25 Ground Beef Dinner Ideas Everyone Will Love

Ground beef is a staple protein on many dinner tables. While the possibilities are endless for cooking ground beef, you might find yourself in a rut when trying to find new and exciting recipes. Below, you'll find 25 ground beef dinner ideas that are super easy crowd pleasers.

Ground beef is a versatile and affordable dinner choice

If you're looking for a protein that's rich in vitamins and easy to cook, ground beef is a perfect option. Depending on how lean your ground beef is, you'll consume roughly 20 grams of protein in one three-ounce serving. The beef is also packed with zinc, iron, and Vitamin B12; plus, it's a highly affordable find.

25 ground beef dinner ideas

Not sure what to do with that pound of ground beef in the fridge? Try a new recipe that's bold in flavor and easy to make. Check out these 25 ground beef recipes, perfect for home cooks of all types.

• 1. Ground beef and broccoli stir fry

Make this classic takeout order right at home. This dish is pretty easy to make, and using ground beef instead of steak is a more affordable option. Plus, ground beef can better absorb the stir fry sauce when cooking. This recipe takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook.

• 2. Shepherd's pie

Transform a traditional beef and potatoes dish into a delicious, hearty shepherd's pie. You'll first need to make mashed potatoes by adding diced potatoes to a pot of boiling water. While boiling the potatoes, cook your ground beef. Then add flour, ketchup, beef broth, and mixed vegetables.

Once your sauce thickens and the potatoes are cooked, assemble your shepherd's pie and place it into the oven to cook for roughly 20-25 minutes. Once the cheese is melted on this ground beef casserole, take it out of the oven and let it sit for 15 minutes before digging in.

• 3. Spicy Chili

For this recipe, you'll need ground beef, chilis in adobo, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, beer, black beans, and seasonings. The chipotle chilis give the soup a bit of a bite, so if you don't like spice you can opt out of adding this ingredient. The chili takes about 40 minutes to make but will stay good in the fridge for days after it's done.

• 4. Meatloaf

Enjoy a classic saucy, protein-rich dish for your next family dinner. This hearty recipe is topped off with a sweet and spicy sauce, made out of ketchup, cumin, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and honey. However, this recipe is a little time-consuming, as it does take over an hour to prep and cook.

• 5. Sloppy Joes

If you need a quick weeknight dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes, try sloppy joes. You'll need ground sirloin, brown sugar, a steak seasoning blend, onion, a bell pepper, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, and dinner rolls. Best of all, this ground beef skillet recipe only uses one pan and doesn't require a large clean up.

• 6. Taco salad

Looking for a light, low-carb dinner idea? Opt for a taco salad. To assemble your taco salad, you'll first need to cook your taco meat in a skillet and cut up your fresh produce. You can customize your salad however you like, whether that's with tomatoes, onions, cheese, corn, avocado, or hot sauce. Then, once the meat is cooked, add it on top of a bed of lettuce along with your toppings.

• 7. Beef sliders

Add classic beef sliders to the menu for your next backyard get-together. These mini burgers are easy to make and take 25 minutes or less to prep and grill. To make the sliders, combine your ground beef with salt and pepper, then shape into small patties. Add your patties to the grill and cook for two to three minutes on each side. Once the patties are cooked, place them onto a sweet roll and top with your favorite toppings.

• 8. Patty melt

Turn your ground beef into a gooey patty melt sandwich. One of these tasty sandwiches packs a whopping 46 grams of protein per serving. You'll need rye bread, beef patties, mayo, an onion, sharp cheddar cheese, and seasonings. This meal takes about 30 minutes to make.

• 9. Taco pasta

Pasta and tacos combined into one delicious, one-pot dish sounds almost too good to be true. This recipe calls for ground beef, taco seasoning, chilis, diced tomatoes, and vegetable broth to be combined with elbow pasta. Once combined and the pasta is al dente, you can add in cheese, lime, and cilantro for a fresh, citrusy flare. This recipe takes about 30 minutes to make, and can be made gluten-free if you substitute your pasta with a gluten-free option.

• 10. Hamburger stroganoff

To make this popular pasta dish, you'll need ground beef, egg noodles, an onion, cremini mushrooms, white wine, lemon, parsely, and sour cream. The recipe will serve four people and takes about 35 minutes to make. It also heats up well for you to enjoy as leftovers the next day.

• 11. Stuffed peppers

Stuffed peppers are a labor of love, taking nearly two hours to assemble and cook. This stuffed peppers recipe combines ground beef with marinara sauce and white rice inside a bell pepper. One of these peppers contains roughly 16 to 20 grams of protein, and 35 to 40 grams of carbs. However, you can make this a lower carb option by substituting in cauliflower rice.

• 12. Homemade meatballs

These meatballs take about 40 minutes to prep and bake. All you need is ground beef, an egg, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, olive oil, Italian seasonings, marinara, and garlic powder. You can also substitute the breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs.

• 13. Ground beef casserole

This ground beef casserole recipe is similar to spaghetti with meat sauce, but creamier. For this recipe, you'll need egg noodles, ground beef, tomato sauce, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and garlic salt. This pasta dish takes about 15 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to cook. Once it's done, you'll have a gooey, cheesy, flavorful pasta dish you can eat with family, or store in the fridge to enjoy all week.

• 14. Hamburger stew

A hearty hamburger stew is perfect for when the weather turns chilly. This stew combines ground beef, russet potatoes, and mixed vegetables with tomato puree and various spices. What's even better is that this recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep and about 40 minutes to cook. Plus, you can store the leftovers in your fridge to enjoy throughout the week.

• 15. Crockpot taco soup

Crockpot taco soup is the way to go if you're short on time but craving something warm and hearty. It combines solid amounts of protein and fiber with flavorful bold and spicy flavors. This recipe calls for ground beef, kidney and chili beans, corn, tomato sauce, diced chilis, and taco seasoning. Once cooked, you can add sour cream, avocado, jalapenos - whichever toppings you prefer - and store your leftovers in the fridge or freezer for up to two months.

• 16. Cheesy ground beef and potatoes

It's the perfect weeknight meal when you want a burst of flavor, but don't want to put in the effort. This recipe calls for thinly sliced peeled potatoes, ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, shredded cheese, milk, and pepper. It takes a little under an hour to prep and bake, but the cheesy goodness is well worth the wait.

• 17. Open-faced pizza burgers

Pizza and a burger combined into one - yes, please. This recipe combines ground beef, mushrooms and onion, with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese to create this savory and hearty burger. Best of all, this dish only takes 30 minutes to make, and stores well in the fridge and freezer.

• 18. Ground beef and cabbage

This ground beef and cabbage recipe is quick and easy to make, low in carbs, and high in protein. For this dish, all you need is ground beef, a head of cabbage, diced tomatoes, an onion, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. The recipe only requires 15 minutes of prep time, and everything can be cooked in one stew pot.

• 19. Beef-stuffed sweet potato

For this recipe, you'll chop carrots, onions, tomatoes, and garlic in a food processor until they're fine, then add them to your ground beef mixture. Once well combined, scoop your meat and veggie mixture into your cooked sweet potatoes and enjoy. This recipe takes about 20 minutes of prep time.

• 20. Sheet pan quesadillas

This sheet pan quesadilla recipe is the perfect no-fuss option, whether you're entertaining guests or meal prepping for the week. All you need is ground beef, flour tortillas, bell peppers, an onion, shredded cheese and various seasonings to make. You can also add special toppings for the quesadillas such as pico de gallo, guacamole, or sour cream.

• 21. Tater tot casserole

It's no wonder the tater tot casserole is a Midwestern classic, as it's both reliable and easy to make. This is a great dish for when you have your grandkids over, or if you're looking for an easy tasty meal. To make this casserole, you'll need ground beef, chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, corn, green beans, and plenty of tater tots.

• 22. Tofu and beef lettuce cups

Looking to try a new low-carb recipe that's full of flavor? Try tofu and beef lettuce cups. This recipe combines lean ground beef and tofu with tangy sauces and nuts that are placed into a crisp lettuce cup. It's the perfect dish if you want something light - or a great appetizer for your next dinner party.

• 23. Cheese-stuffed meatballs

Savor this cheesy twist on classic meatballs for a great protein-rich snack, or pairing with noodles. For these meatballs, you'll need a variety of cheeses, including both traditional and smoked mozzarella, and parmesan. This recipe yields about 35 meatballs.

• 24. Lasagna-stuffed shells

These lasagna stuffed shells provide a fun new take on a classic lasagna bake. For this dish, you'll need jumbo-sized shells, ground beef, tomato sauce, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and a variety of spices. This recipe takes about 45 minutes and makes about 18 stuffed shells.

• 25. Meatball pizza

This homemade meatball pizza is a crowd-pleaser, and it only takes around 30 minutes to make. For this recipe, you'll need pizza dough, ground sirloin, onion, garlic, tomato paste, parmesan, mozzarella, and oregano. You can even customize your pizza further with your favorite veggies and toppings.

Find ground beef dinner ideas at Meal Village

On the nights when you're short on time or are not in the mood to cook, let Meal Village do the work for you. With over 130 weekly recipes, you'll be able to find the perfect one that suits your diet and taste buds. And when you do find it, you can just order your meals online or over the phone. There are no subscriptions or commitments. You can just choose the meals you want, and they'll be delivered right to your door ready to heat and enjoy.