Ground Beef Chili Bake

This is an old recipe that my mother made and her mother made it as well.  Like now, meat was expensive and they had to make satisfying meals with cheaper cuts of meat much of the time.  This meal is still one of our favorite recipes to make and serve for my family!

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
1 sweet bell pepper, diced
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
2 (4 oz.) cans green chilies
1 1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs
2 drops or more of hot pepper sauce (Optional)
green or red chili taco sauce (Optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large cast iron skillet, brown ground beef, sweet pepper, onion and garlic together. Break up the ground beef into little pieces and cook until it is no longer pink.  Drain off grease. Season hamburger with salt and pepper to taste

Spread one can of green chilies over the bottom of a 10 x 6-inch loaf pan.  Sprinkle half the cheese over the top of the green chilies. 

Add the ground beef mixture over the top of the cheese.  

Spread the remaining can of green chilies over the top of the meat. Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese over the top of the green chilies. 

In a bowl, combine milk, flour, salt, eggs and hot pepper sauce. Beat with a whisk until the batter is smooth. Pour over the chili cheese meat mixture. 

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted 1/2-inch deep in the center comes out clean.  The top should be lightly browned. 

Cool for 5 minutes before serving.  If you have some red or green chili taco sauce, serve it with that if desired.