28 Delicious Meals To Make With Ground Beef

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Meals to Make with Ground Beef: Your Guide to Tasty, Versatile, and Easy Dishes

Ground beef is one of the most versatile ingredients to have in your kitchen. Whether you’re whipping up a weeknight dinner or prepping for a special occasion, there are countless meals to make with ground beef that suit every taste and preference. In this article, we’ll explore not only how to choose the best ground beef but also discuss the benefits of grinding your own beef. So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering what to cook with ground beef, this guide will help you get started.

Understanding Ground Beef: Different Fat Contents and Their Uses

Before diving into ground beef recipes, it’s crucial to understand the different types of ground beef available. Ground beef typically comes in several fat content varieties, each lending itself better to certain dishes. Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. 80/20 Ground Beef (80% Lean, 20% Fat)

This is the classic choice for juicy, flavorful dishes. The higher fat content makes it ideal for meals to make with ground beef that benefit from extra moisture, such as burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf. The fat enhances flavor and prevents the meat from drying out during cooking.

  • Best for: Burgers, meatloaf, meatballs, tacos, and chili
  • Pro tip: No need to add extra oil when cooking; the natural fat provides enough moisture.

2. 85/15 Ground Beef (85% Lean, 15% Fat)

A great all-purpose option if you’re looking for what to cook with ground beef. It has enough fat to keep dishes moist while still being relatively lean, making it a versatile choice.

  • Best for: Bolognese sauce, casseroles, stuffed peppers, tacos, and lasagna
  • Pro tip: Drain excess fat after browning to reduce overall fat content.

3. 90/10 Ground Beef (90% Lean, 10% Fat) and 93/7 Ground Beef (93% Lean, 7% Fat)

These leanest options are perfect for ground beef recipes where a drier texture is desired or for when you’re trying to cut back on fat intake. However, they can dry out easily during cooking due to the low fat content.

  • Best for: Stir-fries, soups, wraps, and lighter pasta dishes
  • Pro tip: Add a splash of olive oil or mix in chopped vegetables to keep the meat moist.

Benefits of Grinding Your Own Beef

If you’re serious about meals to make with ground beef and want full control over what goes into your dishes, grinding your own beef is an excellent option. While it may seem like an extra step, the benefits are worth it.

1. Control Over Fat Content

Grinding your own beef gives you control over the fat content. Choose cuts that best suit your recipe and decide how much fat to include. This means you can create the perfect blend for specific ground beef recipes. For example, mix sirloin with a bit of chuck for a custom blend that suits your taste.

2. Freshness and Flavor

Pre-packaged ground beef often loses flavor and freshness after sitting for days in the store. Grinding beef at home ensures you’re using fresh cuts, resulting in better-tasting meals. It also reduces the risk of bacterial exposure, which is crucial for dishes like burgers.

3. Better Texture

Store-bought ground beef can have an overly processed texture due to mass production. By grinding your own beef, you control the coarseness of the grind, achieving a more desirable texture. A coarser grind is great for burgers, while a finer grind works well for sauces.

4. Cost Efficiency

Grinding your own beef can be more cost-effective. Larger cuts like chuck roast can be cheaper per pound than pre-ground beef. Portion and grind as needed, reducing waste and maximizing your investment.

How to Grind Your Own Beef at Home

Grinding your own beef is easier than you might think:

  1. Choose Your Cuts: Select cuts like chuck roast for an all-purpose blend or mix in sirloin for a leaner blend.
  2. Prep the Meat: Trim excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes.
  3. Chill Everything: Place the meat and grinder parts in the freezer for 30 minutes.
  4. Grind the Meat: Feed the meat through the grinder or pulse in a food processor.
  5. Mix and Store: Mix gently for even fat distribution, then store in airtight containers.

Grinding your own beef elevates the quality of your meals to make with ground beef and offers flexibility in crafting delicious dishes tailored to your taste.

Now that I’m done babbling, here is a list of the best ground beef recipes!

1
Best Chili Recipe - 6 Tips For Making Slow Cooker Red Chili

A slightly sweet and spicy tomato based red chili. Slow cooked all day, it is not only easy to make, but is inexpensive as well. Leftovers can be frozen, though the texture may change slightly. This might simply be the best slow cooker chili recipe you'll find!

2
Beef Picadillo Enchiladas

Juicy ground meat cooked with aromatics, tomatoes, olives and raisins creates an irresistible filling for these crispy, cheesy enchiladas. A celebrated dish throughout Latin America, picadillo will win you over with its delicate balance of sweet and savory. Enjoy as a filling or on its own with rice and beans.

3
The Easiest Korean Ground Beef Recipe

4
Sheet-Pan Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a classic late-night snack or easy dinner, but when we need to serve a crowd, we bring out the sheet pan. This hack makes cooking quesadillas for a crowd easier than ever.

5
Swedish Meatballs

Tender homemade Swedish meatballs are seared and smothered in a creamy gravy sauce and taste so much better than IKEA Swedish meatballs! It's a delicious, flavourful, and comforting meal that you can make in just 30 minutes.

6
The Best Easy Weeknight Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak—that classic American knife-and-fork ground beef dish is more than just a bun-less burger.

7
Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Classic stuffed peppers are one of our readers’ all-time favorites, and we thought we'd done them every possible way...until now. Here, we swap the bell peppers for poblanos and update the typical stuffing by using fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle chiles, and spices.

8
Nigerian Meat Pie Recipe

The Nigerian meat pies are delicious pastries filled with minced meat, potato and carrots. The pastry is slightly flaky and very rich in flavor, the filling is moist and very flavorful.

9
Spaghetti and Meatballs

Meatballs that are fork tender, and served with a delicious tomato sauce. The meatballs are cooked using a combination of steaming, and stewing in the sauce to ensure a super moist meatball!

10
Beef Burrito

An everyday Beef Burrito recipe, stuffed with a simple, super tasty seasoned beef, rice and other fillings of choice. These Burritos are a brilliant freezer standby because they are just as good made fresh or frozen then reheated.

11
Pasta Bolognese

A decedant, slow cooked meat sauce with a hint of wine.

12
Shepard's Pie

This just might be the ultimate comfort dish. Filled with plenty of veggies, creamy mashed potatoes and an irresistible beef filling, this warming meal combines your sides + main all into one bowl of cozy goodness.

13
American Goulash

This hardy American Goulash Recipe is one of my kids’ favorites. It is a classic dish from our childhoods similar to Hamburger Helper, with ground beef and elbow macaroni cooked in a savory tomato sauce and topped with cheese. It’s so easy to make this comforting one-pot meal.

14
Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe - delicious American style sandwich with ground beef, tomato sauce and ketchup. Quick and easy recipe for the best homemade sloppy joes.

15
Stuffed Cabbage

Bring something fresh and flavorful to the dinner table with this stuffed cabbage. This recipe makes up to eight servings and uses simple ingredients.

16
Copycat Five Guys Burger and Fries

To know them is to love them. Enough said :)

17
Taco Salad

When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying summer meal. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.

18
Copycat Big Macs

With double patties, three buns, melty cheese and the iconic special sauce, it has all the components of a perfect burger. That's why we decided to try our hand at making it at home. Trust us—once you've made this iconic fast food dish at home, you may never go through the drive-thru again.

19
Cuban-Coffee Chili

Similar to picadillo, this richly flavored South American chili is a surefire winner.

20
Meatloaf

You can't say no to anything with bacon in it. This meatloaf covered in thick slices is sure to knock your socks off.

21
Sticky Honey Garlic Matballs

Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.

22
Italian Wedding Soup

Tender meatballs, veggies, and pasta in a rich and flavorful broth, Italian wedding soup is a meal unto itself.

23
Ground Beef Stroganoff

Ground Beef Stroganoff is a delicious little spin on a classic. In under 30 minutes, you will have a rich and creamy mushroom sauce that is PACKED with savory, ground beef. Yum!

24
Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls

Our take on the super-simple Thai dish pad krapow is the perfect protein-packed meal prep that’ll keep you excited to eat all week. Accompany it with a runny fried egg for even more protein!

25
Best Stuffed Peppers

Fantastic stuffed peppers with rice, meat, cheese, and herbs. Served with a delicious tomato sauce to top our stuffed peppers! Best served with mashed potatoes.

26
Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Meatballs

This saucy recipe calls for saltine crackers instead of standard breadcrumbs.

27
Cheeseburger Sliders (Easy, 30-min Recipe)

933 comments Mar 27, 2020 #30-Minute Meals #ground beef #Kid Friendly Jump to Recipe Cheeseburger Sliders are juicy, cheesy and beefy – everything we love about classic burgers! These sliders are quick and easy, make-ahead, and reheat really well so they’re perfect for meal prep or gatherings.

28
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy is a comfort food favourite that’s easy to make. Juicy seasoned beef patties made with ground beef (mince) smothered in an outrageously delicious mushroom gravy, this Salisbury Steak recipe has been tried and loved by readers from all over the world. And now it’s your turn to experience it!