11 Ground Beef Recipes You’re Going to Love

Ground beef is truly the pinch hitter for your weekday dinners. It is inexpensive, easy to prepare, and it is extremely versatile. A pound or so of ground beef in your freezer opens up a world of possibilities; you can prepare almost anything for dinner this evening!

Whether you sauté it on your stove with mixed vegetables, or put it to good use in your slow cooker, a package of ground beef is hard to beat. Here are eleven great ground beef recipes that you can prepare in no time, and serve on your homestead tonight.

1. Red Bean Chili

Photo: red Bean Chili is easy to make. Season your ground beef with tomato paste if you want to add additional flavor!

Chili is an all-time favorite comfort food. It is easy to prepare, consists of a few basic ingredients, it’s easy to store, and everyone loves leftover chili for lunch or dinner later in the week. Here is a super easy chili recipe you can serve to your family tonight, and enjoy for lunch the next day as well.

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 1 Pound Dried Kidney Beans
• 2 Green Peppers, Diced
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 2 Cloves Fresh Garlic
• ½ Tablespoon of Dried Basil
• ½ Tablespoon of Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
• 1½ Tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt
• ½ Teaspoon of Crushed Black Pepper
• 2 28-ounce Cans of Crushed Tomatoes
• 1 6-Ounce Can of Tomato Paste
• 1½ Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 1 Cup of Water

The evening prior to preparing your chili, empty your bag of kidney beans into a large bowl. Cover them completely in cool tap water, and set them on your counter to soak overnight. 

The following afternoon, strain the beans in a colander bowl, rinse them, and then set them aside. Dice your green peppers and onion, and then set them aside. Peel and dice your garlic cloves, and then set them aside, separate from your peppers and onions.

Place a frying pan on medium-high heat, and let it heat up. Add your olive oil, moving it around until the base of the pan is coated. Add your garlic, and sauté it until it is slightly browned. Add in your ground beef, mix it in with the garlic, and brown that as well.

When your beef is sufficiently browned, add the onions and peppers, and sauté them as well. When the vegetables have cooked, open the can of tomato paste, spread it out thoroughly within the sautéing meat and vegetables, and cook the entire mixture for another two to three minutes. Then, remove the pan from the heat, and drain the fat.

Transfer the ground beef and vegetables from the pan into a medium-sized pot. Stir in the kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, water, chili powder, salt, pepper, basil, and red pepper flakes, if you choose to use them.

Place the pot on the stove on medium heat, and let it simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Then remove it from heat, and it is ready to serve. Enjoy your chili with homemade bread or good crackers. If you like wine, pair it with a Malbec or Zinfandel.

2. Ginger Orange Ground Beef Stir Fry

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 2-3 Ginger Roots, Grated.
• Zest and Juice from 3 Oranges
• 4 Orange Bell Peppers, Sliced Thin
• 2 Heads of Broccoli, cut
• 2 Onions, Sliced Thin
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• 1½ Tablespoons of Olive Oil

Ground beef in a stir fry can often be bland; one way to make it stand out is to spice it up with ginger and orange flavoring.  Slice all of your peppers and onions thin, and then set them aside. Using a grater, zest your oranges, place your zest in a small bowl, and then set the oranges aside. Then, grate your ginger roots down, and combine them with the orange zest.

Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat, and then coat it with the olive oil. Add your orange zest and ginger root, and let them both cook for one to two minutes in the oil. Add in your ground beef and mix it around with the zest and the ginger.

Once the meat has browned, add the rest of the vegetables, and salt and pepper to taste. When the vegetables are close to being done, squeeze the juice from the oranges into a glass or cup, and then add it to the frying pan. Stir all of the ingredients thoroughly for another one to two minutes, then remove it from the stove and serve it.

Serve your stir fry with a small portion of wild rice to spice it up a little bit further.  And if you really want to turn this stir fry into a fun meal, try pairing it with a nice bottle of cold rosé.

3. Hamburger Soup

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1½ Cups Water
• 4 Cups Beef Broth
• 1 Potato Diced
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 3 Sticks Celery, Diced
• 1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 2 Teaspoons Dried Basil
• 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Is your family sick of your homemade chicken soup? Fortunately, you can make a hearty soup out of that ground beef in your freezer. This is a simple soup to prepare, it is somewhat unusual, and definitely delicious.

Heat your water and beef broth in a large pot over medium heat, bringing it to a boil. Drop pieces of your uncooked ground beef into the pot, and let it all boil for five minutes. Add all of your vegetables, and cook the soup for an additional 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, mix in your cream of mushroom soup and all of your spices, reduce the heat, and let the soup simmer for an additional 25 minutes. Remove from heat, let it cool a bit, and serve this delicious soup with warm bread or crackers.

4. Korean Ground Beef Bowl

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ Cup Soy Sauce
• ¼ Teaspoon Sesame Oil
• ½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes t
• ¼ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
• 3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
• 2 Onions, Sliced
• ¼ Teaspoon Sesame Seeds
• 1½ Tablespoon Olive Oil

This is a traditional Korean dish that uses ground beef as its base. However, the spice combination in this recipe provides tremendous flavor, and helps turn that pound of ground beef into a terrific meal.

In a mixing bowl, mix your soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper flakes, brown sugar and ginger.

Heat a skillet over medium heat, and coat the skillet with olive oil. Cook your garlic for about one minute, then add your ground beef and cook it until it is brown. Drain off the excess liquid and fat. Stir in your soy sauce mixture and onions, and let it all simmer together for two to three minutes more, then remove it from heat and serve it.

Pair your Korean beef bowl with a chilled rosé. The wine’s sweet flavor will complement the spicy ground beef perfectly.

5. Ground Beef Stew in a Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 6 Medium potatoes, sliced
• ½ Pound Carrots, Sliced
• ½ Pound Parsnips, Sliced
• 5 Celery Stalks, Sliced
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 1 Clove Fresh Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tablespoons Beef Bouillon Powder
• ½ Tablespoon of Dried Basil
• ½ Tablespoon of Dried Oregano
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt
• ½ Teaspoon of Crushed Black Pepper
• 1½ Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 1 6-Ounce Can of Tomato Paste
• 1 10¾-Ounce Can of Condensed Tomato Soup

That frozen ground beef just taking up space in the freezer can make a delicious stew in your slow cooker. Just a few vegetables and common pantry items can transform that ground beef into a hearty stew in your slow cooker.

Slice up all of your vegetables and mince your garlic, and add them to your slow cooker pot. Add your other spices and beef bouillon powder to the slow cooker pot as well. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, coat it with oil, and brown your ground beef.

Once your ground beef is cooked, add it to your slow cooker. Stir all of the items in your slow cooker gently, cover it, and then cook it on low for six to seven hours.

Once the stew has cooked for five hours, stir in the tomato paste and condensed tomato soup; afterwards, let the stew cook for the additional sixth hour. After that sixth hour is up, remove your ground beef stew from heat and it is ready to serve.

This is a great meal to serve with whole wheat bread made with honey and molasses, fresh from the homestead. And you can pair this delicious stew with some cabernet sauvignon to turn it into a really special meal.

6. Picadillo

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 2 Cups Chopped Onions
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 bay leaves
• ½ Cup White Cooking Wine
• 1 8-ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
• 1/3 Cup Tomato Paste
• 1/3 Cup Chopped Spanish Olives with 1 Tablespoon of Brine from the Olive Jar.
• 1/3 Cup Raisins
• 2 Teaspoons Dried Oregano
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 1½ Tablespoons Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Picadillo is a traditional dish that is enjoyed in many Latin American countries. It is a type of hash, although it is quite a bit spicier than the hash we typically enjoy here at breakfast. Ground beef is the base ingredient for picadillo, and it is another unique yet easy dish to prepare.

Heat a skillet over medium heat, and coat it with the olive oil. Add in the onions, garlic and bay leaves, and sauté for about four minutes, or until the onions are soft. Add your ground beef and brown it over medium heat. Then remove the skillet from heat, and carefully remove any excess liquid or fats.

Place the skillet back on the burner, and stir in the white wine, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, olives, and spices. Reduce heat, and simmer the entire mixture for eight to ten minutes, stirring it every few minutes. Remove it from heat, and then serve it on a large dish. Pair your picadillo with a syrah or zinfandel for a truly memorable meal.

7. White Bean Chili in a Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• I Pound Bag of Dried Navy Beans
• ½ Pound
• 5 celery Stalks, Diced
• 3 Green, Orange or Yellow Bell Peppers, Diced
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 2 Cloves Fresh Garlic
• ½ Tablespoon of Dried Basil
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1 Teaspoon of Crushed Black Pepper
• 1½ Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 1 Cup of Water
• ¼ Cup of Flour

White bean chili is a great comfort food, a perfect family meal for a cold winter day. And if you have a slow cooker, it is really easy to prepare.

Soak your navy beans in cool water overnight. The following day, dice your celery, onions, and peppers, and place them in your slow cooker. Rinse and strain your navy beans, and add them to the slow cooker pot as well.

Then, preheat a frying pan over medium-high heat, and dice the two cloves of garlic. Add the 1½ tablespoons of olive oil to the heated pan, then sauté the garlic until it is brown. Add the ground beef, and brown the meat as well. Then, remove the frying pan from the heat.

Place the ground beef and garlic in the slow cooker, add in the spices and water, and stir all of the ingredients together. Then, set the slow cooker on low heat, and cook for five hours. At the fourth hour, stir in the flour, and let the mixture cook for an additional hour.  Once it is complete, go ahead and serve your white bean chili.

White bean chili is great with fresh bread. Pair it with a riesling or a pinot grigio if you want to serve your white bean chili with some wine. Better yet, open up a bottle of your home made dandelion wine, it is the perfect complement to a bowl of delicious white bean chili.

8. Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1 LB Ground Beef
• ¼ Cup Onions, Chopped
• ¼ Cup Green Bell Peppers, Chopped
• ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ¾ Cup Ketchup
• 3 Teaspoons Brown Sugar
• 1½ Tablespoons Olive Oil

Sloppy joes are another great comfort food that are as delicious as they are easy to make. This is a great recipe that can turn a pound of ground beef into a nice meal for your whole family.

Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Coat the skillet with olive oil, then add your beef, onions, and peppers. Brown the meat, and then drain off any excess liquid. Stir in your ketchup, brown, sugar, and garlic powder, reduce heat, and let the entire mixture gently simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. After it is fully cooked, remove from heat and serve.

Sloppy joes are traditionally served n hamburger buns. If you want to dress the meal up a bit, substitute the buns for fresh rolls from your local bakery, or make your own. Try pairing your sloppy joes with a bottle of pinot noir, too; you’ll be surprised how well a nice pinot complements this traditional comfort food.

9. Ground Beef Tacos

Ingredients

• lean ground beef
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 Teaspoon chili powder
• ½ Teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 8-ounce Can of  Tomato Sauce
• Taco Shells
• 1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Cups Shredded Lettuce
• 2 Cups Tomatoes, Chopped
• ¾ Cups of Salsa
• 1 ½ Tablespoons Olive Oil

Everyone loves tacos. And hey, tacos are another fun meal that make good use of ground beef. They can be prepared in little to no time, and their combination of spices and other ingredients add real zest to the ground beef in the recipe.

To make basic tacos, chop or shred all of your vegetables, and then set them aside. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Warm up your skillet over medium heat, coat it with the olive oil, then brown your ground beef and onions.

Drain the ground beef, stir in your garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and tomato sauce, and simmer it gently for ten minutes. Simultaneously, cook your taco shells in the oven at 250 degrees heat for five minutes.

Once your beef and taco shells are done, add beef into the shells, and then layer in the other ingredients according to your taste. If you plan to serve these great tacos to adults, try pairing them with your favorite Mexican beer, preferably served up in a bucket of ice.

10. Meat Loaf

• 1½ Pounds Lean Ground Beef
• 3 Eggs
• 1 Cup Bread Crumbs
• ½ Cup Onions, Chopped
• ¼ Cup Green Peppers, Diced finely
• 4 Ounces Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• ½ Cup of Milk
• 1 Teaspoon of Salt
• ¼ Teaspoon Pepper

Topping:

• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp mustard

Meatloaf is another traditional comfort dish that doesn’t get much respect. However, if you want to turn some frozen ground beef into a wholesome meal, this is a great recipe to keep handy.

Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of your topping ingredients in a small bowl, and then set them aside for later. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork or a whisk, and then add your bread crumbs, peppers and onions, milk, salt, pepper and cheese.

Stir the mixture thoroughly until it is all combined.  Then add the ground beef, and ensure that it is completely mixed in as well.

Place the meat loaf mixture into the baking pan, spreading it out evenly; shape it into a “loaf” if you can. Bake the meatloaf at 350 degrees for thirty minutes. Then, spread the topping on the meatloaf, and bake it for an additional thirty minutes. After it is done baking, remove your meat loaf from the oven, let it set for ten minutes, and then serve it.

Meatloaf served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans is about as American as it gets. Pair it with a merlot if you want a good wine to complement it, and you’ll make an American classic even better.

11. Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 1 Pound Ground Beef
• 6 Large Green Bell Peppers
• 1 28-Ounce Can of Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup Chopped Onion
• 2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice
• ¼  Teaspoon Salt
• ¼  Teaspoon Black Pepper
• ¼  Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1½ Tablespoons Olive Oil

Stuffed peppers are another terrific dish that have ground beef as their base ingredient. While baked stuffed peppers may seem complicated, they are actually quite easy to make. They are delicious too, and your family will love them.

Cook your brown rice according to the instructions, and then set it aside. Cut the tops off of your peppers, remove the seeds and fleshy rind, and then place them in a large saucepan filled with water.

Bring the water to a simmer and cook your peppers for three to five minutes; you want the peppers to be soft, but not too soft.  Remove the peppers, rinse them with cool water, and set them on paper towels to thoroughly drain. Simultaneously, preheat your oven at 350 degrees.

Warm up your skillet over medium heat, coat it with olive oil, and brown your ground beef and onions. Remove the skillet from heat and drain the beef. Afterwards, add in the salt, pepper, rice, garlic powder, and half of your tomato sauce.

Spoon this mixture into your green peppers, and then top each pepper off with the remaining tomato sauce.  Place the peppers on an ungreased baking dish, and bake them at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Then remove from heat.

Stuffed peppers are a meal in themselves. Pair them with a zinfandel if you want a wine that will complement the stuffed peppers’ rich flavor.

Parting Thoughts

Ground beef is one of the most versatile foods out there; you can make a wide variety of delicious meals from this basic food staple. All of the recipes discussed here are easy to prepare; in many cases your slow cooker will do all the work for you.

So if you have some frozen ground beef in the back of your freezer, you’re in luck; try any one of these recipes here today, and get ready for a delicious meal this evening!