40+ Recipes with Ground Beef

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This collection of ground beef recipes has got it all— soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, burgers, tacos, and more. If you’ve got some ground hamburger handy, you’ll always have something delicious to whip up!

Ground beef is a true protein champion! It’s incredibly versatile and budget-friendly. Plus, you can use ground beef in a wide variety of recipes, from classic American dishes to spicy Mexican, tasty Italian favorites, and authentic Lebanese recipes, too. These hamburger meat recipes showcase how delicious ground beef is, with its rich, beefy flavor shining through in every bite.

Tips for budget-friendly ground beef meals

• Buy in bulk when it goes on sale. Ground beef is a store favorite to place on sale, so when you see a good deal, stock up. Then you can do a little planning and divide the ground beef into smaller meal-sized portions and freeze.
• Make one-pot ground beef recipes on nights when you don’t feel like doing much. Prepare dishes that call for just a handful of ingredients and cook them all in one pot or pan. This saves on ingredients and reduces the time and effort spent on cleanup.
• Utilize leftovers: Repurpose leftover ground beef into delicious dishes like tacos, stuffed peppers, or shepherd’s pie to avoid food waste and save money.
• Serve with filling sides. Meals with ground beef pair well with options like rice, potatoes, and pasta are perfect accompaniments for ground beef recipes. Incorporate them into the dish or serve your beef over them for a satisfying meal.

tips for cooking ground beef

1. Choose lean ground beef for most recipes. Leaner meat means less fat and a cleaner taste. It also means you can skip draining grease for one less step.
2. Brown it well. Cook the ground beef until it turns a delicious brown color. This makes it taste better and gives it a nice texture. Make sure to stir occasionally for even browning.
3. Drain if necessary. If you want a richer, beefier flavor, you may opt to use a high-fat ratio. That’s just fine! You’ll just want to take the extra step of draining the fat after browning your ground beef and before adding your other ingredients.
4. Use a meat thermometer. For recipes like burgers and meatballs, where the meat is pressed into a loaf, it’s important to check the internal temperature and ensure it reaches 160°F to guarantee it’s fully cooked.

best meals to make with ground beef

Here is some recipe ideas featuring ground beef. With its versatility, you can whip up all kinds of tasty dishes. Start your meal with flavorful beefy appetizers, create quick and easy dinners, and try out recipes that are absolutely worth the effort! From hearty burgers to comforting lasagnas, ground beef always has something in store for a tasty meal.

Ground beef appetizer ideas

• Ground Beef Hummus – Upgrade your hummus with my trusted recipe. Top it with cooked pine nuts and ground beef, and serve it with pita bread or chips.
• Lebanese Kibbeh Balls – Try these tasty Lebanese kibbeh balls, a classic appetizer made with bulgur wheat and a flavorful filling of seasoned ground beef and onions. Serve with a cool cucumber yogurt sauce for dipping!
• Air Fryer Meatballs – Mix ground beef with a few ingredients, shape it into tasty meatballs, and air fry for a quicker cooking time and irresistibly crispy texture. Skip the oven and enjoy tender meatballs in no time!
• Stuffed Grape Leaves – Made with a spiced ground beef and rice mixture – a delicious Mediterranean dish commonly served as an appetizer!
• Spiced Ground Beef Hand Pies – These little pies are made with an easy-to-make dough filled with aromatic ground beef, tomato, and onion filling, making for a delicious and savory starter or snack.
• Stuffed Cabbage Rolls – Filled with the same stuffing as my stuffed grape leaves that uses cabbage instead and cooks in a lemony garlic sauce.
• Beef Stuffed Pitas – Stuff pita bread with kafta meat and grill or bake it for a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or main meal, and a great way to use up leftover kafta or hashweh meat.

Easy ground beef recipes for dinner

• Unstuffed Peppers – All the flavors you love from a traditional beef stuffed pepper but made easier in this deconstructed version!
• Beef Stuffed Peppers – This version of stuffed peppers has a Mediterranean twist using aromatic spices and is topped with toasted pine nuts. So good!
• Air Fryer Hamburgers – Have you tried air frying hamburger patties? It’s a great alternative for busy weeknights when you’re craving a beef burger but don’t want to fire up the grill or stand over a stove.
• Beef Cheeseburgers – When it comes to summer, nothing beats the taste of homemade beef hamburgers! These burgers have a delicious blend of seasoning, are bursting with flavor, and are incredibly quick and easy to prepare.
• Avocado Burger – Enjoy the classic taste of beef burgers combined with creamy avocado, grilled to perfection. The avocado is added to the ground beef and adds a delicious earthy flavor to your sandwich. Top with a tangy avocado crema for a mouthwatering combination!
• Asian Lettuce Wraps – Try a mouthwatering loose meat sandwich with an Asian twist, served on crunchy lettuce. It’s a fantastic option for lunch, a light dinner, or even as an appetizer.
• Stuffed Eggplant – Small eggplants are filled with a delicious rice and meat mixture, cooked in a tomato broth for a rich and unique flavor, and made with simple and accessible ingredients.

Mexican Ground beef dinner ideas

• Easy Ground Beef Tacos – Tacos are one of our favorite family meals, perfect for busy weeknights, especially on Taco Tuesdays! I use my homemade taco seasoning for a quick beef taco meat ready in just 10 minutes.
• Beef Burritos – Filled with all my favorite taco toppings and seasoned ground beef rolled up in a soft tortilla shell. So delicious and always hits the spot!
• Taco Salad – Perfect for meal prep and a healthy way to change your meals with a Tex-Mex-inspired salad bowl filled with taco beef, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole!
• Taco Stuffed Peppers – Another version of a classic for more ground beef dinner ideas that’s perfect when you want something light. They’re easy to make, so filling and customizable!
• Bell Pepper Nachos – If you’re looking for a healthier substitute to crunchy nachos, try these using sweet and crisp bell peppers! Pair with refried beans and cilantro cauliflower rice for a full meal.
• Sheet Pan Nachos – Layers of delicious beef, beans, and cheese loaded with all your favorite nacho toppings! It’s one of my favorite meals to make with ground beef! It’s perfect for sharing at the dinner table or as an appetizer to feed a crowd.

Best Lebanese ground beef recipes

• Beef and Rice – This Mediterranean-inspired ground beef and rice recipe is my take on the classic rice and beans. It’s a staple dish from my childhood that I love preparing for my family’s dinner.
• Spiced Beef Potato Souffle – Batata Souffle is the ultimate comfort food with whipped mashed potatoes, spiced beef filling, and crispy breadcrumbs on top!
• Lebanese Hashweh – Beef hashweh is a Lebanese staple found in many Middle Eastern dishes. Seasoned with spices, herbs, and pine nuts, it’s so flavorful and quick to prepare.
• Beef Kafta – This Beef Kafta recipe. It’s perfect for grilling outdoors or on a grill pan and is so full of flavor, but it only requires four basic ingredients: ground beef, onions, parsley, and spices.
• Baked Kibbeh – My mom’s baked kibbeh is a cherished childhood favorite. I’ve simplified the steps while maintaining the classic beefy flavors, making it easier to make.
• Kibbeh in Yogurt Sauce – Ground beef with 7 spice and other common Lebanese spices and simmered in a garlicky yogurt sauce. Yum!
• Easy Eggplant Moussaka – Made with tender slices of roasted eggplant, a rich and flavorful meat sauce, and a creamy and nutty bechamel sauce.
• Shish Barak – Homemade dumplings are stuffed with a savory blend of ground beef, spice, and pine nuts and then baked before simmering in a creamy mint yogurt sauce.
• Kousa (Stuffed Squash) – If you’re looking for more delicious meals made with ground beef, you should definitely try this stuffed squash, filled with juicy meat and rice in a rich broth!
• Kafta and Potato Stew – Seasoned beef meatballs are cooked in a rich tomato sauce with potatoes for a hearty, wholesome meal. My family loves it over vermicelli rice!
• Lebanese Spinach Stew – Try an authentic Lebanese-style spinach and ground beef stew made with simple ingredients; it’s wholesome, well-balanced, and perfect for feeding a large family

Ground beef pasta recipes

• Pasta Bolognese – Bolognese sauce is a classic Italian dish that combines ground beef, tomatoes, and onions with pasta. This is a staple delicious dinner recipe that is such a crowd-pleaser.
• Ground Beef Casserole – Hamburger meat recipes like this pasta casserole dish have everything you want in a baked pasta dish – savory browned beef, pasta, marinara sauce, and a cheesy layer of mozzarella for an easy weeknight dinner.
• Spaghetti – From scratch, chunky spaghetti sauce with vegetables, ground beef, and a secret ingredient – sun-dried tomatoes! Perfect for batch-making and freezing!
• Macarona Bechamel – Macarona Bechamel is a popular Middle Eastern comfort food resembling lasagna. It features layers of pasta, seasoned meat sauce, creamy bechamel, and a cheesy topping.
• Easy One-Pot Ravioli Soup – One of my favorite meals made with ground beef combines a tomato soup base with cheese-stuffed ravioli for a delicious and balanced dinner.
• Spaghetti and Meatballs – The ground beef meatballs are tender, juicy, and flavorful and made with simple ingredients, then tossed in a marinara sauce and spaghetti.

Ground beef lasagnas

• Layerless Lasagna – This sheet pan lasagna recipe saves you from the hassle of layering pasta perfectly. Simply pile everything together, add creamy spinach ricotta, and melty cheese for a delicious and hassle-free meal!
• Lasagna Soup – Made with ground beef, lasagna noodles, vegetable broth, fresh veggies, and diced tomatoes simmered in Italian seasoning. It’s like having a comforting bowl of lasagna in a soup form.
• Greek Yogurt Lasagna – This healthy lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese is a wholesome dinner with layers of tangy, creamy Greek yogurt filling, beefy marinara, pasta, and melty cheese.
• Homemade Lasagna – The layers of tender pasta, hearty marinara sauce, and melted cheese is the perfect combination of delicious and comforting. It’s always in my dinner rotation, and I think this recipe should be in your rotation too!
• Spaghetti Squash Lasagna – Experience the amazing flavors of lasagna in a low-carb, gluten-free, diet-friendly bowl of cheesy goodness! If you haven’t tried spaghetti squash as a pasta alternative, now’s the time to give it a shot!

frequently asked questions

Ground beef is a versatile and budget-friendly ingredient that opens up a world of delicious possibilities in the kitchen. From classic burgers to comforting casseroles, international favorites, and family recipes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for quick and easy weeknight meals or impressive dishes to serve at gatherings, simple ground beef recipes are your perfect go-to options!

full list of recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Shrimp Recipes, Avocado Recipes, Recipes With Tahini, and Recipes with Protein Powder

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