Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make a variety of delicious family-friendly meals. From tacos and nachos to casseroles and meatloaf, ground beef is an affordable and tasty option for weeknight dinners. With just a pound or two of ground beef, you can easily whip up a hearty and satisfying meal your family will love.
In this article, we’ll explore 25 mouthwatering recipes featuring ground beef. Whether you’re looking for new dinner ideas or want to use up the package of beef in your freezer, these recipes will inspire you to get cooking.
Quick and Easy Ground Beef Meals
If you’re short on time, these quick and effortless ground beef meals can be ready in 30 minutes or less.
Cheesy Skillet Lasagna
This lasagna baked in a skillet simplifies the classic casserole by building up layers of noodles beef, sauce and cheese right in one pan. With just 20 minutes of active cooking time, dinner will be on the table fast.
Loaded Nachos
Pile tortilla chips high with flavorful taco meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and all your favorite nacho toppings. This fun and customizable meal is ready in 25 minutes flat.
Sloppy Joes
These saucy, messy sandwiches are a crowd-pleasing family favorite. Simmer ground beef with onions, tomato sauce, and spices for a quick and comforting meal.
Beef and Potato Skillet
This one-pan meal combines ground beef, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers for a hearty and craveable dinner. It comes together with minimal effort in about 30 minutes.
Kid-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes
Picky eaters or kids who love classic favorites will devour these family-friendly ground beef meals.
Cheeseburger Pasta Bake
This cheesy casserole tastes just like a cheeseburger, but in pasta form! Kids will gobble up the familiar flavors of ground beef, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and melted Cheddar
Taco Casserole
All the flavors of Taco Tuesday baked into an easy one-dish meal. Kids will love customizing their servings with shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and more.
Homemade Mini Meatballs
Bite-sized meatballs are a fun finger food for kids. Mix beef with breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings and simmer in tomato sauce for an Italian-inspired dinner.
Beef and Mac Skillet
Transform boxed mac and cheese into a one-pan meal by browning ground beef and stirring it into the cheesy noodles. It’s ready in just 20 minutes!
Comforting Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
For chilly nights when you’re craving comfort food, try one of these hearty, beefy casserole recipes.
King Ranch Casserole
This Tex-Mex specialty layers tortillas, poblano peppers, cheese, and spiced ground beef for an ultra-comforting bite. The creamy sauce ties it all together.
Shepherd’s Pie
Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy get topped with creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes in this cozy, classic casserole. It’s pure comfort food bliss.
Lasagna Casserole
All the flavors of lasagna baked up in a 9×13″ pan for easy serving. Layers of noodles, meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella satisfy like a rich, decadent pasta should.
Tamale Pie
Cornbread topped tamales are a southwestern spin on shepherd’s pie. Spicy beef, cheese, beans, and veggies get a quick cornbread topping for a hearty all-in-one meal.
Savory Ground Beef Soups and Stews
When you’re craving something warm and soothing, whip up a pot of beefy soup or stew.
Beef and Barley Soup
Tender chunks of beef, carrots, celery, and barley simmer in a savory broth for a cozy, hearty soup. It’s effortless to make in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Mexican Beef Stew
Spicy ground beef mingles with hominy, beans, corn, and veggies in this flavor-packed stew. Top with avocado, cheese, and cilantro for a tasty taco-inspired soup.
Cheeseburger Soup
This creamy crowd-pleaser tastes just like a cheeseburger in soup form. Ground beef, veggies, and seasonings simmer in a cheesy, tomatoey broth for comfort in a bowl.
Chili
An all-beef chili made with tomatoes, beans, onions, garlic, and spices is the ultimate hearty and warming soup. Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, or crackers.
Internationally-Inspired Ground Beef Meals
Take your weeknight dinners around the world with these global ground beef dishes.
Greek Stuffed Peppers
Bell peppers get stuffed with an addictive mixture of spiced ground beef, rice, onions, and feta for a fresh and flavorful meal.
Swedish Meatballs
Simmer bite-sized meatballs in a creamy gravy for an easy 30-minute dinner. Serve over mashed potatoes or egg noodles just like they do in Sweden.
Bibimbap
This Korean rice bowl tops fluffy white rice with sautéed beef, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, and a fried egg. It’s topped with a sweet and spicy gochujang sauce.
Paprika Beef Goulash
In this Hungarian specialty, ground beef and onions are gently spiced with paprika and simmered with potatoes and carrots for a hearty, comforting meal.
Satisfying Sandwiches and Burgers
Fire up the grill or skillet to cook tasty beef burgers and sandwiches for a satisfying meal.
Bacon Cheeseburgers
The classic bacon cheeseburger never disappoints, especially when topped with all your favorite condiments and veggies. Grilled or pan-fried, they’re irresistible.
Sloppy Joes
Serve these saucy, messy sandwiches piled high on buns for an easy and filling dinner or game day food. They’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Meatball Subs
Simmer homemade meatballs in tomato sauce, then tuck them into a sub roll and smother with melted mozzarella for an amazing sandwich.
Beef Gyros
Thinly sliced beef gets stacked into warm pitas and topped with tzatziki, tomato, onion, and feta cheese for deliciously authentic Greek gyros.
Bonus: Ground Beef Snacks and Appetizers
When you’re craving a hearty appetizer or looking for a game day snack, ground beef is just the ticket.
Mini Cheddar Meatloaves
Individual mini meatloaves make an easy party food. Bake bite-sized loaves in a muffin tin for mess-free serving with your favorite condiments.
Nacho Beef Dip
A beefy, cheesy dip is an appetizer everyone will love. Cook ground beef with taco spices and layer with refried beans, salsa, and melted cheese for chips.
Beef Empanadas
These handheld Latin American pastries are stuffed with spiced ground beef, raisins, olives, and hard-boiled egg. Bake or fry for a savory homemade treat.
Meatball Sliders
Simmer cocktail-sized meatballs in sauce, then pile onto slider buns. Top with cheese and condiments for an easy party bite.
With just a package or two of ground beef, you can make endless quick, family-friendly meals. These 25 recipes offer a variety of flavors, cooking methods, and global cuisines to inspire your next ground beef dinner.
Ground Beef Pizza with Biscuit Dough Crust
This easy pizza with biscuit dough crust is a weeknight favorite in our family.
I love to pile it up with seasoned ground beef, pepperoni and mozzarella. It is so hearty and satisfying.
So, this old fashioned Salisbury steak recipe is making a serious comeback. Talk about comforting foods.
The little meatballs or mini patties are cooked in a rich onion gravy that is truly yummy. Put this budget-friendly dinner on your list ASAP. It’s delicious with creamy mashed potato.
This yummy Walking Taco Casserole recipe is a favorite with my family, and for good reason.
The layers in this ground beef casserole consist of spicy seasoned ground beef, Doritos or corn chips, sour cream, cheese, and refried beans. Everything gets baked together and turns out creamy and cheesy.
These crispy fried tacos are great for a weekend treat that tastes like a Mexican restaurant meal.
Packed with seasoned ground beef and melty cheese, they’re fried until crisp and golden brown.
Serve with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, jalapeño slices, and a bit of fresh cilantro for a tasty and satisfying dinner.
This Keema Naan recipe features soft, homemade naan bread stuffed with a savory spiced ground lamb or beef filling.
The naan is perfectly fluffy, while the filling is rich and flavorful, making it a truly irresistible dish.
Ground Beef Stir Fry
I love that you can make a ground beef stir fry and not just a regular steak stir-fry. This is such a fun way to use a pack of ground beef. Add whatever veggies you would normally add to a stir-fry, too.
This is one of those go-to recipes when you have a pack of ground beef in the freezer and lonely vegetables in the fridge that need to be moved on—you know, that one bell pepper.
Move over cheeseburger. Gimme this wildly-delicious Cheeseburger Casserole!
This quick, easy bake is perfect for busy families. It features tender macaroni and savory ground beef. The rich sauce, made with tomato paste, beef broth, and cream cheese, is topped with melted cheddar.
Baked until bubbly and golden, this casserole is a comforting, freezer-friendly meal everyone will love.
So, this might not be unusual to some, but for others, my juicy beef kafta is a brand new experience. Serve it with a crunchy salad, rice, and simple steamed vegetables like green beans or carrots. The kafta are tender and super delicious.
Easy & Healthy Ground Beef Rice Bowls
FAQ
What meals can be made with ground beef?
- Salisbury Ground Beef. …
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. …
- Ground Beef Hummus Bowls. …
- One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas. …
- One-Pot Taco Pasta. …
- Easy Beef Krapow. …
- Baked Ground Beef Tacos. …
- Easy Taco Casserole.
What can you make with a pound of ground beef?
- Hamburger and Macaroni.
- Easy Hamburger Soup.
- Stovetop Taco Soup.
- Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers.
- Easy Shepherd’s Pie.
- Chili Mac and Cheese.
- Salisbury Ground Beef.
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.
What can I make with ground beef besides burgers?
- 01 of 75. Poblano Smash Burgers. Credit: …
- 02 of 75. Million Dollar Baked Beans. …
- 03 of 75. Ground Beef And Potatoes. …
- 04 of 75. Hamburger Soup. …
- 05 of 75. Oklahoma Onion Burgers. …
- 06 of 75. Three-Bean Beef Chili. …
- 07 of 75. Sloppy Joes. …
- 08 of 75. Skillet Beef Enchiladas.
What is ground beef best for?
Ground beef is an excellent source of iron to help prevent anemia, rich in zinc for immunity, high in protein, and offered in leaner cuts, which are great choices for balancing red meat consumption with leaner choices.
How do you cook ground beef?
Add in the beef. Cook the ground beef, chopping as it cooks with a flat spatula to maintain ground beef texture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the beef has cooked through, then taste for salt and pepper, and stir in the paprika and cumin and mix well. Take off the heat and let cool.
How do you get good ground beef?
This will include the neck, back, short ribs, shoulders, and other chunks of meat. Using a mixture of sirloin and chuck roast is another way to get good ground beef when you don’t have access to the types of cuts we use in the processing shop. How Much Fat Should be Removed? With a beef carcass, we usually trim off a substantial amount of the fat.
How long does it take to make ground beef?
These 18 insanely delicious ground beef recipes can all be made in under one hour – and some much quicker than that. Perfect for busy nights, these quick and easy dishes will satisfy your cravings without a lot of time or effort! Photo Credit: midwest foodie blog. Burgers aren’t just for summertime anymore! No grill? No problem!