Quick-cooking, affordable, and family-friendly, you can’t beat these easy ground beef recipes! From casseroles to burritos, spaghetti sauce to chili and meatloaf, there’s a simple dinner idea for every occasion. Healthy options, kid-friendly options, 5-star favorites, skillet dinners, Crock Pot meals, and more — they’re all here!
Recipes with Ground Beef
Ground beef is a staple protein that many of us keep on hand in the fridge or freezer for simple last-minute suppers. Whether you’re feeding a small household of one or two, or offering a big meal to a hungry group, this crowd-pleasing, versatile ingredient has a place on your menu. Here we’ve pulled together more than 70 of our favorite easy ground beef recipes with few ingredients to inspire new options on your family’s table!
What can be made from ground beef?
One of the greatest aspects of ground beef is its versatility! If you’ve got some meat in your freezer, there’s so much that you can do with it. Use it in ground beef tacos, add it to soups or chili, include it in a casserole or lasagna, make patties for burgers, hamburger steak, or mini meatloaf, stir together a pot of goulash, and serve it on salads or tortilla chips for nachos. The options are truly endless. What’s on your menu for dinner tonight?!
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What should I season my ground beef with?
Season your ground beef with cumin, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne for a Mexican or southwest-style meal; use garlic powder, onion powder, basil, parsley, and oregano for Italian-inspired dishes; or keep it simple with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion — or just our favorite all-purpose seasoning blend. Worcestershire sauce always pairs nicely with the red meat, too!
Dinners with Ground Beef
I’ve organized these easy ground beef recipes into sub-categories so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for! In this convenient roundup, you can choose between:
- 5-Star Recipes
- Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Simple Recipes
- Healthy Recipes
- Skillet Recipes
- Crock Pot Recipes
- Casseroles
5-Star Ground Beef Recipes
These favorite recipes have earned 5 stars from readers like you!
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
A hearty spaghetti sauce made with Italian sausage, ground beef, red wine, tomatoes, and herbs!
Bisquick Cheeseburger Pie
This vintage Impossible Cheeseburger Pie is an easy, family-friendly dinner with savory ground beef, melty cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Stuffed Shells with Meat
These stuffed shells with meat are filled with ground beef, three types of cheese, and pesto for incredible flavor. A cozy, make-ahead pasta bake the whole family will love.
Beef Chili
With just the right amount of zesty seasoning, this simple and easy beef chili recipe is thick, rich, and incredibly flavorful!
Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe
An easy 30-minute dinner made with simple pantry staples and a sweet, tangy homemade sauce.
Italian Ground Beef Casserole
A classic Italian casserole that's loaded with hearty ground beef, pasta, and cheese!
American Chop Suey
You only need a single pot and 10 minutes of prep for my grandmother's easy American chop suey recipe!
Southern Meatloaf
This Southern meatloaf recipe uses cornbread crumbs and a blend of ground beef and pork for a moist, flavorful twist on the classic. The ketchup-Worcestershire glaze adds a sweet and savory finish that the whole family will love.
Homemade Salisbury Steak
This easy homemade Salisbury Steak is an updated and upgraded version of the classic TV dinner!
Ground Beef Recipes for Kids
These kid-friendly dinners are approved by my 3 hungry boys…and many other enthusiastic young eaters, too!
Homemade Meatballs
Treat your family to spaghetti and meatballs tonight! These easy Italian meatballs are truly the best — and so simple!
One Pot Creamy Beef and Shells
Total comfort food! This one pot creamy beef and shells recipe is an easy dinner made from scratch with ground beef and shell pasta in a cheesy tomato sauce.
Taco Bake with Doritos
A fun twist on taco night, this ground beef Dorito casserole is an easy dinner that will make your family smile!
One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
Just 5 minutes of prep for a homemade Hamburger Helper that's healthier and tastier than the store-bought version!
Best Grilled Hamburgers
The best grilled burger recipe is simple, easy, juicy, and flavorful!
Ground Beef Nachos
A tray of these easy homemade beef nachos makes a fun weeknight dinner!
Baked Meatballs
These easy oven baked meatballs in sauce are a perfect weeknight dinner!
Bacon Cheeseburger Pockets
These Bacon Cheeseburger Pockets are a quick and easy dinner that the whole family will love! Plus, they’re freezer-friendly!
Classic Patty Melt
This classic patty melt features a seasoned beef patty, melted cheese, and buttery caramelized onions on toasted rye bread. It's a diner-style favorite you can easily make at home.
Taco Pizza
Bring the family together with an easy dinner recipe that combines two of your kids' favorite meals — tacos and pizza!
Mac and Cheese with Ground Beef
Kraft Deluxe mac and cheese with hamburger is the perfect weeknight dinner!
Baked Taquitos
With just 4 ingredients, this Baked Taquitos recipe is the perfect easy dinner for busy families. The beef and cheese taquitos are also freezer-friendly!
Creamy Tomato Soup with Ground Beef and Noodles
Creamy beef tomato soup with noodles is a hearty, easy, and family-friendly one-pot meal!
Simple Ground Beef Recipes
These recipes keep it really simple — with one pot, just a few ingredients, or minimal hands-on effort!
One Pot Chili Mac
This one pot chili mac combines zesty ground beef chili and tender elbow macaroni in one easy skillet dinner. It's ready in about 30 minutes and always a hit with kids and adults alike.
Porcupine Meatballs
You only need 10 minutes of prep for these easy baked porcupine meatballs!
Easy Beef Enchilada Casserole
This easy Beef Enchilada Casserole requires just 4 simple ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep!
Dump-and-Bake Ground Beef Casserole with Rice
A cheesy, comforting ground beef and rice casserole with just 10 minutes of hands-on prep. No need to brown the meat or boil the rice first. Just dump, stir, and let the oven do the work for an easy weeknight dinner.
4-Ingredient Crescent Roll Ground Beef Casserole
This easy 4-ingredient ground beef casserole with a crescent roll crust is always a family favorite!
The Easiest Burrito Recipe
These easy homemade burritos are budget-friendly, family-friendly, and freezer-friendly – perfect for satisfying your Mexican food cravings any night of the week!
Dorito Taco Salad
A flavorful Dorito taco salad with Catalina or French dressing is the perfect weeknight dinner or crowd-pleasing party food!
Meatloaf with Oatmeal
Grandma's comforting, family-friendly meatloaf made with oatmeal as a binder, yielding juicy slices every time.
Ground Beef Enchiladas
Easy ground beef enchiladas are perfect for when you're craving Mexican food at home!
Taco Casserole
This 5-ingredient taco casserole comes together in just minutes thanks to a flaky crescent roll crust. Seasoned beef, salsa, and melted cheese make it a family-favorite weeknight dinner.
Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole with Rice
An easy, kid-friendly ground beef casserole with rice, bacon, cheese, and potato chips on top!
Cheeseburger Soup
Cozy, comforting and full of flavor! Your family will love this easy Cheeseburger Soup with bacon, potatoes and herbs.
Taco Biscuit Cups
These kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, prep-ahead 5-Ingredient Taco Biscuit Cups will please everyone at your dinner table! For those crazy nights when you need a quick meal right now, you can’t beat the convenience of a simple and delicious taco dinner!
Mini Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
Classic comfort food gets a major flavor upgrade! Bacon-wrapped meatloaf starts with a blend of ground beef, breadcrumbs and seasonings that are covered with bacon, brushed with a sweet ketchup glaze, and baked until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside!
Healthy Ground Beef Recipes
Use extra-lean ground beef and enjoy these lightened-up options that still satisfy hearty appetites!
Easy Red Beans and Rice
A quick and easy red beans and rice recipe from Puerto Rico — full of warm, zesty spices and ground beef.
Grandmother’s Hamburger Soup
This simple, healthy, and easy hamburger soup is pure comfort in a bowl, and it has stood the test of time for generations!
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
A quick and healthy ground beef cabbage recipe that tastes like an un-stuffed cabbage roll in a bowl!
Big Mac Salad
A hearty entree salad that tastes like a classic Big Mac sandwich — including the "special sauce" dressing!
Stuffed Peppers with Rice
Classic stuffed bell peppers with rice, ground beef, two different types of cheese, and Italian herbs are baked in tomato sauce until tender and flavorful.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
All the classic egg roll flavors in a quick, healthy, one-skillet dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes!
Stuffed Pepper Soup
This stuffed pepper soup recipe is an easy and hearty one-pot meal packed with ground beef, rice, tomatoes, and sweet bell peppers.
Ground Beef Dinner with Summer Vegetables
This healthy and easy Ground Beef Dinner with Summer Vegetables is a one-pot 30-minute meal!
Cabbage Roll Soup
All the classic flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls in an easy one-pot cabbage roll soup. Hearty, comforting, and perfect for a chilly night!
Mini Meatloaf
This healthy mini meatloaf is made with extra-lean beef, hidden zucchini for moisture, and baked in a muffin tin for a quick 30-minute dinner. Kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ground Beef Skillet Recipes
These easy ground beef recipes come together in a skillet!
Southwest Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
A flavorful 30-minute meal that everyone at the table will love!
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Juicy, flavorful, and easy, you can have perfectly cooked cast iron skillet burgers any night of the week!
Hamburger Steak
Hamburger steak with mushroom gravy (or "poor man's steak") is an affordable, easy dinner!
Skillet Lasagna
This cast iron skillet lasagna with Italian sausage, pesto, and three different types of cheese, is a shortcut version of the classic comfort food dinner!
Frito Pie
A cozy one-skillet Frito pie with chili, cheese, and crunchy corn chips — ready with just 15 minutes of prep!
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Serve this simple and cozy Ground Beef Stroganoff over a bowl of hot egg noodles or rice for an easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love!
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
A quick and healthy ground beef cabbage recipe that tastes like an un-stuffed cabbage roll in a bowl!
Beef Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits
A cozy beef pot pie includes a ground beef and vegetable filling that's coated in a rich gravy and topped with fluffy, cheesy drop biscuits. Total comfort food!
Taco Skillet with Rice
This cheesy Taco Skillet with rice is an easy dinner that cooks entirely in one pan!
Crock Pot Recipes with Ground Beef
Take advantage of the convenience of the slow cooker with these easy recipes!
Crock Pot Lasagna Soup
Whip up this flavorful and easy lasagna soup in the slow cooker or on the stovetop!
Slow Cooker Chili
Your search for the best slow cooker chili recipe stops here! Use ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken to make it your own.
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
An easy slow cooker dinner that the whole family will love!
Easy Taco Soup
Simmer a pot of this easy taco soup recipe on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot!
Pumpkin Chili {Slow Cooker or Stovetop}
On the stovetop or in the slow cooker, this Pumpkin Chili recipe is an easy and healthy dinner that's perfect for fall!
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Crockpot Salisbury Steak delivers tender beef patties in restaurant-style mushroom gravy with minimal effort. Brown the patties first for best flavor, or skip it for an even easier weeknight dinner. Serve with mashed potatoes to soak up every drop of that savory gravy.
Crockpot Meatloaf
Just set it and forget it! You can "bake" a classic comfort food dinner in your slow cooker with this easy crockpot meatloaf recipe.
Crockpot Cabbage Soup with Hamburger
It doesn't get much easier than a healthy slow cooker cabbage soup with hamburger, beans, and loads of veggies!
Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
There’s something so cozy and comforting about a ground beef casserole!
Dutch Oven Lasagna
Perfect for camping or for a cozy meal in your own kitchen, this easy Dutch oven lasagna is total comfort food!
Tater Tot Casserole with Green Beans
This hearty, comfort food classic includes ground beef, green beans, and corn topped with cheese and crispy potatoes.
Calico Beans
A flavorful and easy baked beans recipe that includes ground beef, bacon, and onion in a sweet and savory sauce.
Amish Hamburger Casserole {Sour Cream Noodle Bake}
This Amish hamburger casserole is a comforting sour cream noodle bake that the whole family will love!
Beef Noodle Casserole
Easy, cheesy, and flavorful, this beef noodle casserole is a family-friendly dinner for busy nights!
Homemade Lasagna
The best homemade lasagna recipe includes thick layers of noodles, Italian sausage, ground beef, and cheese in a made-from-scratch sauce!
Ground Beef Casserole with Cornbread
An old-fashioned cornbread and ground beef casserole is an easy dinner that everyone at the table can agree on!
Hamburger Casserole with Noodles
Easy, cheesy, and flavorful, this ground beef noodle casserole is a family-friendly dinner for busy nights!
Mexican Lasagna
This easy Mexican lasagna is a hearty casserole made with layers of tortillas, seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, salsa, and cheese!
Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole
This easy cheeseburger casserole has all the best flavor of a classic cheeseburger in pasta form! You only need 20 minutes to prep this easy casserole recipe.
Crescent Roll Taco Bake
This crescent roll taco bake is a cheesy, zesty casserole with ground beef and corn, topped with a golden crescent crust for an easy weeknight dinner.
Cabbage Roll Casserole
An easier twist on my great grandmother’s classic dish, this lazy, unstuffed cabbage roll casserole is a simple dinner with so much delicious flavor!
Beef Stroganoff Casserole
All of the flavors that you love from the traditional dish come together in this cozy and hearty beef stroganoff casserole!
Hamburger Casserole with Rice
This creamy, cheesy Hamburger Casserole with Rice is an old-fashioned, easy dinner with just 15 minutes of prep! Perfect for busy weeknights!
Stuffed Pepper Casserole
This easy casserole is a perfect weeknight dinner! The comforting, flavorful meal includes ground beef, Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, tender white rice, and plenty of cheese in a zesty Italian tomato sauce.
Taco Bake Casserole
All of your favorite taco ingredients come together in one dish with this easy Taco Bake Casserole — and it's ready in 30 minutes!
Cottage Pie
A ground beef and vegetable filling is coated in flavorful gravy and topped with mashed potatoes, making this Cottage Pie a nourishing, cozy and easy dinner!
Shipwreck Casserole
A vintage ground beef casserole with layers of hamburger, potato, kidney beans, and tomato soup. Plus bacon, cheese, and a buttery Corn Flake topping!
Hamburger Potato Casserole
An old-fashioned comfort food dish — this cheesy and creamy Hamburger Potato Casserole is an easy dinner that the whole family can agree on!
Tamale Pie
This ground beef casserole is topped with a cheesy Jiffy cornbread crust for an easy dinner with about 15 minutes of prep.
More Ground Beef Recipes
Do you have even more easy ground beef recipes to share? Leave a note in the comments below and let us know how you like to use this popular ingredient. We’re always looking for new ideas!
Blair, you don’t know how supportive you are in my cooking endeavors. I thank you from the bottom of my confused, exhausted heart. I’m re-learning to cook, still learning to navigate my new town, not as young as I used to be, AND trying to figure out my way around new supermarkets. I find the meat section of supermarkets to me the most confusing of all. You know, there is SO much product, you want to find the Right Item to take home and the meats are comparatively expensive so you don’t want to buy the wrong item. I may need to lean heavy on these great ground beef recipes for a while. I was trying to shop yesterday and got some essentials but the meat section bewildered me. I looked you up this morning, as I do everyday, and there was your collection! My daze receded and I thought “Oh, YES. Ground beef”. You came through again. I can always do something with ground beef, even if I forget my plan in the store.
One thing for sure. I’m going to have to do my cooking homework ahead of time, and make and remember to take a shopping list. When I lived in Texas, I had shopped for nearly 50 years at one particular store and I could afford to think on my feet and wing it. For now, that just won’t work for me in a new store because I’m so distracted.
You can tell Spencer I thought happy thoughts about him at the store. Close to the fron’t of the store were full size skeleton decorations and they reminded me of him and his skeleton. I smiled about it for hours.
This warms my heart, Marion. I’m so glad that it’s helpful! Give yourself time — you’ll adjust to your new surroundings eventually. 🙂 In the meantime, a meal plan and a shopping list will go a long way! Thanks for thinking of Spencer, too. Skeleton’s still sittin’ on our porch!