Ground Meat and Bean Cassoulet

A simple and hardy one-dish meal that is also rather elegant. This is adapted from The One-Dish Cookbook by Robert Ackart (1973). It's a family favorite that we continue to make regularly.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 4  slices bacon, diced
• 2  lbs  ground meat (ground beef, ground turkey, etc)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans dark red kidney beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can  of white cannellini beans
• 1 (15 ounce) can  of del monte diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, oregano with liquid
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped parsley, fresh
• 1  teaspoon thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
• 1  bay leaf

Directions

1. In a casserole dish, fry bacon pieces on range top until crispy. Remove bacon.
2. Place ground meat into casserole dish and brown in bacon grease. When meat is brown, drain and discard bacon fat.
3. Drain and rinse beans in a colander.
4. Add beans to meat in casserole dish, with tomatoes, parsley, and spices. Gently stir to blend. Place bacon over top.
5. Bake in casserole dish, covered, for 60 minutes at 350°F
6. Serve with your favorite corn bread.