What Can I Make With Ground Beef and Rice? 25 Delicious and Affordable Meal Ideas

Ground beef and rice are budget-friendly ingredients that can be used to make a variety of delicious and filling meals. With just these two ingredients on hand, you can whip up everything from casual weeknight dinners to impressive dishes worthy of company.

Rice is an affordable and versatile base that soaks up flavors from sauces and seasonings. Ground beef is an affordable protein that can be seasoned in endless ways, from tacos to meatballs to burgers and more. Combined ground beef and rice create complete meals full of texture, flavor, and plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.

Here are 25 meal ideas featuring ground beef and rice:

1. Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls

These Asian-inspired rice bowls are made by cooking ground beef with garlic, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil and other Korean flavors. The seasoned beef is served over a bed of steaming white rice for a quick 20-minute dinner the whole family will love. Add veggies like kimchi or stir-fried spinach for extra nutrition.

2. Mexican Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

For this cheesy casserole, ground beef is cooked with taco seasoning and layered over rice, black beans, corn, salsa and Cheddar cheese. It’s then baked until heated through and bubbly on top. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, lettuce and tomatoes for a complete Tex-Mex meal.

3. Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

The classic combination of ground beef, rice, cream of mushroom soup and Cheddar cheese makes this super simple 30-minute casserole a hit. For extra flavor, add cooked chopped veggies like peas, carrots or green beans.

4. Chili Lime Ground Beef Rice Bowls

These fresh and zesty rice bowls are made by cooking ground beef in chili powder, cumin, garlic and lime juice. The spicy beef mixture is served over cilantro lime rice and garnished with diced avocado, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

5. Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers

Bell peppers stuffed with an Italian-seasoned ground beef and rice mixture are an easy, delicious weeknight dinner. Cook the ground beef with tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and chopped spinach. Stuff into halved peppers and top with mozzarella before baking.

6. Taco Stuffed Peppers

For a fun twist on tacos, stuff halved bell peppers with seasoned ground beef, rice, black beans, corn, shredded cheese and taco sauce. Top with crushed tortilla chips after baking for a tasty and low-carb taco alternative.

7. Porcupine Meatballs with Rice

These fun kid-friendly meatballs are made by mixing cooked white rice into the ground beef before forming into balls and baking. The rice grains poke out and resemble little porcupine quills! Serve the meatballs and rice with marinara sauce for an easy meal.

8. Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Rice

This classic Chinese takeout combo is easy to make at home. Stir fry lean ground beef and broccoli florets in a homemade stir fry sauce. Serve the saucy beef and veggies over steaming white or brown rice.

9. Beef and Veggie Lo Mein

Ground beef and veggies like carrots, cabbage, peppers and mushrooms are stir fried with Lo Mein noodles. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Serve topped with extra soy sauce or teriyaki sauce if desired.

10. Beef Fried Rice

Transform leftover cooked rice into quick fried rice by stir frying with ground beef, frozen mixed veggies, garlic and eggs. Season to taste with soy sauce or sesame oil for a fast weeknight meal.

11. Mexican Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Savory cabbage rolls are made by wrapping a mixture of ground beef, rice, tomatoes, onions, cumin, cilantro and Monterey Jack cheese tightly into steamed cabbage leaves. Arrange rolls seam-side down in a baking dish, top with enchilada sauce and more cheese, then bake.

12. Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

Classic baked ziti gets a flavor boost from brown sugar-ketchup seasoned ground beef sauce. Cook the beef mixture, stir in cooked ziti pasta and spoon into a baking dish. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake until melted and bubbly.

13. Skillet Lasagna

This easy lasagna is made right in a skillet by layering noodles, meat sauce, ricotta cheese mixtures and shredded mozzarella. The ingredients cook together in one pan for a much quicker version of the classic casserole. Use leftovers for lasagna lunch bowls.

14. Shepherd’s Pie

For this comfort food favorite, ground beef is cooked with onions, carrots, peas, corn and gravy. The mixture is spooned into a baking dish, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until the potatoes are crispy on the edges. Sprinkle with cheese for extra flavor.

15. Beef and Broccoli Casserole

This easy casserole is made by tossing cooked ground beef and broccoli florets with rice, mushrooms, soy sauce, sesame oil and eggs. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with shredded cheese and bake for a satisfying dinner.

16. Meatballs and Rice

Baked Italian-style meatballs are always a hit. Make them with ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley and Parmesan. Serve over buttered rice or pasta with marinara sauce for an easy family dinner.

17. Beef Stroganoff over Rice

In this twist on beef stroganoff, strips of tenderloin are cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce with onions and garlic. The saucy beef mixture is served over buttery, garlic Parmesan rice for a hearty, yet elegant meal.

18. Spicy Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowls

These Korean-inspired rice bowls feature tender strips of seared sirloin coated in a sweet and spicy marinade. The flavorful beef is served over rice and garnished with sesame seeds and diced cucumber. So easy and delicious!

19. Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry Rice Bowls

For fast rice bowls, stir fry a variety of cut veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, carrots and broccoli with ground beef, garlic and teriyaki sauce. Serve the quick veggie and beef stir fry mixture hot over white or brown rice.

20. Cheeseburger Rice Bowls

These fun rice bowls are made by crumbling cooked ground beef over rice and topping with all the cheeseburger fixings – cheese slices, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard. They make an easy kid-friendly meal, too.

21. Beef and Bean Burrito Bowls

Build your own tex-mex burrito bowls by topping rice with seasoned ground beef, warmed black or pinto beans, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado and a drizzle of sour cream. So fresh and delicious!

22. Beef and Mushroom Risotto

This creamy Italian rice dish features short grain arborio rice cooked slowly with broth, white wine, Parmesan, garlic, mushrooms and ground beef. The result is a rich, velvety and deeply flavorful dinner made in just one pot.

23. Beef and Barley Soup with Vegetables

Nutritious beef and barley soup is made by simmering ground beef, pearl barley and vegetables like carrots, celery, onions and mushrooms in a savory broth. It’s comfort food in a bowl!

24. Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Mashed Potatoes

Classic Salisbury steak is made with seasoned ground beef patties smothered in mushroom gravy and onions. Serve with buttery mashed potatoes and frozen veggies for an easy, homestyle meal.

25. Beef Pot Pie

For this hearty winter favorite, ground beef and mixed vegetables are simmered together in a homemade gravy. The filling is spooned into a pie crust, topped with another crust, sealed and baked. Serve piping hot with biscuits or rolls.

With just ground beef and rice, the possibilities are endless for fast, budget-friendly dinners. Try out some of these tasty recipes and get creative with additional seasonings, vegetables, sauces and toppings. Ground beef and rice make the perfect blank canvas for just about any flavor combo!