20+ Simple Ground Beef Recipes for Dinner

Quick recipes with ground meat are often favorites among all family members.

Regardless of age, everyone enjoys burgers, stuffed cabbage rolls, and moussaka. If you’re bored with plain mixed ground meat, feel free to replace it with ground chicken.

If you haven’t tried any of these dishes yet, make sure to change that as soon as possible—they’ll quickly become a regular part of your menu.

1. Classic Beef Tacos

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • Taco seasoning
  • Taco shells or tortillas
  • Toppings: shredded cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream

Instructions:
Cook the ground beef in a skillet, add taco seasoning, and mix well. Spoon into taco shells, add your favorite toppings, and serve.

2. One-Pot Beef and Rice Skillet

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • Seasonings: garlic powder, salt, pepper

Instructions:
Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet. Add rice, tomatoes, beef broth, and seasonings. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked.

3. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 4 bell peppers
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:
Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds. Mix ground beef, rice, and half the tomato sauce. Stuff the peppers, top with cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes.

4. Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • Egg noodles

Instructions:
Cook ground beef and onions, then stir in cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

5. Meatball Subs

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • Breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 jar marinara sauce
  • Sub rolls
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:
Mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, and egg; shape into meatballs. Cook in marinara sauce, then spoon onto sub rolls and top with cheese. Broil for 2 minutes to melt the cheese.

6. Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes
  • 1 cup mixed vegetables (frozen or fresh)
  • 1 cup beef gravy

Instructions:
Cook ground beef and mix with vegetables and gravy. Spread in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.

7. Ground Beef Chili

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 can kidney beans
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 packet chili seasoning
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

Instructions:
Brown ground beef and onions, then add beans, tomatoes, and chili seasoning. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve with cornbread.

8. Beef Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Burger buns

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, drain fat, and stir in ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon onto buns and serve.

9. Ground Beef and Zucchini Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 2 zucchinis, sliced
  • Soy sauce
  • Garlic and ginger

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, then add sliced zucchini, garlic, ginger, and a splash of soy sauce. Stir-fry until zucchini is tender.

10. Cheesy Beef Pasta

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 jar pasta sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 8 oz pasta

Instructions:
Cook pasta and set aside. Brown ground beef, add pasta sauce, and mix with pasta. Top with shredded cheese and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes.

11. Ground Beef Quesadillas

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • Tortillas
  • Optional: diced onions, peppers, salsa

Instructions:
Cook ground beef and mix with cheese. Spoon the mixture onto a tortilla, fold in half, and cook in a skillet until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melted.

12. Beef and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1/2 head cabbage, shredded
  • Soy sauce
  • Garlic and ginger

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, add shredded cabbage, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry until the cabbage is tender.

13. Beef and Sweet Potato Hash

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 2 sweet potatoes, diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • Seasonings: paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper

Instructions:
Cook sweet potatoes until tender, then add ground beef and onions. Season and cook until everything is browned and cooked through.

14. Beef Zucchini Boats

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 3 zucchinis, halved and scooped out
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:
Cook ground beef and mix with tomato sauce. Stuff the zucchini halves, top with cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.

15. Ground Beef Casserole

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 2 cups cooked pasta
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:
Mix cooked ground beef, pasta, and tomato sauce. Place in a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.

16. Beef and Veggie Soup

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced potatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, add broth and vegetables, and simmer until veggies are tender.

17. Asian-Style Beef Bowls

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • Rice

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, stir in soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil. Serve over rice with optional toppings like green onions or sesame seeds.

18. Beef Enchiladas

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 6 tortillas
  • 1 cup enchilada sauce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, spoon into tortillas, roll up, and place in a baking dish. Cover with enchilada sauce and cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.

19. Beef and Spinach Stuffed Shells

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 12 jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup spinach, chopped
  • 1 cup marinara sauce

Instructions:
Mix cooked ground beef, ricotta, and spinach. Stuff the pasta shells, place in a baking dish, cover with marinara, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.

20. Ground Beef Meatloaf

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • Optional: diced onions, seasonings

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients, shape into a loaf, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes. Top with extra ketchup if desired.

21. Beef Nachos

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • Tortilla chips
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • Optional: diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, layer it on tortilla chips, sprinkle with cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes. Add optional toppings before serving.

22. Ground Beef Pot Pie

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 cup beef gravy
  • 1 pie crust

Instructions:
Mix cooked ground beef, vegetables, and gravy. Place in a pie dish, cover with crust, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes.

23. Beef and Lentil Chili

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1 cup cooked lentils
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • Chili seasoning

Instructions:
Cook ground beef, add lentils, tomatoes, and seasoning, and simmer for 20 minutes.

24. Beef and Cheese Sliders

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • Slider buns
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • Optional: onions, pickles, ketchup

Instructions:
Shape ground beef into small patties, cook, and assemble sliders with buns, cheese, and toppings.

25. Cabbage and Beef Casserole

Ingredients:

  • Ground beef (1 lb)
  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup rice

Instructions:
Layer cabbage, ground beef, and rice in a baking dish, pour over tomato sauce, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45 minutes.