Grass-fed ground beef has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its superior nutritional profile and deep beefy flavor. As more people make the switch from conventional to grass-fed beef, it’s important to understand how to properly cook this leaner variety of ground beef.
Cooking grass-fed ground beef requires some different techniques compared to fattier conventional beef. With less marbling, grass-fed beef can dry out more easily if overcooked. The good news is that with a few simple tricks, you can enjoy tender, juicy, and flavorful grass-fed beef dishes.
Why Choose Grass-Fed Ground Beef?
There are several reasons why grass-fed ground beef is nutritionally superior:
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It has a higher amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids compared to grain-fed beef. Studies show grass-fed beef contains 2-4 times more omega-3s.
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Grass-fed beef is higher in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has been linked to cancer prevention and weight management. Grass-fed beef contains about twice the amount of CLA.
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It has higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene These antioxidants can help reduce inflammation
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Grass-fed cows are not given routine antibiotics, hormones or other drugs commonly used in conventional cattle farming. This makes grass-fed beef a cleaner choice.
Grass-fed beef also has a richer, beefier taste that many people find more appealing and satisfying. Once you master cooking this leaner variety of beef, you’ll discover a depth of flavor that’s hard to match!
Tips for Cooking Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Follow these tips to cook moist. flavorful grass-fed ground beef every time
1. Let It Come to Room Temperature
Take your grass-fed ground beef out of the fridge at least 15-20 minutes before cooking. Starting with colder beef makes it harder to achieve a nicely browned exterior before overcooking the interior. Letting it warm up leads to more even cooking.
2. Use Gentle Heat
Be careful not to crank up the heat too high when cooking grass-fed ground beef. The lean nature of the beef makes it more prone to drying out, even when making burgers or meatballs. Use medium or medium-low heat to gently cook the beef without toughening it.
3. Don’t Overwork the Meat
When shaping patties or meatballs, handle the meat as little as possible. Overworking it develops the protein strands, resulting in a dense, chewy texture. Gently mix in any spices or ingredients and then lightly form into patties or balls.
4. Add Moisture
Consider mixing in a tablespoon or two of broth or water when making patties or meatballs to help keep grass-fed beef tender during cooking. The extra moisture steams the meat from the inside out.
5. Use a Meat Thermometer
Don’t rely on the old “poke test”. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness, especially with patties and meatballs. Remove grass-fed beef from the heat at 160°F to avoid overcooking. The temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees during rest time.
6. Let It Rest
As with any meat, let grass-fed ground beef rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking. This allows juices to redistribute through the meat for a tender, juicy result. Skipping the rest period can make the beef tough and dry.
7. Add Flavor Boosters
Look to ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, mustard, garlic, herbs and spices to add lots of flavor to lean grass-fed beef. Mix them into patties or meatballs, or use as a topping for burgers.
8. Use Healthy Fats
Sauteing aromatics like onions or mushrooms in grass-fed butter, ghee or avocado oil adds flavorful fat to help keep ground beef juicy. Also brush patties or meatballs with oils for moisture and richness.
9. Keep It Thick
Shape grass-fed beef into thick, 3/4 to 1-inch burgers and meatballs rather than thin patties to allow for a nice sear while keeping the interior juicy. Thick burgers also don’t overcook as quickly.
10. Choose Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Not all grass-fed beef is created equal. Look for beef that is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished for the highest quality. Grass-finished means the cattle ate grass right up until processing for full flavor.
Best Cooking Methods for Grass-Fed Ground Beef
Below are some top cooking methods that work especially well with leaner, grass-fed ground beef:
Burgers – Cook 3/4 to 1-inch thick patties over medium heat on the stovetop, grill or grill pan. Baste with butter or oils. Avoid pressing down on patties as they cook.
Meatballs – Gently shape beef into balls, sear on all sides in skillet, then finish cooking in simmering sauce or bake at 375°F until cooked through.
Meatloaf – Keep meatloaf extra moist by mixing in shredded veggies, diced mushrooms, goat cheese or cooked rice. Spread ketchup or sauce over the top before baking.
Chili – Boost flavor with lots of spices and tomato sauce or paste. Add beans for extra substance. Simmer gently and finish with lime juice.
Tacos – Season beef with taco or fajita seasoning. Saute aromatics like peppers and onion first, then add beef. Keep warm in tortillas.
Bolognese Sauce – For the richest, meatiest sauce, saute beef with minced carrots, onion, shiitake mushrooms, red wine, and tomato. Simmer until thickened.
Loaded Baked Potatoes – Prepare baked russet potatoes. Cut open, mash flesh and top with sauteed grass-fed beef, cheese, bacon, scallions, etc.
Stuffed Peppers – Mix beef with cooked rice, cheese, tomato sauce and seasoning. Stuff into roasted bell peppers and bake until heated through.
Sample Grass-Fed Ground Beef Recipes
Here are a few delicious recipe ideas to inspire you to cook with grass-fed ground beef:
Greek Stuffed Peppers
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
- 1/2 cup cooked rice
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 4 bell peppers, halved and seeded
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- In a bowl mix together beef, rice, feta, tomato paste and oregano until well combined.
- Stuff mixture evenly into pepper halves. Arrange peppers in baking dish, drizzle with oil.
- Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until peppers are tender and filling is cooked through.
Bacon Mushroom Burgers
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
- 3 slices cooked, crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup diced cremini mushrooms
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 burger buns
- Sliced cheese (optional)
- In a bowl gently mix together beef, bacon, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Form into 4 patties.
- Cook patties over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes per side until 160°F.
- Add cheese slice to each patty during last minute if using. Serve on buns.
Italian Meatball Bake
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a bowl mix together beef, breadcrumbs, milk, egg, garlic and parsley.
- Roll into 1.5-inch balls and arrange in baking dish. Pour sauce over balls.
- Bake for 20 minutes until cooked through. Top with mozzarella and bake 5 minutes more.
With a few simple cooking techniques, you can enjoy incredibly delicious grass-fed ground beef. The slightly longer cook times are worth it for the superior nutrition, bold flavor and peace of mind that grass-fed beef provides.
Preparing White Oak Pastures Meats
Below, we provide some general tips you can use in your kitchen when cooking grass-fed and pastured meats. If you’d like more resources, please check out our recipe blog for some of our favorite recipes!
All White Oak Pastures products are vacuum sealed and immediately frozen, and we ship with dry ice for products to remain frozen in transit. When your items arrive, transfer them to the freezer, unless:
- Planning to cook beef within the next 7 days? Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Planning to cook poultry within the next 3 days? Thaw in the refrigerator.
We recommend aging your grass-fed steaks. Ground Beef, Pork and Poultry do not need to be aged!
For the best results, thaw the meat in the refrigerator in a single layer in a bowl to catch condensation or any leaking. Always leave the meat in the original packaging while thawing. Do not thaw meat at room temperature, and do not use a microwave. Some approximate guidelines for thawing in a refrigerator (36 to 40° F)
- 1-inch Steak – 12 to 14 hours
- Small Roast – 3 to 5 hours per pound
- Large Roast – 4 to 7 hours per pound
- Whole Bird – 24 hours per 4 to 5 pounds
- Poultry Parts – 24 hours per 1 to 2 pounds
Cooking Tips for Grass-fed and Pasture-Raised Meats
We work as ranchers and butchers, and we take pride in the livestock we raise on our farm. While not all of us are chefs, we know that the work that goes into these animals is only as good as the last step of their journey—from our pastures to your plates. Our farm is committed to zero-waste practices, and part of that includes helping our customers make the most out of every cut of meat they buy from us. We are also committed to the welfare of our animals, who were born to roam and graze. Because our animals are natural athletes, and to make the most enjoyable, delicious meal, there is some prep work and cooking alterations that should be made when cooking our grass-fed and pastured products.
The Best Way To Cook A Grass Fed Beef Burger – Beef Hacks with Michelin-starred Chef Kelly McCown
FAQ
What is the best way to cook grass-fed beef?
If you are new to cooking and eating authentic organic grass-fed steaks, It is best to do an initial sear on high heat then drop to a medium low heat setting …
Does grass-fed ground beef cook differently?
Overcooking: Since grass-fed beef is leaner, it cooks faster and can easily dry out. Use a thermometer and aim for medium-rare to medium for steaks and burgers, and slow-cook roasts to retain moisture.Jan 9, 2025
How to make grass-fed ground beef more tender?
Generously salting the beef a few hours before cooking also aids in tenderizing the meat by drawing out moisture and then allowing it to reabsorb, seasoning …Feb 12, 2024
How to make grass-fed hamburger taste better?
The full flavor of grass-fed burgers shines when you simply season with salt and pepper. But they are also tempting with caramelized onions or a hint of Worcestershire sauce mixed in, to add some moisture and change up the flavor. 5) Don’t overcook your grass-fed burgers. When grilling grass-fed burgers, stay close.
What is grassfed ground beef?
Grassfed ground beef is beef that has been ground from grass-fed cattle. Our classic grassfed ground beef uses a 90% meat to 10% fat ratio, which is the standard proportion for most ground beef. We believe that grassfed ground beef has a superior flavor.
How long does grassfed beef take to cook?
Always pre-heat the oven, pan, or grill before cooking grassfed beef. Grassfed beef cooks about 30 percent faster than grain fed beef. Use a thermometer to test for doneness and watch the temperature carefully. You can go from perfectly cooked to overdone in less than a minute.
How can I tenderize grassfed beef?
For a lean piece of grassfed beef like London Broil or some steaks, tenderizing the meat by hand and marinating before cooking will ensure a moist, delicious product. We go over some of our favorite ways to tenderize our grassfed beef in more detail in this blog post.
What can I make with grass-fed beef?
All you need to make it is grass-fed ground beef, fresh tomatoes, summer squash (ex. zucchini), onion, dried oregano and a little salt and pepper to taste. Shepherd’s pie is a great dish to make for meal prep as it tastes just as good when reheated the next day! 10. Loaded Beef Nachos with Grass-Fed Beef
Is grass-fed beef good for You?
Grass-fed ground beef is also a rich source of B vitamins (B12, niacin, and riboflavin), zinc, selenium, iron, and phosphorus. How many calories in grass-fed ground beef? Fat content, serving size, and the beef processing method can significantly impact the amount of calories in grass-fed beef.
Are these healthy ground beef recipes healthy?
These healthy ground beef recipes will help you put more grass-fed ground beef on your table. And yep, they are actually healthy. I created this recipe round-up because ground beef is one of the more accessible grass-fed beef cuts. So it’s nice to have some healthy and delicious recipes to make with grass-fed ground beef!