As food prices continue to soar, I am more convinced now than ever that given the right recipes, we can cook a wonderful meal from scratch at home and have it on the table in the time it would take to decide on a restaurant or take-out, drive there, place the order, wait for it, pay for it and drive back home. The operative words here are “the right recipes.”

Today, I want to share with you my family’s favorite “right recipes,” each one built on one pound of ground beef (or ground turkey) using very few, if any, processed ingredients—plus my recipe for Master Mix! That will make sense as soon as you check out the first recipe below, Upside-Down Hamburger Pie.

If you can get the meat on sale, fabulous. But if not—and even if you opt for a $6 pound of lean organic ground beef—each of these entrees will still come in at less than $10 total, and feed six hungry people. That’s less than $1.75 per serving.

See what I mean? Cheap, fast … good!

Upside-Down Hamburger Pie

This is a family favorite at our house. It’s delicious, it’s comforting, but even more than that, kids love it! I’ve been making this since our boys were little, and that’s a lotta’ years. It never disappoints and comes out perfect every time. Don’t you love that kind of cooking confidence?

Served with a salad, Upside-Down Hamburger Pie makes a great meal. I hope you’ll give it a try soon. I’m going to predict it will find a regular spot in your meal planning.

Master Mix

Here it is, my homemade version of Bisquick—which is so much cheaper and better than Bisquick. This recipe makes 30 cups of mix so make sure you start with a really big container!

Homemade Bisquick biscuits with freezer jam

Master Mix

Name: Upside-Down Hamburger Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 large onion (chopped); 1 pound ground beef; 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 4 oz. can diced green chilies; 1 10 ¾ oz. can tomato soup; ½ teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 cup grated cheddar cheese; 2 cups Bisquick or Master Mix ((see NOTE 1)); 2/3 cup milk (or water if using Master Mix (see NOTE 2))

Here it is, my homemade version of Bisquick—which is so much cheaper and better than Bisquick. This recipe makes 30 cups of mix so make sure you start with a really big container.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Baking

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute

0 minutes

Servings: 2 biscuits

Calories: 79kcal

Equipment

Very large bowl or container with lid

Ingredients

▢ 5 pounds all-purpose flour, about 17 cups
▢ 2 1/2 cups powdered dry milk
▢ 3/4 cup double-acting baking powder
▢ 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
▢ 3 tablespoons salt
▢ 1/2 cup sugar
▢ 4 2/3 cups solid vegetable shortening like Crisco

Instructions

Sift dry ingredients together.
Cut in shortening until the mix looks like cornmeal, using a pastry blender or two butter knives.
Store at room temperature in a large container that has a tightly fitting cover (like Tupperware) in a cool dark place like the pantry, for up to six months. Makes 30 cups.

Notes

You can substitute Master Mix for any recipe calling for Bisquick. Just make sure you substitute water for any milk required in the recipe (because the milk is already in the Master Mix!)

One dozen biscuits

3 cups Master Mix
3/4 cup water

Blend and knead a few strokes. Roll out and cut biscuits with a round biscuit cutter, into squares or diamond shapes. Bake 10 minutes at 450 F.

Dumplings

Use the same measurements as for biscuits. Drop into hot liquid of choice. Cook 10 minutes uncovered and an additional 10 minutes covered.

One dozen muffins

3 cups Master Mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup of water

Mix water and egg; add dry ingredients. Add optional items such as blueberries, chocolate chips, nuts, and so forth, as desired. Bake in muffin cups for 25 minutes at 450 F.

Four dozen drop cookies

3 cups Master Mix
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup nuts or chocolate chips

Place Master Mix, sugar, egg, water, and extract in a large mixing bowl. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. Fold in nuts and or chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls on a prepared greased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 F.

9-inch round coffee cake

3 cups Master Mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup water

Blend all ingredients and pour into a greased 9-inch cake pan. Cover with topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons butter, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Optional: Add 1/2 C nuts or raisins to the topping mix. Bake at 400 F for 25 minutes.

18 medium pancakes or 6 waffles

3 cups Master Mix
1 1/2 cups water
1 egg

Blend only until barely incorporated. Prepare pancakes or waffles as usual.

One 8-inch square gingerbread

2 cups Master Mix
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Beat the egg together with the water and molasses. Mix well with dry ingredients until all are incorporated. Pour into a greased 8-inch square cake pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350 F.

One 8-inch square cornbread or muffins

1 1/4 cups Master Mix
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 egg
1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients until fully incorporated. Pour into greased pan or muffin cups. Bake 25 minutes at 400 F.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayCheapskate or tag #EverydayCheapskate!

Asian Beef and Rice

Fast, inexpensive, and super delicious, here’s one more way to use a pound of ground beef to make a great meal.

Beef Lettuce Wraps

You might think of lettuce wraps as an appetizer in your favorite restaurant—possibly one of your best memories at this very moment! Good news! You can make this at home with healthy ingredients and feed the whole family for less than that one restaurant appetizer.

More from Mary's Everyday Cheapskate

We want to hear from you and encourage a lively discussion among our EC users. Keep your comments positive, encouraging, supportive, and on-topic. Please no lectures or personal promotions.

Carol Hallinan says:

May 7, 2020 at 5:35 am

Could I use coconut oil instead of shortening?

Estelle Stone says:

April 13, 2020 at 8:08 pm

Can you substitute regular flour for Gluten Free flour in the Master Mix?

Teresa says:

April 11, 2020 at 11:44 am

Can margarine be used for the Master Mix? I’m not keen on using shortening anymore.

Lorrie says:
April 11, 2020 at 5:30 pm

I’m not keen on shortening either as it’s all soybean oil. Butter could be used or a good brand of lard. But it would need to be refrigerated or frozen to not get rank.

Lydia Warden says:

April 11, 2020 at 11:43 am

For fun with your kids you could use cookie cutter shapes for cutting out the biscuits.

Upside-Down Hamburger Pie