18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2024)

Whether you're looking to save time during a busy work week or want to spend less money on groceries, one ingredient that's affordable, versatile, and easy to cook with is ground beef. To save even more money on meat, you can buy a chuck roast and then grind the meat yourself or ask your butcher to do the dirty work for you.

However you procure your ground meat, you can whip up classics like tacos or chili or stretch the protein even further by combining it with other ingredients—think breadcrumbs, veggies, and herbs—to make meatballs or burger patties. So go ahead and add ground beef to your grocery list, then use it to make one of the following easy ground beef recipes!

01of 18

Ricotta Meatballs

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (1)

When you think of ground beef, meatballs are likely one of the first foods that come to mind. This recipe calls for a combination of ground beef and ground turkey or pork, which yields a slightly leaner but just as delicious meatball. The meatballs are also made with ricotta, which gives the final product an incredibly tender texture. You can freeze these guys for up to a month, which means you can always have delicious meatballs within reach.

get the recipe

02of 18

Beef and Cabbage Skillet Supper

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2)

Think of this easy meal as deconstructed beef cabbage rolls with a little Moroccan flair. You'll start by sautéing ground beef that's been seasoned with cinnamon and coriander, and then add some sliced green cabbage and onion. A finishing touch of raisins and tomato purée adds sweetness and brightens the sauce. Serve over rice, and you've got dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

get the recipe

03of 18

Spicy Ground Beef

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (3)

This savory ground beef mixture is seasoned with chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic. It obviously makes for an easy, flavorful taco filling, but you can also add it to a quesadilla, use some to top a homemade pizza or sprinkle a bit on top of a bowl of pasta or rice.

get the recipe

04of 18

Bulgogi-Inspired Beef Tacos

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (4)

Speaking of tacos, these quick ones come together in 15 minutes. Inside you'll find ground beef seasoned with brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha, as well as mini cucumber slices, toasted sesame seeds, and a dollop of store-bought kimchi. This recipe is so easy and flavorful that we guarantee it will become a new weeknight favorite.

get the recipe

05of 18

Fajita Burgers

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (5)

Ground beef is the backbone of many hamburgers. Here, the meat is seasoned with chili powder and cumin, while the burger patties themselves are then topped with sautéed bell peppers and onions. Spread a creamy avocado mixture on one half of the bun, and add some pickled jalapeño slices for even more flavor.

get the recipe

06of 18

Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (6)

If you've ever wondered what you get when you combine spaghetti and meatballs and a casserole, this is it. Our favorite part about this one-dish recipe is that everything—meatballs, pasta, and tomato sauce—goes uncooked in the oven. Roughly an hour later, you have a ready-to-serve family favorite that even picky eaters will love.

get the recipe

07of 18

Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (7)

This chili, which feeds eight, calls for more than a pound of ground beef. The meat is prepared in a slow cooker along with other chili mainstays like black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, onions, tomato paste, and chili powder. Zucchini slices add plenty of nutrients to the meal and make it even heartier. Top each bowl with sour cream, cut-up avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro, and you're good to go!

get the recipe

08of 18

Sloppy Joe Biscuits With Roasted Broccolini

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (8)

What's better than a sloppy Joe? A sloppy Joe served on refrigerated biscuits. In addition to saving time, the biscuits act as the perfect vehicle to sop up all the sloppy goodness. When shopping for ground beef, look for a mixture that is 80 percent lean meat and 20 percent fat—a great ratio for juicy, tender beef. If you're feeling ambitious, try making your own biscuits instead of using store-bought ones.

get the recipe

09of 18

Spaghetti With Bacon Meatballs

Bacon meatballs? Yes, please! In addition to ground beef, these meatballs are made with coarsely chopped bacon, which adds a salty, smoky taste to the mixture. Other meatball ingredients include grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and flat-leaf parsley leaves. Serve 'em over spaghetti, polenta, or zucchini noodles and you've got an easy, cozy meal in less than 30 minutes.

get the recipe

10of 18

Simple Shepherd's Pie

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (10)

For a meal that's packed with meat and potatoes, but not difficult to make, give this simple shepherd's pie a whirl. The comforting dish features vegetable-enriched beef filling topped with a batch of buttery mashed potatoes, meaning it's likely to be a hit with the whole family.

get the recipe

11of 18

Fast Bolognese

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (11)

The frustrating thing about a Bolognese sauce is that it typically requires hours of simmering on the stove. However, this quick and easy version calls for just 30 minutes of hands-on work, followed by a 90-minute simmer.

Go ahead and make a big batch, and feel free to store any leftovers in the freezer for up to three months. Then, use the leftovers to coat the pasta and poach the eggs for an interesting take on shakshuka, or top a steaming hot baked potato.

get the recipe

12of 18

Grass-Fed Albondigas (Meatballs) With Tomato Sauce

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (12)

For a different take on meatballs, try this recipe from Argentine chef Fernando Navas. These meatballs call for grass-fed ground beef, stale bread, ricotta cheese, and more. Plus, the meatballs get a chance to simmer in their own homemade tomato sauce, yielding a complete light meal or appetizer in a little over an hour.

13of 18

Spiced Mini Burgers With Couscous Salad

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (13)

Cumin and oregano give these pint-sized burgers their kick. Then make this dish's tangy counterpart by tossing some couscous with scallions, tomatoes, cucumber, and lemon juice. Add some naan and hummus for a hearty meal that's full of Mediterranean flavors.

Spiced Mini Burgers With Couscous Salad

14of 18

Smoky Adobo-Seasoned Hamburgers

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (14)

For these southwestern-style burgers, start by making your own taco seasoning to mix into the ground beef. You'll grill the patties, then fry an egg to place on top of each burger, along with toppings like avocado, salsa, sliced pepper Jack cheese, and lettuce. Finish it off with some adobo sauce mixed with mayonnaise. Hot, hot, hot!

Smoky Adobo-Seasoned Hamburgers

15of 18

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (15)

This colorful dish offers a festival of flavors, and the ground beef provides protein. Cook the beef with scallion whites. Then combine it with corn, chilies, cumin, cooked rice, and Monterey Jack. Spoon it all into bright red (or orange, yellow, or green) bell peppers and drizzle with diluted plain Greek yogurt.

Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

16of 18

Four Cheese Lasagna

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (16)

The meat layer of this delectably cheesy lasagna is a mixture of ground beef, garlic, tomato sauce, tomatoes, vinegar, and shredded fresh basil. The cheese layer includes ricotta, provolone, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Serve with crusty bread and a side salad.

Four Cheese Lasagna

17of 18

Lasagna-Style Baked Ziti

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (17)

This easy-as-can-be recipe merely requires skillet-browning the ground beef and tossing it with cooked ziti, marinara sauce, spinach, ricotta, and Parmesan. Then sprinkle with mozzarella, slide it into the oven, and bake until the cheese melts.

Lasagna-Style Baked Ziti

18of 18

Spaghetti With Beef Mushroom Sauce

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (18)

Beef and mushrooms are a classic, comfort food combo, and this decadent dish gets its creamy texture from heavy cream and Parmesan. Top with roughly-chopped parsley and pair with a heavy red wine like Bordeaux.

Spaghetti With Beef Mushroom Sauce

18 Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2024)

FAQs

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

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make
  1. Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  2. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast. tasty.co. ...
  3. Veggie Garlic Noodles. tasty.co. ...
  4. Chicken & Biscuit Bake. tasty.co. ...
  5. Taco Soup. tasty.co. ...
  6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
  7. Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry. ...
  8. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas.
Apr 19, 2023

What to do with already cooked ground beef? ›

Leftover Challenge: 8 Ways to Use Leftover Ground Beef
  1. Spicy Chipotle Beef Enchiladas.
  2. Spicy Eggplant & Beef Chili.
  3. Kitchen Sink Hamburger Soup.
  4. Big Batch Shepherd's Pie.
  5. Beef & Mushroom Skillet Lasagna.
  6. Mini Meat Pies.

How to make dinner quickly? ›

How to cook faster & have dinner ready in less time
  1. Manage your expectations. Yum. ...
  2. Divide and conquer. Meal prep works. ...
  3. Embrace big batches. Soup can be made in big batches. ...
  4. Repurpose leftovers. ...
  5. Keep your pantry stocked. ...
  6. Make all-in-one meals. ...
  7. Heat things up. ...
  8. Don't go whole hog (or chicken breast)
May 26, 2020

What dish is not recommended for supper? ›

Stay away from starchy foods.

Potatoes, pasta, and rice are all examples of starchy foods that are very commonly eaten for dinner, however, Tracee, a health coach and personal trainer for HighEnergyGirl, said that "these foods simply metabolize down to sugar and create elevated blood sugar and insulin.

What to make for dinner when you are sick of everything? ›

What to Cook When You're Tired of Everything: 40 Easy Recipes to Get You Out of a Dinner Rut
  • 15-Minute Herb-Crumbed Fish. ...
  • Hot Honey Chicken Thighs. ...
  • Easy Green Chicken Enchiladas. ...
  • 50-50 Buttered Noodles and Greens. ...
  • Teriyaki Salmon Bowls. ...
  • Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich. ...
  • Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili.
Jun 20, 2022

How do you eat when you don't want to cook? ›

Ways to Eat Healthy Without Having to Cook
  1. Precooked Whole Grains. 1/13. ...
  2. Frozen Veggies. 2/13. ...
  3. Precooked Chicken Strips. 3/13. ...
  4. That's a Wrap. 4/13. ...
  5. Deli Chicken. 5/13. ...
  6. Lower-Sodium Soups. 6/13. ...
  7. Canned Salmon. 7/13. ...
  8. Ready-to-Eat Boiled Eggs. 8/13.
Aug 28, 2023

What happens if you cook ground beef that has gone bad? ›

Thus, it goes bad faster than steak or other larger cuts. Spoilage and pathogenic bacteria may both affect ground beef. These bacteria are generally not harmful but cause food to lose quality and develop a bad odor and taste. On the other hand, pathogenic bacteria are dangerous, as they can lead to food poisoning.

Should you rinse ground beef after cooking? ›

Rinsing raw ground beef could pose a health risk by splashing bacteria-filled juices all over your kitchen's surfaces. After the beef has been cooked, you're just rinsing away good flavor. If you want to get rid of some of the grease, drain the beef, but don't rinse it. It's just not necessary.

How long is ground beef good for after cooking and refrigerating? ›

How Long Does Cooked Ground Beef Last in the Fridge? Say you've cooked up a pound of ground beef for taco night, how long will that last you in the fridge? Like all leftovers, cooked meats will last in the refrigerator for three to four days, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

What is the easiest thing to cook for dinner? ›

From noodles, stir-fries, soups and salads, you'll find something for everyone.
  • 1Kung pao chicken noodle tray bake. ...
  • 25-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 310-minute cheat's fried rice. ...
  • 4Easy beef stir-fry. ...
  • 5Easy tuna, sweetcorn and rice slice. ...
  • 6Quick fish finger burgers. ...
  • 7Japanese-style pork and soba noodle stir-fry.

What can you cook in 8 minutes? ›

8-minute recipes (92)
  • 8 minute Spanish rice. ...
  • 8 minute spicy Ramen. ...
  • 8 Minute Fudge. ...
  • 3 Minute Bread Pudding (for breakfast and snacktime) ...
  • 1 California Farm Croissants (they are bigger!) ...
  • 3 ingredient fake pancakes (made with oats and cottage cheese)

What to cook in 5 minutes? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  1. Pea and broad bean couscous.
  2. Fast home-made baked beans.
  3. Porridge.
  4. Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket.
  5. Home-made hummus.
  6. Smashed avocado and wilted spinach.
  7. Cucumber (or potato) raitha.
  8. Quick pitta pizzas.

What to make for dinner with bare minimum? ›

Easy Dinner Ideas
  • Fish Stick Tacos. Top with store-bought coleslaw, pico de gallo and hot sauce. ...
  • Frittatas and Eggs. Make them dairy-free or dotted with goat cheese or feta. ...
  • Eggs Poached in Marinara. ...
  • Pasta, Pasta. ...
  • Naan Pizzas. ...
  • Fast Fish. ...
  • Ramen, yes ramen! ...
  • Big Salads.
May 11, 2022

What to eat when nothing sounds good for ADHD? ›

A food that has a low GI rating lowers blood sugar levels, decreases cravings, and increases focus. Whole grains, beans, seeds, and most vegetables are good choices.

What should I eat for dinner with no money? ›

Here are some additional cheap easy meals to make when you're broke:
  • Tuna Melts.
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
  • Lentil Soup.
  • Fried Rice.
  • Potato Soup.
  • Vegetable Soup.
  • Hamburger Stew.
  • Macaroni and Cheese.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5689

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.