21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (2024)

Simple and delicious meals to make with ground beef that are guaranteed to captivate your family's taste buds.

By Lilly

Quick & Easy Family Meals

Ground beef is probably the only meat you can’t screw up, which is what makes it so popular. It’s cheap, easy to cook, and super versatile. You can throw it in a casserole, into a pot of soup, stuff it into tortillas, mix it with pasta, or serve it over a salad. It makes cooking dinner a breeze!

I’ve rounded up a list of my favorite ground beef dinner ideas that are simple to make with just a few ingredients. You will find everything here from kid-friendly comfort foods to healthy, low carb main dishes.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (1)

1. Baked Tortellini Casserole

This amazing dinner has over 2 million shares on Pinterest with great reviews! It’s a fabulous Italian inspired meal especially if you have picky eaters at home. Serve it with a side of Caesar salad and garlic bread for the ultimate dinner on busy weeknights.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (2)

2. Frito Taco Pie

A fun twist on tacos! This ground beef pie recipe has a crescent dough crust that is filled with all of your favorite taco ingredients including crunchy corn chips, cheese, and sour cream. Top it with fresh chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, or anything else you’d like.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (3)

3. Taco Stuffed Shells

These stuffed pasta shells are a Mexican-Italian infusion your entire family will enjoy! Those jumbo sized pasta shells are so much fun to eat, especially when they’re stuffed with this delicious cream cheese and ground beef mixture, topped with shredded cheese, and then baked until warm and gooey.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (4)

4. Crunchwrap Supreme

Learn how to make this Taco Bell favorite from home! You can customize it to your liking, and it’s obviously much healthier than the long list of weird ingredients fast food chains use. The crispy tostada in the middle is the perfect complement to the tender beef and gooey cheese.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (5)

5. Cheeseburger Soup

This thick and hearty soup is loaded with tender ground beef along with some healthy veggies, making it a great choice for dinner during the cold winter months. Every cheesy bite is the definition of comfort food. HINT: Top it with crispy bacon for a little extra indulgence.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (6)

6. Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

If you’re looking for healthy ground beef dinner ideas, zucchini boats are the way to go! Simply hollow them out and stuff them with this cheesy beef mixture, top with more cheese, and then bake until the cheese is melted and the zucchini is tender.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (7)

7. Chili Mac

This classic recipe is so simple to make but packed full of flavor. I personally think it’s ingenious to combine taco seasoned ground beef with boxed macaroni and cheese. Delicious! This is another great recipe for picky kids.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (8)

8. Ground Beef Enchiladas

How can you go wrong with tortillas stuffed full of seasoned ground beef and cheese, and then loaded with enchilada sauce and more cheese? Yes, please! These ground beef enchiladas are on regular rotation at my house.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (9)

9. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Because of their tough and crunchy skin, bell peppers make for the perfect little edible bowls. Stuff them with a mixture of ground beef, your choice of rice, corn, tomatoes, garlic, and lots of cheese to make this healthy yet amazing dinner.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (10)

10. Cheeseburger Casserole

With close to 2 million shares on Pinterest, this cheesy hamburger casserole is another pasta dish that never disappoints! It’s incredibly quick and easy to make with just a handful of cheap ingredients, but it has everything you need in a meal.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (11)

11. Stuffing Meatloaf

I’ve never been a fan of meatloaf, until I discovered how a box of StoveTop stuffing can completely revolutionize this classic dinner! It adds a ton of flavor without a lot of ingredients. You can additionally add anything else to the mix that you’d like such as chopped garlic, diced onion, parmesan cheese, herbs, etc.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (12)

12. Cheesy Cabbage & Beef Skillet

If you’re looking for healthy dinner recipes that your entire family can enjoy, you’ve got to try this amazing cabbage and ground beef skillet all tossed together in one pan. It’s packed full of fiber and protein, and is incredibly savory and delicious. Even my picky kids enjoy this meal with a little rice!

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (13)

13. Taco Lasagna

This is basically a burrito or taco, but instead of eating it the traditional way, the ingredients are all layered into a large baking dish like lasagna. Pretty fun, right? You can layer it with any of your favorite taco ingredients like ground beef and refried beans, and then top it with fresh produce like avocado and tomato. Mmm.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (14)

14. Million Dollar Spaghetti

Pasta noodles baked with layers of cheese? Yes, please! It makes such a huge difference in the taste, texture, and flavor of traditional spaghetti. I suppose there’s a reason it’s called “Million Dollar Spaghetti”. It’s similar to lasagna but easier to eat thanks to the thin noodles.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (15)

15. Tater Tot Casserole

This easy casserole is made with cheap ingredients that your family will love including ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, green beans, onion and tater tots. Some serious comfort food! Layer, bake, and watch your family clean their plates clean.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (16)

16. Sloppy Joe French Bread Slices

This is the most delicious last-minute meal, game day appetizer, or even hearty snack on a lazy Sunday afternoon at home. Simply mix your favorite can of sloppy joe sauce with ground beef and onion, slather it on french bread, top with cheddar cheese, bake, and BAM! Absolute heaven.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (17)

17. Cheesy Beef & Cauliflower Rice

This low carbdinner skilletis perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend all night in the kitchen cooking and cleaning up. Thanks to frozen cauliflower rice and ground beef, this recipe is a breeze to throw together in just one pan on busy weeknights. And, it’s delicious!

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (18)

18. Lazy Shepherd’s Pie

If you’re looking for cheap and easy dinner recipes for a large family, this ground beef and mashed potato casserole is always a hit! Even your picky eaters will love this hearty dinner. It’s also loaded with veggies, so consider it healthy enough to serve often.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (19)

19. Taco Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Calling all pasta lovers!If your family likes cheese, spaghetti and tacos, they’re going to devour this fun and tasty taco baked spaghetti. You’re simply going to mix taco ingredients with pasta, bake, and EAT.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (20)

20. Lazy Enchilada Casserole

This baked enchilada casserole is a whole lot of fun to make for the family! There’s something so exciting to me about all of these simple ingredients mixed up together and then baked to perfection. It may look like a mess, but it tastes just like enchiladas.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (21)

21. Cheesy Beef Taco Salad

There’s really no instructions needed here! Simply brown a pound of ground beef with a packet of taco seasoning and water, and then serve it over a bed of lettuce with your favorite taco ingredients: avocado, shredded cheese, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeño, corn, crunchy chips, sour cream, etc. This is my absolute favorite meal on busy weeknights.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (22)

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (23)

Helpful Tips

Ground Beef 101

  1. Ground beef should be cooked in a pan or on a grill that’s been preheated to medium-high heat. This helps to develop a nice crust on the meat and prevent it from sticking.
  2. The lean-to-fat ratio can impact the flavor and juiciness of the meat. The higher the fat content, the more flavorful and juicy the meat can be. I prefer 80/20 for most recipes.
  3. Ground beef can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the freezer for quick and easy meals later on. Simply thaw it out the day before you plan on using it.
  4. It can vary in color from bright red to brown. This is due to the exposure of oxygen and the age of the meat, however, color is not a reliable indicator of freshness or safety.
  5. Not a beef fan? Ground beef can be substituted for other ground meats, such as ground turkey or chicken.
  6. Adding salt to ground beef before cooking can help to enhance its flavor. Garlic powder and onion powder are also universal spices that work well with most recipes.
  7. Ground beef can be labeled with various grades, such as Select, Choice, and Prime. These grades are based on the marbling and age of the meat, with Prime being the highest quality. However, these grades are not always included on ground beef packages.
  8. It can be a good source of protein, iron, and other nutrients. However, it can also be high in saturated fat and calories.
  9. Raw ground beef can be frozen for up to 3-4 months. It’s best to store it in an airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn, and don’t forget to date the container.

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (24)21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (25)

21 Crazy Easy Ground Beef Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What to make for dinner when you have no clue what to make? ›

My favorite easy and healthy dinner is chicken, rice, and veggies. I pop a few frozen chicken breasts (drizzled with olive oil and garlic pepper or Italian dressing) covered into the oven for an hour and 10 minutes at 400F. As they're finishing up, I throw some 5 minute rice in a pot and warm up some frozen veggies.

What to make with 73 27 ground beef? ›

Ground Beef that is not less than 70% lean (usually a 73/27 or 75/25 lean-to-fat ratio) is used for burgers and in recipes calling for browning (crumbles) and pouring off drippings, such as chili, tacos and spaghetti sauce. When properly cooked, it is moist and juicy.

What can be made from ground beef and rice? ›

Hamburger Rice is the Ultimate Quick Dinner

But you can also dress hamburger rice up a million different ways, from sautéing onion with the beef to seasoning it with chili powder and serving it with sour cream and avocado.

How do you cook ground beef hack? ›

Baking soda acts as a tenderizer for ground beef, keeps it moist during cooking, and encourages deep browning by raising the acidity level of the surface of the meat. Simply add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 pound of ground beef for more tender meat with better browning.

What does 93 7 mean on ground beef? ›

the percentage of fat. For example, “93/7” means 93 percent lean meat and 7 percent fat. The lower the fat content, the less saturated fat you'll consume. To help reduce consuming extra fat from both ground turkey and ground beef, Hueschen recommends these options: Drain grease from the pan.

What makes a smash burger a smash burger? ›

A smash burger is a burger that is made by smashing the ground beef onto the grill or griddle with a spatula. Smashing the burger results in a sear on the outside of the meat, which locks in all of the juices and flavor.

What is the difference between hamburger and ground beef? ›

The method of adding beef fat to hamburger is the primary difference between ground beef and hamburger. Ground beef can only be made using the fat that is a component of meat trimmings. If a processor makes ground beef containing 30 percent fat, the processor must use meat trim that contains about 30 percent fat.

What does adding milk to ground beef do? ›

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

What is rice with meat called? ›

Arroz con Carne - literally rice with meat. This is a variation of a classical Spanish dish - Arroz con Pollo - Rice with Chicken. Not to be confused with an Americanized dish called Spanish Rice.

What is broken rice meal? ›

Vietnamese broken rice (Com tam) is a type of white rice that is commonly served with many symbolic Vietnamese dishes. If you are on your Vietnam travel, you will most likely come across this rice plate with grilled meat, egg meatloaf, salad, and pickles.

What does adding vinegar to ground beef do? ›

First and foremost, vinegar is used as a tenderizer for meat and poultry. It may be added as an injected marinade in very tough proteins or applied via a soak or rub. It's never directly added as only vinegar. With marinades, vinegar is mostly included with stock, seasoned water or fruit/vegetable puree.

Why do you put baking soda in ground beef? ›

It's called “sodium bicarbonate,” but is known to most as “baking soda,” and adding it to your ground beef helps keep it tender while also speeding up the browning process.

What does vinegar do to ground beef? ›

Acidic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, yogurt and wine weaken collagen and protein in meat. Once the proteins are broken by acid, one loose protein can bond with another and trap liquid in the meat, making it juicy and tender.

When you don't know what to eat? ›

If you want something hot, salty, soft, smooth, and bland you might opt for potato soup or a grilled cheese sandwich. Or, if you want something cold, sweet, solid, and crunchy, you might choose an apple or some peanut brittle.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Last Updated:

Views: 6016

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Birthday: 1999-05-27

Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289

Phone: +2585395768220

Job: Lead Liaison

Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding

Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.