Halloween Hash

This ground beef skillet hash is the kind of no-fuss dinner that’s built for busy Halloween nights. Brown the meat with onion, stir in stewed tomatoes and corn, simmer it all together, and finish with cubes of cheddar that melt into gooey pockets throughout the hash.

The 30-minute simmer does the real work. The tomatoes break down and mingle with the beef juices to create a thick, saucy base while the corn kernels warm through and add a pop of sweetness. Draining the grease after browning keeps things from getting greasy once the cheese goes in.

Scoop it up with nacho chips straight from the skillet for a casual, hands-on meal that kids love. The orange tomato-cheese color and the nacho chip dippers make this a natural fit for Halloween dinner before trick-or-treating.

Kitchen Tips

• Break the ground beef into small crumbles while browning so every scoop gets meat in it
• Drain the grease thoroughly before adding the tomatoes. Excess fat will make the finished dish greasy and the cheese won’t melt as smoothly
• Cube the cheddar instead of shredding it. The cubes create pockets of melted cheese rather than disappearing into the sauce
• Keep the heat low after adding the cheese and cover just until melted, about 1 to 2 minutes

Variations

• Add a can of black beans and a teaspoon of cumin for a Tex-Mex twist
• Stir in diced green chiles or a splash of hot sauce for more heat
• Serve over rice or baked potatoes instead of with chips for a heartier sit-down dinner