the classic Sloppy Joes I grew up on. I’ll never go back to those after having these, that’s for sure!

I love chorizo in darned near everything. If you feel the same way, you’ll also want to make my chorizo fried potatoes.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Our Krazzy Kitchen.

Chorizo Sloppy Joes
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4 from 1 vote

Chorizo Joes

Wow, these chorizo Sloppy Joes are good. I really liked them, but then, I was already a huge fan of Mexican chorizo. I used extra hot chorizo to really crank these up another notch.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Mexican, sandwich, sloppy Joes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 478kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound Mexican Chorizo sausage
  • 1 small white onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 8 hamburger buns

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill (or oven broiler) and roast the peppers (both the poblano and the red bell) until charred. Let cool slightly then remove the charred skins. Remove the seeds and stems and chop.
  • Crumble the beef and chorizo into a large pot or Dutch oven and brown over medium high heat. Drain and remove the meat, reserving 1 tablespoon of the meat drippings in the pot.
  • Add in the onions and saute until starting to soften, about 4 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Return the meat to the pot along with the remaining ingredients except the buns. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve over lightly toasted hamburger buns. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 539mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1339IU | Vitamin C: 50mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.