Vegetable Beef Casserole

In the craziness around here while working on our house addition, I've been looking for simple one pot meals or casseroles. I love having everything all in one dish to make serving and cleaning up easier.
But some casseroles are anything but simple. By the time you fry the meat, cook the pasta and maybe the vegetables, I already have several pans dirty. So much for time saving!

But this casserole is truly a one pot, no mess meal. It is full of great vegetables. Best of all, my family loves it! The only thing that is dirty in preparation is a knife and cutting board. It is easy to increase the amount of veggies or meat if feeding a crowd.

Vegetable Beef Casserole

3 sliced potatoes
3 sliced carrots
3 sliced celery ribs
2 cup fresh or frozen green beans
1 onion, diced
1 lb ground beef, raw
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 chopped tomatoes OR a pint pizza sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese

Layer vegetables, meat and seasonings. Top with tomatoes or sauce. Cover and bake at 375 for about 1 1/2 hours or until tender. Uncover and sprinkle with cheese. Melt and serve.

I have found this a good recipe for Sunday. I can cut up my veggies the night before, cover with water and assemble in the morning. I put it in the oven on time bake and it smells wonderful when we get back from church.

I'd love to find some more simple meals like this for Sundays. Any ideas?