Easy Back to School Recipes - The Impossible Pie!
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s when the casserole was king. Some recipes were certainly better than others, but the casserole almost always provided a great comfort meal. I remember coming in from playing outside and the house would be filled with an incredible aroma of the casserole bubbling away in the oven. In anticipation of dinner, the smells coming out of the kitchen made us even more hungry.
I was recently looking for inspiration for modern versions of these classic recipes, lightened up with fresh flavors. I wanted something that had that warm hug comfort feeling, would be simple to pop in the oven, and be an easy option for back-to-school dinners. This is when I came across the impossible pie idea.
I had not used Bisquick for years and was immediately intrigued by the possibilities. The impossible pie premise starts with a flavored meat bottom, topped with cheese, then with a Bisquick batter poured over the top. The batter seals in the flavor and moisture and forms a deliciously irresistible crust on top after baking. The flavor possibilities are endless with Halladay’s Harvest Barn Seasonings. Food is love, and these recipes are very family friendly, and best of all…come together very quickly.
BASIC BISQUICK CRUST TOPPING
½ cup Bisquick
1 cup milk
3 eggs
Beat all ingredients together.
For a more biscuit like topping, add an additional ¼ cup of the Bisquick mix. The Harvest Barn staff and front-line taste testers preferred and loved the basic version, without the added Bisquick.
While the traditional recipes call for a 9” pie pan, we found that we needed a 10” pie plate or deeper casserole dish to avoid the topping from running over the sides. Baking times varied from 30 to 35 minutes at 400°F.
OLD FASHIONED CHEESEBURGER PIE
1 lb lean ground beef
1 small white onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
2 Tbsp Halladay Harvest Barn Seasoning of choice; we recommend Maple Bacon or Five Onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 10” pie dish; set aside. Prepare Basic Bisquick Crust Topping recipe from above; set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, chopped onion, and Halladay’s Seasoning of choice. Brown the meat, cooking until no longer pink; drain off any fat.
Spread the cooked beef mixture over the bottom of the casserole dish, top with shredded cheddar cheese, then pour the Bisquick batter mixture evenly over the top.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the middle of the pie is set and the top is golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the
BUFFALO CHICKEN IMPOSSIBLE PIE
½ cup blue cheese dressing
2 Tbsp Halladay’s Harvest Barn Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Seasoning
4 oz cream cheese (can substitute with ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream)
1 lb cooked ground turkey (or 1 ½ cups cooked chicken, shredded)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped celery
Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 10” pie dish; set aside. Prepare Basic Bisquick Crust Topping recipe from above; set aside.
Combine blue cheese dressing, Halladay’s Seasoning, and cream cheese. Spread mixture evenly over the bottom of prepared pie dish. Add cooked turkey or chicken for the next layer. Sprinkle meat with cheddar cheese and chopped celery. Pour prepared Bisquick batter over the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until top is golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
MEXICAN IMPOSSIBLE PIE
1 lb ground turkey or beef
1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 Tbsp Halladay’s Harvest Barn Zesty Fiesta Seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
4 oz cream cheese (can substitute with ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream)
½ cup black beans or corn
½ cup salsa
Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 10” pie dish; set aside. Prepare Basic Bisquick Crust Topping recipe from above; set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey or beef, chopped onions, and Halladay’s seasoning. Cook until browned and no longer pink; drain the fat. Fold in cream cheese, black beans or corn, and salsa. Spread mixture evenly over the bottom of prepared pie dish. Top with shredded cheese. Pour prepared Bisquick batter over the top.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until top is golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
If you try any of these recipes, we want to see your pictures! Post to Instagram or Facebook and tag us @halladaysharvestbarn and use the hashtag #halladaysathome so we can see them.
Enjoy!
-Kathleen Govotski, Owner Halladay’s Harvest Barn