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Looking for dinner ideas using ground beef? Here you will find a variety of recipes you can easily make in your Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, on the stovetop, and in the oven. We also share our best tips on how to cook ground beef to use in your favorite recipes.
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Ground beef is a staple for many fast and easy weeknight meals. It’s budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and has favorable health benefits. It is abundant in protein, iron, vitamins B6 and B12, and other essential vitamins and minerals making it a healthy choice for family meals.
Tips on How to Cook Ground Beef
- Cook your ground beef in a cast iron skillet to get that perfect brown appearance, texture, and flavor.
- You want browned beef, not gray beef. To avoid this, don’t let it “boil” or “steam” in its own juices. If the beef starts to look like it is drowning, drain off excess liquid.
- If your recipe calls for onion, add it to the skillet along with the beef. You can also sauté the onion in the skillet before adding the beef if you want the onion to soften more.
- Use a flat-edged spatula to break apart the ground beef.
- Avoid stirring constantly. Let it have time to brown up. Break it into pieces and then leave it alone.
- Try to season your ground beef throughout the cooking process with salt, pepper, garlic, and other seasonings depending on the type of recipe you will be preparing.
- When browning beef that is extra lean, you may want to add a little more oil to add flavor.
- See our recipe below for “How to Cook Ground Beef.”
Easy Dinner Ideas with Ground Beef
When it comes to ground beef, the dinner possibilities are endless! You can make anything from soups, to casseroles, to meatballs and meatloaf. Whether you prefer cooking in the oven, on the stovetop, with a slow cooker, on the grill, or with an Instant pot, you are sure to find a recipe here that will become a new favorite! It wouldn’t be a proper ground beef compilation without including the classics. Who doesn’t love burgers and fries or Taco Tuesday? Comfort food the whole family will love.
Walking Tacos
Walking Tacos, Tacos in a Bag, Locos, Walking Tacos, Tacos in a Bag, Locos Tacos – whatever you call them, they’re the best meal for camping, reunions, and block parties. Plus, walking tacos are cheap and tasty, with the easiest clean-up ever—no plates required!
Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger
This Blue Cheese Burger with Bacon takes regular hamburgers a whole new level. Crisp bacon, tangy blue cheese crumbles, and a spicy sauce turns up the heat and flavor!
Taco Salad
This taco salad is made with seasoned ground beef, crisp romaine lettuce, and flavorful toppings. An easy, healthy weeknight dinner!
Hamburgers
Get all the tips, tricks, and secrets to making flavorful, juicy hamburgers. You can’t go wrong with this easy, fool-proof method.
White Castle Sliders
White Castle Sliders you can make at home! If you’ve always wanted to replicate these popular burgers from the White Castle restaurant, this recipe is the real deal.
Ground Beef Tacos
Ground Beef Tacos are a tasty recipe that makes a great meal for the whole family. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Taco Soup (sub the chicken for ground beef)
Emily’s Southwest Taco Soup is a simple recipe bursting with savory spicy taco flavor. A perfect soup supper any night of the week!
Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef Tacos
Making your own homemade taco seasoning is so simple and inexpensive! You likely already have most of the ingredients in your pantry and can whip up a batch in just minutes, then enjoy it for months.
Navajo Tacos
Navajo Tacos are easy to make and fun to eat! Pillowy fry bread piled with chili, cheese and your favorite toppings.
Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes
I LOVE making ground beef recipes in the Instant Pot because you can cook the beef righ in the pot! No cooking and transferring to another dish. You can sauté, cook, and simmer all in one place!
Meatballs
These Instant Pot Meatballs are the easiest way to make meatballs EVER. No browning or sautéing. Just throw them in the sauce uncooked and let the Instant Pot do the rest!
Swedish Meatballs
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs are always tender and delicious in a rich gravy that is done in an instant! Super tasty over rice, noodles or potatoes.
Stuffed Peppers
Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers are a hit for busy weeknights! The cheesy beef and rice filling is so satisfying and bakes beautifully in brilliant green or red peppers. Your family will love them!
Crock Pot (Slow Cooker) Ground Beef Recipes
If you prefer taking it slow when you are cooking, you are going to love these crock pot ground beef recipes! Use the tips above to brown your beef and them add it to the recipes below. Did you know that you can also brown your beef in the Crock Pot? Just break up the beef in the bottom of the Crock Pot, season like you normally would, and ¼ cup water per pound (up to 3 pounds). Cook on high for 2-3 hours (or low for 5-6 hours). Perfect for taco meat, sloppy Joes, or to freeze for future recipes.
Vegetable Beef Soup
Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Soup is full of savory ground beef and hearty vegetables. One of the easiest soups to throw together on a busy, chilly day, and always a family favorite!
Crock Pot Lasagna
Cooking a delicious, hearty Italian dinner just got easier with this Crock Pot Lasagna! Put everything in the Crock Pot – including uncooked noodles – and let it slow cook while you go about your day. Then serve up a meal your whole family will love!
Crock Pot BBQ Baked Beans
These BBQ baked beans in a crock pot are the perfect side dish for your next potluck or BBQ. They are sweet, savory, beefy, hearty, and oh so delicious!
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
These Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs are so yummy and easy to make! With homemade meatballs, pineapple chunks, and a tangy sweet sauce, you are gonna love it!
Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Our Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup copycat recipe tastes just like the original. This hearty, Italian-seasoned soup is easily made in a slow cooker.
Easy Cheater Chili
Our Easy Chili Recipe is the fastest way to get hearty chili on the dinner table – made with beef, beans and tomatoes in a rich tomato sauce.
Ground Beef Skillet (Stove Top) Recipes
If you are in a hurry, skillet recipes are the way to go when using ground beef. You can easily brown the beef and cook the rest of your meal all on one big skillet or quickly serve over noodles or rice. Be sure to use the tips above when browning your beef!
Authentic Italian Spaghetti
Nick’s Authentic Italian Spaghetti recipe comes straight from Italy. Tomatoes, basil, onions, and carrots flavor the meat to make the perfect sauce!
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes—the name may remind you of canned meat served in elementary school, but I promise you these homemade sloppy joes are flavor-packed and the perfect thing to make for a quick meal or potluck.
Easy Spanish Rice Skillet
This Easy Spanish Rice recipe is an easy, delicious one pot meal for any night of the week. Have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!
15-Minute Beef and Noodles Skillet
This 15 Minute Beef and Noodles Skillet recipe is perfect for those busy nights when you need dinner quick. Ground beef and noodles with a creamy, cheesy sauce.
Easy Meatball Stroganoff
Meatball stroganoff is a hearty, easy to make dinner that everyone in the family will love. Learn how to make the perfect meatballs and sauce for this tasty dish.
Frikadeller (Danish Meatballs)
Frikadeller, or Danish Meatballs, are savory meatballs served in a rich, creamy sauce that is comfort food at its finest. Plus, they’re super easy to make!
Aunt Bessie Meatballs
Aunt Bessie Meatballs are truly a family favorite and are full of veggies. The meatballs are packed with shredded potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Ground Beef Oven Baked Recipes
When feeding a family, an easy baked casserole is a great way to go! You have everything you need all in one dish. Casseroles make for hearty and delicious dinner for any night of the week, especially those nights when you are in a hurry or don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie
Easy Shepherd’s Pie is the perfect week-night dinner! Loaded with meat and veggies and topped with potatoes and cheese, this warm dish is the ultimate comfort food.
Easy Mexican Lasagna
Mexican Lasagna is a cross between lasagna and enchiladas. Tortillas, meat sauce, and cheese layered and topped with your favorite Mexican toppings!
The BEST Lasagna
Our family’s favorite lasagna, with spicy sausage, plump tomatoes and lots of cheese, will be a hit at your dinner table too!
Southwestern Chili Frito Pie
Frito Chili Casserole is the perfect comfort dinner. Delicious layers of crunchy Fritos, Southwestern chili, and lots of gooey cheese make for a winning weeknight meal!
The BEST Baked Tater Tot Casserole
The Best Baked Tater Tot Casserole is comfort food reminiscent of your childhood. Creamy beef topped with crisp tater tots and lots of cheese. It’s a family dinner hit!
Best Meatloaf Recipe
This meatloaf recipe will change the way you think about meatloaf! Rich, moist and loaded with chopped vegetables, this hearty dish is sure to become a family favorite!
Dinner in a Pumpkin
Dinner in a Pumpkin is a hearty casserole cooked right inside a pumpkin! Perfect for serving on Halloween night before the kids go trick or treating.
Cheesy Enchilada Casserole
This easy Enchilada Casserole your whole family will love! Make it with leftover shredded chicken or beef.
Cheeseburger Pie
Cheeseburger pie is cheap, easy, and uses ingredients you probably always have on hand. Makes for a delicious dinner any night of the week!
Sloppy Joe Cups
These Sloppy Cups, or Sloppy Joe Cups, are a fun, new way to enjoy Sloppy Joes. The kids love having their own little cups on their plates!
For more information about cooking with ground beef, including ground beef safety and best practices for storing ground beef, visit beefitswhatsfordinner.com.
How to Cook Ground Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons cooking oil
- 1 pound ground beef (85/15 or leaner)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Remove ground beef from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes).
- In a medium or large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat (a little closer to the “high” side than the “medium” side).
- Add ground beef to pan and press down to cover the bottom of the pan (like you are making a big hamburger), then break into large pieces (A wooden spatula with a big flat edge works best for this).
- Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes without stirring or breaking up more. Try to break that habit of adding the beef to the pan and immediately chopping up into little tiny pieces right off the bat.
- Flip the ground beef over, season with salt (or any other seasonings your particular recipe calls for) and cook on the other side for another couple minutes.
- After a couple minutes, start breaking into smaller pieces. Resist the urge to stir constantly or the beef won't get "browned". Continue to brown by stirring, then waiting a minute or so, then stirring again until the ground beef is brown and cooked through.
- For more tips on cooking ground beef, see notes above.
Nutrition Information
Recipe tips on how to cook ground beef inspired by Alton Brown
Some really great recipes here. Love meatballs – sweet and sour or otherwise, they’re always good! Nice, easy recipe for ground beef. Can be used for so many things! So wonderfully versatile!
ooh YUM! Love all these ideas- sloppy joes and shepherds pie are the winners for me though!
Ground beef is a staple in our house & I am always on the hunt for new recipes to try. I make the same things! All of your recipes look so good!! Trying one, this coming weekend!
I can’t wait to try these recipes! They look so delicious and yummy! So excited!
So many great ideas! Can’t wait to try them.
These are all amazing recipes, especially the sloppy joes!
I’m not one to usually comment on posts, but I just have to say that these beef recipes are MONEY. I’ve made several of them (crockpot meatballs, cowboy spaghetti, sloppy joes, beef burrito skillet, etc.) and every single time the dish turns out savory, the meat is NOT dry, and everything comes together perfectly. In fact, just a couple of months ago I made the meatballs for an office work party, and people were raving over them. And I don’t consider myself much of a cook. Keep up the great work, and keep those delicious recipes coming!
Thank you for your helpful comments.