Editor's note: This is the first of a series of monthly columns by chef and cookbook author Jennifer Chandler, designed to help busy families put economical and great-tasting meals on the table.

By Jennifer Chandler

One day, a good friend told me about a dish her family loved. I laughed out loud when I heard the title.

A store-bought crust helps save time when preparing Cheeseburger Pie. A cottage cheese mixture adds moisture and flavor to the dish.

Cheeseburger Pie.

Meat pies are popular throughout the world, and everyone loves a burger, so I gave it a try. And just as she said it would be, this dish was a big hit for my whole family.

In fact, when I was writing my cookbook "Simply Suppers," my girls insisted that I include it in the book. It is one of their favorite dishes. It's a cinch to make and fun to eat -- a winning combination that makes this recipe a favorite of a busy mom like me, too.

You can make your own crust, but to save time on a busy weeknight, I use a store-bought crust. Don't be tempted to leave off the cottage cheese mixture. This unexpected ingredient provides both moisture and flavor to this dish.

Enjoy!

Jennifer Chandler is the author of "Simply Salads" (Thomas Nelson, $24.99) and "Simply Suppers: Easy Comfort Food Your Whole Family Will Love" (Thomas Nelson, $24.99). She is the national spokeswoman for French's Mustard and French's French Fried Onions. She lives in East Memphis with her husband and two daughters.

Cheeseburger Pie

1 unbaked pie crust (9-inch), homemade or store-bought

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion (1 small onion)

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 large eggs

1 cup small-curd cottage cheese

2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 395 degrees.

Place the pie crust in a deep-dish pie pan. Flute the edges, if desired. Place the prepared pie crust in the refrigerator until ready to fill.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil until a few droplets of water sizzle when carefully sprinkled in the skillet. Add the meat and onion and cook, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked meat to a colander and drain off the excess fat. Transfer the drained meat to a large bowl and stir in the flour and Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pie crust.

In a small bowl stir together the eggs and cottage cheese. Spoon the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the beef. Arrange tomato slices on top of the cottage cheese and sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the top.

Bake until set and the cheese has melted, about 30 minutes.

Serves 6.

Cooking Tip: Feel free to serve with your favorite burger condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, even pickles.

From "Simply Suppers" by Jennifer Chandler