Beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make all kinds of delicious dishes. From hearty stews to juicy burgers and tender steaks beef provides great flavor and nutrition. In this article we’ll explore the many things that can be made using beef.
Ground Beef
Ground beef is one of the most versatile cuts of beef and can be used in endless recipes, Here are some of the most popular ground beef dishes
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Burgers Classic hamburgers and cheeseburgers are always crowd-pleasers Mix in some spices or extras like caramelized onions for gourmet versions
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Meatballs: Flavorful Italian-style meatballs in tomato sauce or Swedish meatballs in creamy gravy.
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Meatloaf: Comfort food at its finest. Mix ground beef with onions, herbs, and breadcrumbs then bake into a hearty, sliceable loaf.
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Tacos: Spiced ground beef makes a quick and easy taco filling. Top with lettuce, cheese, salsa and more.
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Chili: No bean chili or chunky chili with beans, ground beef is the base of flavorful chili.
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Lasagna: Layer lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, and ground beef for the ultimate Italian casserole.
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Sloppy Joes: Manwich-style sloppy joes with bbq-style ground beef and melty cheese on buns.
The list goes on! Ground beef is great for skillet dishes, casseroles, pasta sauces, and more.
Stew Meat
Stew meat refers to chunks of beef from the chuck or round that are perfect for stews, braises, and slow cooker dishes. With stew meat you can make:
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Beef stew: The classic! Brown stew meat then simmer with potatoes, carrots, onion, and savory broth.
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Beef bourguignon: Fancy French beef stew with red wine sauce. Stew meat soaks up all the rich flavors.
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Pot roast: Slow cooked, fork-tender pot roast. Stew meat plus veggies and seasonings.
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Beef tips: Quick cooking beef tips in onion gravy mix is a weeknight win.
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Stroganoff: Cozy and creamy beef stroganoff with stew meat, mushrooms, and egg noodles.
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Chili: Use stew meat for tender, meaty chili. It holds up well to long cooking.
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Fajitas: Flank steak is traditional, but stew meat makes excellent beef fajitas after marinating and quick cooking.
The low and slow cooking makes stew meat fall-apart tender in soups, stews, curries, and more!
Steaks
From juicy ribeyes to buttery filets, high-quality steaks are always a treat. Grilling is the classic preparation, but steaks can also be pan seared, broiled, or roasted.
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Ribeye: Well-marbled and flavorful. The quintessential steak for the grill.
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Strip steak: A bit chewier than ribeye, but still packed with robust beefy flavor.
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Filet mignon: The most tender (but least fatty) cut of steak. Melts in your mouth!
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Flank steak: Thinly sliced flank steak makes amazing fajitas and stir fry.
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Skirt steak: Similar to flank with slightly more marbling. Great for chimichurri sauce.
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Hanger steak: Also called “butcher’s steak” for its rich flavor.
Don’t forget creative steak dishes like steak Diane, steak au poivre, or steak and eggs!
Roasts
For special occasion dinners and holiday meals, a beef roast is always impressive. The most popular roasts include:
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Prime rib: King of roasts. The standing rib roast with garlic, herbs, jus.
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Tenderloin: Super tender and lean. Quick cooking. Perfect for roasting whole.
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Tri-tip: Flavorful cut from the bottom sirloin, great for grilling or roasting.
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Eye of round: Lean and budget-friendly. Slices for French dip sandwiches.
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Chuck roast: Economical and flavorful. Use for pot roast or shred for tacos.
Slice roasts and serve with roasted veggies, Yorkshire puddings, or au jus for delicious plates.
Offal and Variety Meats
Don’t forget about beef variety meats and offal! These nutrient-dense and inexpensive cuts include:
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Liver: Beef liver makes tender, meaty liver and onions.
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Heart: Slice beef heart thinly and sauté with onions for hearty skewers or tacos.
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Tongue: Simmered slowly then sliced, beef tongue has a tender texture.
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Kidneys: With their mineral richness, beef kidneys are ideal for steak and kidney pie.
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Oxtail: Braised oxtail becomes fall-off-the-bone tender in stews and soups.
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Bones: Used to make beef bone broth, marrow dishes, and dog treats!
Ground Beef Recipes
To highlight just how versatile ground beef is, here are some of my favorite ground beef recipe ideas:
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Juicy cheeseburger soup with ground beef, cheddar cheese, and potatoes
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Easy weeknight Bolognese with ground beef and marinara over angel hair pasta
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Zesty tacos with seasoned ground beef, pineapple salsa, and pickled onion
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Savory cottage pie or shepherd’s pie with ground beef, veggies, and fluffy mashed potatoes
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Family-favorite sloppy joes with bbq-style ground beef piled high on buns
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Traditional lasagna with layers of ground beef, tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella
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Simple beef and broccoli stir fry with ground beef and fresh broccoli florets
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Chili mac and cheese casserole with spicy ground beef chili and macaroni baked with melty cheese
The options are endless for making tasty meals with ground beef! It’s affordable, cooks quickly, and pairs well with so many flavors.
As you can see, beef is incredibly versatile. All cuts of beef from ground beef to premium steaks can be used to make endless dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Strategic use of different cuts keeps costs down while still delivering big, beefy flavor.
What’s your favorite beef dish? Share your recipes and tips for making the most of this nutritious and tasty meat. Beef can be dressed up for special occasions or used for fast weeknight family meals. It really delivers when you need hearty comfort food.
With proper cooking and preparation, beef provides great taste and nutritional benefits. Explore all the options – from classic to creative – for serving this staple meat. Pork and chicken may get all the attention, but we shouldn’t underestimate the mighty meat that is beef!
Here Are A Few Tips To Help You Prepare Your Beef Quickly
When it comes to creating a hearty and delicious meal, beef is an excellent choice. From classic steaks to impressive roasts, you can be savoring the rich flavor of perfectly-cooked beef in no time. Here are some quick tips on how you can be better prepared for cooking your beef and create a mouthwatering meal in no time.
5 Tips to Prepare Your Beef Meal Quickly:
1. Choose the right cut of beef: Different cuts of beef require different cooking methods and times. For a quick meal, opt for tender cuts like New York Strip, or skirt steak that can be grilled or seared in just a few minutes.
2. Preheat your cooking surface: Whether you’re using a grill, a skillet, or an oven, make sure to preheat it before adding the beef. This will help you achieve a nice sear and prevent the beef from sticking to the surface.
3. Use a meat thermometer: To avoid overcooking or undercooking your beef, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For medium-rare beef, the temperature should be around 135°F (57°C), while medium beef should be around 145°F (63°C).
4. Let the beef rest before slicing: After cooking, let the beef rest for a few minutes before slicing. This will allow the juices to redistribute and result in a tender, juicer, more flavorful meat.
5. Cut against the grain: When slicing your beef, make sure to cut against the grain, which means perpendicular to the lines that run through the meat. This will make each bite is more tender and easier to chew.
By following these tips you can prepare your beef meal quickly without compromising on taste or quality. With these simple techniques, you’ll be creating an impressive and delicious beef meal in no time.
Here Are Some Quick and Easy Beef Dinner Ideas
So, without further ado, and in no particular order (I love all of these), let’s jump right into my top 10 delicious quick and easy beef recipes for your dinner tonight, or your next Holiday Meal!
I am going to show you how to cook a Filet Mignon with a fig and marsala sauce, delicious! This is one of the most popular cuts of beef and for good reason. This lean and tender cut is full of flavor, and when cooked properly, it can be absolutely delicious. Perfect for a romantic dinner!
So tender and delicious, no wonder Filet Mignon is considered one of the best steaks you can eat!
There are many different recipes for Beef Wellington, but the traditional way is with beef tenderloin. However, you could use a ribeye roast or sirloin butt roast. You could even use a pork tenderloin if you prefer.
But for me, the best Wellington is made with beef tenderloin. This prime cut of meat is very tender and has a lot of flavor. When it is wrapped in pastry, it creates a delicious and impressive dish perfect for any special occasion.
Prime Rib is one of the most delicious and impressive pieces of meat you can cook. Especially when using the right Prime Rib Recipe! Perfect for holiday gatherings or special occasions.
Prime Rib is a large cut of beef that comes from the rib section of the animal. It’s well-marbled with fat, which makes it extremely flavorful and juicy.
Overall, a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin is a masterpiece of culinary art. If you get the chance to experience a perfectly cooked beef tenderloin, you’ll never forget the sensation of pure gourmet bliss.
I am going to show you how to make the best skirt steak you’ve ever made! I use a grill pan but you can certainly do it on a Grill or a Barbeque. Make sure to let your Skirt Steak marinate for a while so it can soak up all those wonderful flavors!
This is one of my all-time favorite cuts of meat. It’s incredibly flavorful and, when cooked properly, extremely tender.
This Chateaubriand recipe is melt-in-your-mouth tender and full of flavor. Making Chateaubriand one of the most popular cuts of beef available. A roast cut from the center of beef tenderloin, it is a French dish seared and then roasted, and served with a sauce made from a reduction of the pan drippings with white wine and beef stock. Unbelievably good!
This recipe was created with BBQ in mind. When you make my BBQ sauce you’ll understand why. Without lighting up the grill you can still be in the spirit of the outdoors and enjoy deliciously tender Beef short ribs. Big Mise-En-Place (being prepared and organized) but worth every effort!
I also recommend using a red wine such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Syrah that you personally enjoy for the sauce. It is important that it is a wine you enjoy drinking because reducing a bad-tasting wine doesn’t make it taste any better!
If you love garlic and you love steak, these Garlic Steak Bites will blow your mind!
FAQ
What can I make out of 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 foods are made with beef?
- Spaghetti Bolognese.
- Sloppy joes.
- Beef stew (so many variations)
- Lasagna.
- Cottage pie.
- Ground beef or steak stir fry (any combo of veggies, homemade or bottled stir fry sauce)
- Beef stroganoff.
- Chili (can be ground beef or stew meat)
What is a can of beef made of?
Canned corned beef does not tend to have too many ingredients. Most brands list the main ones as simply beef (or cooked beef), salt, sugar, and sodium nitrite. The latter is a common preservative used in cured meats.
What are some famous beef dishes?
- Beef bourguignon.
- Beef Wellington.
- Cottage pie.
- Pot-au-feu.
- Beef chilli.
- Beef stroganoff.
- Goulash.
- Meatloaf.