25 Delicious Things To Do With a Pound of Ground Beef

Ground beef is a pantry staple for many home cooks. It’s budget-friendly cooks up quickly, and works well in everything from weeknight dinners to freezer meals. But it’s easy to fall into a ground beef dinner rut of spaghetti bolognese burgers, and tacos. If you feel like you make the same ground beef recipes on repeat, it’s time to shake up your repertoire.

A pound of ground beef can be transformed into endless quick, family-friendly meals. From soups and casseroles to pastas and skillet dinners, there are so many delicious ways to use ground beef. To inspire you to think beyond the burger, here are 25 amazing things you can make with a pound of ground beef.

1. Meatballs

Ground beef is the perfect base for homemade meatballs. Mix the beef with breadcrumbs, egg, and your favorite herbs and spices. Then roll into balls and cook in your favorite sauce or soup. Meatballs are great for pasta dishes, subs, or appetizers. Try recipes like Swedish Meatballs or Greek Meatballs with Rice.

2. Burgers

A pound of ground beef makes 4 quarter-pound burger patties. Jazz up basic burgers with fun toppings like bacon jam, pineapple salsa, or a fried egg. Or skip the bun entirely and make burger bowls.

3. Meatloaf

Comfort food at its finest meatloaf is a great way to use up ground beef. Make individual mini meatloaves for fun portion control or go classic with a loaf pan. Either way serve it with mashed potatoes for the ultimate hearty meal.

4. Chili

Is there anything more comforting than a warm bowl of chili? Cook up a pound of ground beef with beans, tomatoes, onions, peppers and southwestern spices for an easy chili. Top with cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

5. Casserole

Casseroles are a great way to sneak veggies into meals for picky eaters. Try recipes like Cheesy Taco Casserole, Cheeseburger Casserole, or Million Dollar Spaghetti Bake.

6. Lasagna

Making lasagna from scratch takes some time but it’s so worth it. Layer noodles, meaty tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella for the ultimate Italian comfort food. Or simplify with an Easy Skillet Lasagna.

7. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy joes bring out the kid in all of us. Cook ground beef with tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and spices, pile it high on buns, and don’t forget the napkins!

8. Pasta Sauce

Homemade meat sauce is simple to prepare and freezes beautifully. Cook ground beef with tomatoes, garlic, herbs and red wine for a quick, flavorful pasta topper.

9. Tacos

Spice up Taco Tuesday with ground beef tacos. Brown the beef with taco seasoning and let everyone customize with toppings like lettuce, cheese, salsa and guacamole.

10. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie is comfort food at its best. Fill a baking dish with ground beef, veggies, and gravy then top with creamy mashed potatoes. Bake until bubbly for a hearty all-in-one meal.

11. Soup

Ground beef adds richness, protein, and heartiness to soups and stews. Try recipes like Taco Soup, Hamburger Soup, or Chili Mac and Cheese.

12. Stuffed Peppers

Transform bell peppers into a hearty main dish. Stuff pepper halves with a mixture of ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and cheese then bake until tender.

13. Nachos

Pile tortilla chips high with ground beef, beans, salsa, and all the cheese for crowd-pleasing nachos. Bake or broil to melt the cheese into gooey deliciousness.

14. Lettuce Wraps

For a lighter take on tacos, wrap ground beef in lettuce leaves. Top with avocado, cheese, peppers and drizzle with lime crema.

15. Skillet Dinner

Cook ground beef right in the skillet you’ll serve it in for easy one-pan recipes. Try ideas like Cheesy Grits and Beef Skillet or Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.

16. Pasta Salad

Cook ground beef with classic Italian seasoning then toss with pasta and veggies for a hearty main dish salad. Chill before serving for picnics or potlucks.

17. Egg Rolls

Jazz up frozen egg rolls by stuffing them with cooked ground beef, shredded carrots, cabbage, and spices. Fry or bake until crispy.

18. Quiche

Quiche is an easy way to use up leftovers. Combine cooked ground beef with vegetables like spinach, broccoli, or mushrooms and bake in a pie crust for a weeknight dinner.

19. Empanadas

Make dough from scratch or use store-bought to make savory hand pies. Fill empanada dough with spiced ground beef, olives, raisins, hard boiled eggs or any combo that strikes your fancy.

20. Tamales

Making tamales takes some time but the result is well worth the effort. Fill corn dough with chili-spiced ground beef and steamed in corn husks for authentic homemade tamales.

21. Pizza Topping

Pizza night just got even better. Sprinkle cooked ground beef crumbles over your favorite pizza to add hearty protein with very little effort.

22. Breakfast Hash

Cook ground beef with potatoes, peppers, onions and spices for the ultimate protein-packed breakfast hash. Top with fried eggs for extra richness.

23. Poutine

Elevate French fries by topping them with ground beef gravy and melted cheese curds. This Canadian treat is sure to become a new favorite.

24. Pot Pies

Make individual pot pies by filling ramekins with cooked ground beef, veggies, and gravy then topping with biscuit dough and baking. Serve warm with a side salad.

25. Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Finally, stuff cooked ground beef and rice into steamed cabbage leaves then cover in tomato sauce and simmer. Old-school but oh so delicious and hearty.

With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless for what you can make with a pound of ground beef. Keep these ideas in your back pocket to add variety to your dinner routine. And don’t be afraid to get the whole family involved in preparing ground beef meals together. Kids can help with recipe steps like forming meatballs, stuffing peppers, and assembling casseroles. Before you know it, you’ll have a kitchen full of little chefs looking forward to the next tasty ground beef creation.