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Loaded with fresh seasonal produce, this easy ground beef dinner with summer vegetables is a simple and healthy dish that the whole family will love. Serve the meat and veggies with rice, pasta, or your favorite bread for a one-pot 30-minute meal!
What should I make for dinner tonight?!
We’ve all been there — a pound of ground beef in the refrigerator, a random assortment of produce in the vegetable drawer — and no idea what to make for dinner! For those nights when you need something quick, healthy, and kid-friendly, this ground beef dinner with summer vegetables comes to the rescue. You don’t need any fancy ingredients, it doesn’t require much prep work, and you’ll only have one skillet to wash when the meal is done. Simple ground beef recipes are the best!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for one of our favorite ground beef recipe ideas. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Olive oil: to sauté the meat and vegetables.
- Ground beef: you can also substitute with ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Onion and garlic: add savory flavor.
- Corn, zucchini, and tomato: classic summer veggies that are so abundant in our gardens and farm markets right now.
- Basil and thyme: fresh herbs that pair nicely with the vegetables.
- Worcestershire sauce: for savory, salty umami flavor. Soy sauce would also be a nice addition.
- Butter: adds flavor and richness.
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
How to Make this Ground Beef Dinner with Summer Vegetables
This one pot meal highlights some of summer’s quintessential produce (like corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and fresh herbs); however, it’s really a dish that you can make year-round. Frozen corn works well, and these days it’s pretty darn easy to find tomatoes and zucchini in grocery stores year-round.
- Brown the Beef. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic until the meat is no longer pink.
- Add the Vegetables. Add the vegetables, herbs, butter and Worcestershire sauce.
- Simmer. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 10 more minutes, or just until the veggies are tender. Season with additional salt and pepper and serve!
How to Season Ground Beef
For this recipe, you will season the ground beef before cooking it by adding salt and pepper to the skillet as it browns. You then layer on additional flavor as the meat continues to simmer with spices and ingredients such as garlic, basil, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Pair the beef and vegetables with rice, cauliflower rice (for a grain-free, low-carb option), pasta, mashed potatoes, cucumber dill salad, dinner rolls, cornbread, blueberry muffins, or a loaf of crusty French baguette.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make ahead: You can chop the vegetables in advance and even brown the meat in advance. Keep everything separate in the refrigerator, and then at the last minute you can quickly simmer the skillet as instructed.
- Stored in an airtight container, leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- How to Reheat: Portion an individual serving in a bowl, cover, and microwave for 1-2 minutes (or until warmed through). To reheat a larger portion, place the ground beef mixture in a large skillet and warm over low heat, just until heated through.
- I do not recommend storing leftovers in the freezer, since the vegetables will have a watery, mushy texture when thawed.
Recipe Variations
- This is a mild dish with simple seasonings. You can play around with the spices that you use by adding more seasoning for stronger flavor; by mixing up the herbs and using parsley, cilantro, rosemary, or oregano (for example); or by including cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes for a little bit of kick. Additional spices that go well with ground beef include curry powder, mustard powder, chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cumin. Just taste as you go and adjust to suit your preferences.
- Try other veggies, such as diced sweet bell peppers.
- Swap out the Worcestershire sauce for soy sauce.
- Use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of the beef.
- Double all of the ingredients to feed a larger family.
Tips for the Best Ground Beef Dinner Recipe
- Use fresh herbs when available for the best flavor.
- Make this dish at any time of year! If you don’t have access to fresh summer produce, you can use frozen (or even canned) corn and canned, diced tomatoes (drained).
- Melt shredded cheddar cheese on top of the warm beef mixture, or garnish with Parmesan at the very end.
- This healthy ground beef dinner recipe includes just 296 calories per serving, 11 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrates and a whopping 25 grams of protein!
More Ground Beef Dinner Ideas
If you need even more weeknight ground beef dinner ideas to take advantage of that meat in your refrigerator, here are a few favorites:
- Ground Beef Tacos (or use taco meat to make Taco Quesadillas)
- Pile Taco Meat on Tortilla Chips for Nachos
- Chili
- Sloppy Joes
- One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Grilled Burgers
- The Best Spaghetti Sauce
- Homemade Meatballs or Baked Meatballs
- Southern Meatloaf or Meatloaf with Oatmeal
- Cowboy Baked Beans with Ground Beef
- Homemade Lasagna
- Shepherd’s Pie
- Taco Soup
- Grandmother’s Hamburger Soup
- Italian Ground Beef Casserole Recipe
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Ground Beef Casserole with Cornbread Crust
- 4-Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole
Ground Beef Dinner with Summer Vegetables
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground beef (I used 93% lean)
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
- 10 ounces frozen corn kernels (or 2 cups fresh corn kernels)
- 1 medium zucchini (about ½ lb. total), diced
- 1 cup seeded and diced tomato or 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves)
- 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Optional garnish: grated Parmesan cheese; additional fresh herbs
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook until the beef is no longer pink (breaking up the meat as it cooks), about 5-7 minutes. Drain.
- Reduce heat to low; stir in corn, zucchini, tomato, basil, thyme, butter and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 more minutes (or until the vegetables are tender). Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
- This is a mild dish with simple seasonings. You can play around with the spices that you use by adding more seasoning for stronger flavor; by mixing up the herbs and using parsley, cilantro, rosemary, or oregano (for example); or by including cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes for a little bit of kick. Additional spices that go well with ground beef include curry powder, mustard powder, chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, and cumin. Just taste as you go and adjust to suit your preferences.
- Try other veggies, such as diced sweet bell peppers.
- Swap out the Worcestershire sauce for soy sauce.
- Use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of the beef.
- Double all of the ingredients to feed a larger family.
Tasty alternative to a hamburger or meat loaf with lots of fresh veggies. I added red pepper and a little mushroom, served with brown rice. Is like an American stir fry.
Thanks, Kathe! Your additions sound perfect!
Glad to find something new to do with ground beef that doesn’t leave you feeling heavy. I followed the recipe since it was the first try and paired it with some bowtie pasta. My hubby just went back for 2nds and he’s a true meat and taters man. I may sub the beef for venison the next time I make it, or add mushrooms like the previous comment suggested. Thank you!
That’s awesome, Natasha! I’m so glad that your hubby even approves. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to come back here and let me know!
Super yummy. I did add the additional spices as suggested. Had cilantro lime rice on the side. Shredded the cucumber and left cold on top of the meat mixture.
Excellent! So glad that you made it your own with some additional seasoning, Lisa. Thanks for your note!
This recipe is exactly what I was looking for! Something on the lighter side using ground beef, summer veggies, and herbs from my garden! Added bonus: Worcestershire sauce is my family’s favorite!!! Delicious! Doubled up the veggies to stretch and served with french rolls. I’d been wanting to make something like this, but needed “permission” – or at least the knowledge that someone else had tried it and their family liked it. Hahaha!
After almost everyone was finished, I suddenly remembered I forgot the Parmesan! All agreed that would have made it even better. Next time!
That’s amazing! I’m so glad that you all enjoyed the meal. Thanks so much for taking the time to come back here and let me know! 🙂
Even my husband loved it. As well as myself, a 5 year old and a 1 year old. Definitely a keeper! Thank you!!!
That’s so good to hear, Bridget! Thank you!
Big hit! What a great way to use our summer veggies especially fresh corn and zucchini. Used a little beef broth to help the flavours meld but basically stick with the recipe. Will make it again!
Wonderful! Thanks, Alastair!
Delicious!!! So light and flavorful! Kids and husband all loved it. I’ve made it twice and it is a keeper!! Thank you!
Wonderful! Thank you so much, Bridget!
hi can you substitute the zucchini for cucumber? i am not much of a zucchini fan
Hi, Chad! I’m not sure about the cooked cucumber. I would substitute with yellow summer squash or sweet bell pepper, if you’d like that. If not, I would probably just increase the other vegetables. For instance, use extra tomatoes and/or extra corn. Hope that helps!
This was the perfect way to use up the corn and tomatoes from our garden on a hot day
Wonderful! Thank you, Jessica!