BACHELOR STEW ONE POT PASTA DISH!! PANTRY COOKING RECIPE!!

Today I am sharing a pantry recipe that has been in my family since I was a kid. My stepdad brought this now family favorite to us and he called it "bachelor stew". It is a dish he would make when he was single. He made it once a week in a big batch and ate off of it all week long. We loved it as kids and I still love it now and so do my kids. Its full of good, simple ingredients that you may already have on your pantry shelf and in your freezer. Quick to throw together and so satisfying and delicious! Comfort food at its best!

This is really a simple, one pot pasta dish that relies on many pantry staples. It starts with some ground meat. I am using ground beef but you can use chicken, turkey or pork if you like. I am adding some chopped onion and garlic and do enjoy using some bell pepper but Micah is not a fan so I left it out this time. I browned the ground beef as you would for any dish of this type or even tacos. Just be sure to get some "brown" on there and not just cook it. I always say you want the pan to sizzle, not simmer, be sure all the water has cooked away before adding the vegetables.

I just add the onions and garlic along with some salt and seasonings of your choice. I used a good palm full of Italian seasoning here. If you like, put a Neopolitan twist on this by adding some black olives, capers and roasted red peppers if you keep those on your pantry shelf, chop those and toss them in with some canned mushrooms with their liquid.

Next you will want to add one pound of short cut pasta, such as rigatoni, rotini, penne or ziti. Radiatore, Orecchiette and Cavatappi will work here as well. Just not long pasta like spaghetti or angel hair. You really want a good hearty pasta to hold up to the cooking and the sauce.

Now you can add one large jar (45 ounces) or two smaller jars of your favorite pasta sauce. Our favorite has always been Ragu, super chunky mushroom, but you should use what your favorite is or whatever you have on hand. If you don't have a jar of pasta sauce, use some canned tomatoes and a can of tomato paste and season that up to your preference. Now add in a bit of water. I added 1 cup and give everything a good stir. Bring to a simmer and reduce to medium heat and put a lid on it. Allow to simmer gently for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is just perfect. I like mine al dente, but if you like yours a bit more done, then cook it longer.

Now you are ready to serve up a delicious, one pot pasta dinner! Top off with some parmesan cheese and you are good to go! Serve with some garlic bread and a nice salad or steamed green beans or whatever veggie you have for a complete meal. In the alternative, you can choose to add whatever vegetables you like right to the pot. Some diced zucchini or shredded carrots would be nice here and if you saute them with the meat before adding the sauce, your kids won't even realize they are in there. Points for mom!

This makes a lot. Enough to feed my family of four adults for two full dinners and a couple lunches. You can keep the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Or you can freeze them for up to three months. I recommend turning the leftover bachelor stew into a pasta bake! layer into a casserole. Add some ricotta and mozzarella cheese and freeze until ready to use. Then bake until browned and bubbly! Two dinners at one time! What could be better than one to eat and one to freezer bank?

I hope this gives you another idea of what you can make with items off your pantry shelf! I hope that you are inspired to go pantry diving and make something delicious with what you have on hand! I hope you will give my family favorite, bachelor stew a try, sometime soon and I hope you love it!

Happy eating!

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