Easy, cheap ground beef dinners for busy families
A pound of ground beef stretches into a lot of family dinners: tacos, chili, pasta, skillets and casseroles. Here are the ground beef dinners in our library, sized for a family, with a one-tap grocery list.
Ground beef dinners for families
Tacos, pasta, skillets, casseroles and burgers: budget-friendly weeknight dinners built on ground beef. 60 recipes.
Beef Taco Skillet with Black Beans
25 min · 4 servings · about $5.00 a serving
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.00 a serving
Hamburger Hash with Potatoes and Peppers
35 min · 4 servings · about $3.13 a serving
Cheesy Taco Bake
40 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Ground Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.13 a serving
Skillet Beef and Green Bean Rice Bowl
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.63 a serving
Baked Beef Taquitos
41 min · 4 servings · about $5.00 a serving
Instant Pot Taco Pasta
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.50 a serving
Ground Beef Tacos with All the Fixings
32 min · 4 servings · about $4.25 a serving
Beef Fried Rice
25 min · 4 servings · about $3.00 a serving
Beef Burrito Skillet
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.38 a serving
Greek Beef and Orzo Youvetsi
45 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Cheesy Beef Slider Bake
40 min · 6 servings · about $3.83 a serving
Ground Beef and Eggplant Skillet
35 min · 4 servings · about $4.25 a serving
Beef and Bean Chili Skillet with Cool Yogurt Topping
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.63 a serving
Cheeseburger Soup with Garlic Toast
45 min · 4 servings · about $4.13 a serving
Taco Beef and Corn Quesadillas
30 min · 5 servings · about $3.00 a serving
Classic Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
85 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Loaded Cheeseburger Baked Potatoes
20 min · 4 servings · about $3.50 a serving
One-Pan Beef Burrito Rice Bowls
40 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Pumpkin Black Bean Beef Chili
35 min · 4 servings · about $5.00 a serving
Halal Beef Meatball Pasta with Mint and Tomato
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.88 a serving
Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
60 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Stacked Beef Patties with Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges and Greens
35 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Lasagna Soup
35 min · 7 servings · about $2.00 a serving
Stuffed Pepper Rice Skillet
40 min · 5 servings · about $2.80 a serving
Cheeseburger Skillet Pasta
25 min · 4 servings · about $2.88 a serving
Balsamic Beef Patties with Grilled Portobello and Pepper Stack
36 min · 4 servings · about $6.00 a serving
Beef Taco Skillet
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.25 a serving
Beef Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Mini Beef Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries
35 min · 4 servings · about $4.75 a serving
Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice
36 min · 4 servings · about $4.25 a serving
Beef and Rice Lettuce Wraps
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.25 a serving
One-Pot Pasta Marinara with Ground Beef
38 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Beef Tacos with Avocado Crema
30 min · 4 servings · about $4.88 a serving
Slow Cooker Beef Chili with Cornbread
495 min · 4 servings · about $3.25 a serving
Ground Beef Taco Bowls
28 min · 4 servings · about $4.63 a serving
Slow-Cooker Chili
495 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Slow-Cooker Beef Chili
495 min · 4 servings · about $6.18 a serving
Crunchy Beef Tostadas
25 min · 4 servings · about $3.25 a serving
Ground Beef Taco Skillet with Cauliflower Rice and Cheese
22 min · 4 servings · about $3.00 a serving
Sheet Pan Beef Meatballs with Roasted Cauliflower
37 min · 4 servings · about $5.00 a serving
Skillet Beef and Vegetable Hash with Cheesy Mashed Potato Crust
40 min · 4 servings · about $3.88 a serving
Baked Beef Chimichangas
35 min · 4 servings · about $3.88 a serving
Paprika Aioli Burger Lettuce Wraps
22 min · 4 servings · about $5.25 a serving
Cheesy Ground Beef Enchiladas
40 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Baked Mozzarella Meatballs
40 min · 4 servings · about $6.25 a serving
One-Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.25 a serving
Classic Lasagna
100 min · 4 servings · about $5.50 a serving
Sopa Seca de Fideo with Ground Beef
35 min · 3 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Creamy Halal Beef Meatballs in Tomato Sauce over Egg Noodles
28 min · 4 servings · about $4.38 a serving
Cheeseburger Salad Bowls
25 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Beefy Tomato and Spinach Soup with Pasta and Carrots
38 min · 4 servings · about $4.38 a serving
Halal Beef and Herb Rice Skillet with Charred Tomatoes
40 min · 4 servings · about $3.63 a serving
Spanish Meatballs in Almond Tomato Sauce
40 min · 4 servings · about $4.00 a serving
Sheet Pan Beef Meatballs with Roasted Broccoli and Marinara
35 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Spiced Ground Beef Tacos with Pickled Onions
30 min · 4 servings · about $3.69 a serving
Ground Beef Taco Salad
22 min · 4 servings · about $5.25 a serving
Lebanese Kafta and Potato Bake
45 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Japanese Hamburger Steaks
35 min · 4 servings · about $3.75 a serving
Tips that make it easier
- ✓80/20 has the most flavor; 90/10 means less to drain. For tacos and chili, either works. Drain the fat for casseroles so they don't turn greasy.
- ✓Stretch it: beans, rice, lentils or diced vegetables let one pound feed a bigger family for less.
- ✓Brown a double batch and freeze half flat in a zip-top bag. It thaws in minutes for the next taco night.
- ✓Cook ground beef to 160°F, until no pink remains.
Questions
How much ground beef per person?
Plan about 4 to 6 ounces per adult for dishes where beef is the star (burgers), and about 3 to 4 ounces where it's mixed with beans, pasta or rice.
Can I swap ground turkey?
Yes, in almost every recipe here. Add a little oil since turkey is leaner, and season a bit more boldly.
How long does cooked ground beef keep?
Three to four days in the fridge, or about three months in the freezer.
Two minutes to set up. Your first week is ready right away.
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