If the usual protein suspects (read: chicken and fish) aren’t quite cutting it for dinner anymore, consider adding ground beef to your grocery list this week. Whatever type of cuisine you’re craving, ground beef fits in—and packs a nourishing punch of protein. Plus, it’s easy to cook and super affordable, which is why ground beef recipes are a no-brainer for meal prep.
The variety of ways to cook with ground beef are endless. Aside from the obvious—juicy burgers and meatballs—ground beef is a great addition to soups, pastas, rice bowls, and tacos. So, if you’re in need of some new, protein-packed meals to add to your dinner roster, we rounded up 21 delicious ground beef recipes to try.
What to make with ground beef
Ground beef is one of the most versatile ingredients out there. Adding a warm, savory bite and plenty of protein, it’s a smart staple to whip up and use in different ways throughout the week, so your meals don’t get boring. Whatever your pantry is stocked with, chances are, you have the ingredients to cook a ground beef recipe. Read on for the answer to your question, what can I make with ground beef?
- Burgers: Ground beef is great for burgers since it’s easy to pack and cook. Plus, it leaves a tender, ultra-satisfying bite. It also crisps well into a thin patty for smash burgers if you want an added crunch.
- Meatballs: Pack your ground beef with onions, garlic, and a sweet and savory sauce in the crockpot for an easy ground beef dinner that stores well and pairs lovely with toasted bread or noodles.
- Pasta dishes: Toss your ground beef into a cheesy pasta dish made with spinach and mushrooms or a rich, creamy lasagna. Added to your soft, buttery noodles, ground beef offers a nice contrasting texture that makes the dish more filling.
- Rice bowls: Mix it with rice, carrots, basil, and a zesty-sweet sauce. This flavorful ground beef recipe idea stores easily, happily feeds a crowd, and leaves room to improvise.
- Soups: If it’s taco night, but you want something a little cozier, mixing your ground beef into a warm taco soup is a great idea. You can also add it to vegetable or stuffed pepper soups with garlic and bell peppers.
- Shepard’s pie: If you want something extra inviting for cold weather, ground beef is an easy, flavorful show-off in a shepherd’s pie dish that’s mixed with peas, carrots, and mashed potatoes. I grew up on shepherd’s pie and always loved it as a kid.
Easy ground beef recipes
When you have a jam-packed schedule, it’s tempting to order in. But these easy ground beef recipes make dinner prep a breeze. From tacos to chili to a remake of your favorite fast-casual restaurant’s burrito bowl, these simple ground beef recipes are dinner winners.
1. Crispy Ground Beef Tacos
If you’re looking for a dish that feels slightly more elevated than a traditional taco from a hard-shelled box, but still easy to make, this is the ground beef recipe for you. It can be cooked, plated, and ready to eat in under 20 minutes.
2. Shepard’s Pie
As a kid, Shepherd’s pie was my favorite dinner by far. This easy and nostalgic recipe is great for serving a crowd of picky eaters and super simple to whip up—just swap the ground lamb it calls for with more cost-effective ground beef.
3. Instant Pot Chili
Any recipe with the word “instant pot” is an instant yes. This soothing chili recipe is full of bacon, ground beef, beans, classic chili spices, and takes only 20 minutes to cook. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better easy ground beef dinner.
4. Marinara Meatballs
Meatball recipes can be tweaked to your preferences, but this classic version is guaranteed to deliver time after time. It calls for both ground beef and ground pork, but choosing just one works well, too. Pro tip: Choose ground beef that’s 80 percent lean for extra moist meatballs.
5. Instant Pot Ground Beef Burrito Bowls
A ground beef burrito bowl is the perfect meal prep option, since it can be customized to your liking and stores well. If you have kids, it’s a great way to let them be creative in the kitchen. Add or substitute anything you like, and it can all be done in under ten minutes.
Healthy ground beef recipes
During the work week, we feel our best when we fuel our body with healthy foods. Just because ground beef isn’t necessarily a lean protein doesn’t mean it can’t make for healthy dinners when paired properly. Below, find five healthy ground beef recipes to add to your weekly rotation.
6. Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are an easy, surefire way to get in a nutritious meal that’s also satisfying to plate. There are plenty of ways to get inventive here, but this healthy option uses rice, ground beef, Italian seasonings, and lots of veggies. One alteration could be using cauliflower rice instead. To save 15 minutes, pre-bake the peppers while you’re making the filling.
7. Carrot Soup with Spiced Ground Beef and Pine Nuts
Creamy, stunning, and a little spicy, this carrot soup is bound to become a favorite ground beef recipe. You’ll need an immersion blender to sauté the onions, carrots, bouillon, curry powder, and coconut milk. Throw in some protein-packed ground beef, and this vibrant orange soup not only tastes great, but is great for you.
8. Butternut Squash Casserole
Looking for an easy and healthy make-ahead meal? This Southwest butternut squash dish is simple, flavorful, and colorful. But best of all, it’s made in one dish for easy cleanup. Gather butternut squash, bell peppers, chopped kale, spices, and ground beef for a savory dish that makes great leftovers. This one has over 200 five-star reviews to back it up.
9. Hot Honey Ground Beef Bowl
Make this easy ground beef recipe for meal-prepped lunches or a quick, protein-packed dinner. Mix together tender roasted sweet potatoes, ground beef, cottage cheese, avocado, and a drizzle of hot honey. It’s warm, full of protein, and a flavorful balance of savory and sweet. Everything here stores well, so you can make the ground beef in advance and build your bowls all week long.
10. Thai Green Curry Meatballs
These curry meatballs are rich, tangy, and made with warm herbs and spices for extra flair. Served over rice or enjoyed on their own, they’re an easy way to turn your ground beef protein star into a flavorful, satisfying meal. Throw in some shaved carrots, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and a sprinkle of cilantro for a bright finish.
Ground beef pasta recipes
We’re in prime pasta season, and ground beef makes for a hearty, comforting protein when added to your favorite recipes. Think: a thick slice of lasagna or a simmering bolognese that will fill your kitchen with warming, cozy scents. Read on for six ground beef pasta recipes to make.
11. One-Pan Ground Beef Pasta
Imagine the feel-good energy of that nostalgic hamburger helper, but more elevated—and just as easy. This ground beef dinner recipe can be made in one pot—no big kitchen mess here—and is packed full of delicious goodness. The secret? A dollop of room-temperature cream cheese to help make the ground beef pasta taste extra rich and creamy. Credit to Erin Clarke of Well Plated for this one.
12. Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Beef Pasta
Elegant and comforting, this wide egg noodle dish plates just as well as it tastes. A satisfying balance of both veggies and meat, this spinach beef pasta is perfect for an at-home date night or entertaining guests. Heads up: The noodles taste best when eaten immediately after cooking.
13. Quick Tortellini Bolognese
This tortellini bolognese mixes crisped pepperoni, ground beef, spicy sausage, dried herbs, marinara sauce, and a few spoonfuls of cream cheese. Think: cozy, nourishing, and impressive for dinner guests. Plus, it freezes well, so you can save leftovers for another easy weeknight meal when you’re in a pinch.
14. Homemade Lasagna
Nothing screams “comfort meal” like a hearty lasagna—and this reliable ground beef recipe has stood the test of time, according to this blogger who has been making it for 15 years. Even less-experienced cooks can crank out this casserole easily and reap the benefits of a cozy slice of cheesy, spicy lasagna.
15. Cozy Ground Beef Orzo
Although it resembles rice, orzo is in fact a pasta, and it pairs wonderfully with ground beef and warm Italian flavors like garlic, onion, and oregano. Add some vegetables like spinach, zucchini, and eggplant for an extra healthy bite of this ground beef recipe that comes together in 30 minutes.
16. Beef and Broccoli Noodles
Ground beef and broccoli has been one of my most reliable meal combos throughout my twenties, and this ground beef recipe ensures that the two ingredients burst with flavor. Next time you’re craving Asian noodles from your favorite takeout restaurant, try making this instead. One serving has 32 grams of protein, plus carbs and veggies round out the substantial meal.
Ground beef and rice recipes
Pairing this protein with rice is a sure-fire way to rack up easy ground beef dinners. Rice bowls are entirely customizable to your liking and can be tailored to use up whatever you have in your fridge. From stir-fry to casseroles, find more meals to make with ground beef and rice below.
17. Korean Ground Beef
A taco bowl might be the obvious idea when it comes to ground beef recipes with rice, but what about giving the dish a Korean twist? The sauce is the real star of this ground beef rice bowl: Mix orange juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, sweet chili sauce, and brown sugar for a burst of flavor that you can make sweeter or spicier to your liking. With leftovers, make lettuce wraps, add to noodles, or stick with the classic rice combo.
18. Crockpot Thai Basil Beef
Spicy, salty, and sweet, this hands-off Thai basil beef bowl comes together in a crockpot over several hours. With complementary veggies like peppers and broccoli and a base of coconut rice, this ground beef recipe covers all the bases. Garnish with peanuts and basil for a crunch and flourish.
19. Brothy Rice Bowl
This ground beef recipe uses pantry staples you probably already have on hand, like sesame oil, coconut milk, soy sauce, and peanut butter. Not quite a soup and not quite a rice bowl, this cozy concoction is the best of both worlds. Whip up all the ingredients and store separately so you can assemble the bowls all week long. Don’t skip out on the peanut topping, mixed with sesame seeds and chili crisp oil for a spicy, crunchy garnish.
20. Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
Requiring just one pan for a no-mess, no-fuss cleanup, this ground beef recipe is great if you’re looking for a simple stovetop dish. It’s made with lean ground beef, lots of veggies, and fiber-rich beans. You can also use microwavable rice packets if you’re on a time crunch.
21. Weeknight Ground Beef Stir Fry
High in protein and packed with nutrients, a beef stir-fry is a dairy-free and gluten-free option that comes together in just under 30 minutes. This ground beef dinner recipe specifically uses peppers, green beans, and onions, but feel free to customize with your chosen veggies.
Tips for cooking with ground beef
Now that you’ve pinned a few favorite ground beef recipes from this list, it’s helpful to have some cooking tips in your toolbox. These simple notes will come in handy when you’re stirring, mixing, and breaking up your beef, helping you get that juicy, savory bite every time.
Let it sit at room temperature before cooking.
Letting your ground beef sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before you start cooking works wonders. By allowing the beef time to cool before cooking, it browns faster and more evenly when you move it to the pan.
Try the baking soda trick.
Before cooking, mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water per pound of raw ground beef. Pour the mixture over your beef and gently mix with your hands. Then, let it rest for about 15 minutes before moving straight to the pan. This helps raise the meat’s pH so it better retains those natural juices.
Don’t stir right away.
Instead of immediately breaking up your ground beef as soon as it hits the hot pan, try pressing the beef into a thin layer and letting it sit for a few minutes undisturbed. This ensures that your ground beef gets that delicious caramelized texture and avoids mushiness when you mix in water or broth.
Add Worcestershire or soy sauce.
A dash of these sauces adds a nice caramelized, charred flavor to your meat. Splash a bit in the pan once your meat has started to brown.
Use a potato masher.
Whenever you cook with ground beef, there are always some bigger clumps that take shape. After you’ve let your ground beef sit in the pan for a bit, try using a potato masher to help give your recipe a more even bite and consistency.
Never pour the grease down the drain.
You might be tempted to pour out the extra grease, but this can damage your plumbing. Instead, collect that rendered fat, store it in a heat-safe container, and use it for cooking potatoes, eggs, and more.
Madigan Will, Contributing Writer
As a contributing writer and former Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan has written and edited content across every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she brings a big-sister perspective to her work, helping readers discover new ways to maximize their everyday.
