Beef may be purchased in a can from the store, or home canned for pantry storage. Either way, the beef can be used to make a variety of meals that are hearty and healthy in nature. Keep in mind that using organic canned beef will provide you with the most nutritious meal options.

To make meal preparation easy when canning your own beef, precook the meat before processing. By doing this, you will be able to throw together quick meals when necessary.

Use canned beef when making casseroles. Pour the can of beef into the bottom of a baking dish, and a little water or broth only if there is not enough liquid from the canned beef to cover the bottom of the pan. Add a layer of canned vegetables, such as corn or peas, to cover the beef. Spread mashed potatoes, or precooked rice or pasta, over the top of the vegetable layer. Top this with shredded cheese and warm in the oven until heated through.

Make a stew by first cooking vegetables in water or broth, or a combination of the two. Try potatoes, squash and turnip, or another combination of root vegetables. Add a can of beef once the vegetables are nearly cooked through, and then add pasta and seasoning 5 to 10 minutes before you are ready to serve, depending on the thickness of the pasta and the cooking time required for it. Serve this with bread to sop up the juices with, or with soda or oyster crackers. A salad would be a good side dish, as well.

Dice up some potatoes and place them into a warmed skillet that has olive oil added. Cook these on medium heat until they are nearly cooked through, then add a can of beef. Season with parsley and garlic and heat well, add a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. Serve this meal at breakfast with eggs, toast and butter.

Place enough beef into a slow cooker to fill the crock pot half way, and cover the canned beef with barbecue sauce. Add enough water to bring the liquid level 1/3 of the way up the crock pot. Cover and cook on high for eight hours. Uncover and mix the meat, while shredding it into strips. Toast slices of bread or rolls, and place two on each plate. Spoon the barbecue beef over these, and add extra barbecue sauce, if desired. This meal can be served with a fruit or vegetable based salad.