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Ground beef (also called hamburger meat) is a dinner mainstay for many of us. There are so many things to do with ground beef, and whatever you make with it is usually comforting, homey, satisfying, and family-friendly. Plus, hamburger meat cooks up very quickly! But as with any dinner staple, we can get rut-like about how we make it. And so we are always on the lookout for quick, simple hamburger meat recipes. Here are 30 of them!
Here are 10 family-pleasing dinner recipes for putting ever-popular ground beef to work in new and delicious ways. Dinner ideas for days.
Different Types of Ground Beef
There are 4 main types of hamburger meat, though if you shop at a good butcher or a well-stocked market with a meat counter, you’ll find more variations on these themes. If the recipe calls for a particular type of meat or fat content, follow the instructions as best you can. However, don’t worry — in most recipes, the type of ground beef you use is fairly interchangeable.
Regular Ground Beef: The meat might come from any part of the cow, usually the brisket or shank area, or be a mix of different cuts. The fat content can range from 25-30%, and this higher fat content makes it good for things like meatballs and hamburgers.
Ground Round: From the lower end of the cow and on the leaner side with about 15% fat. Good for casseroles, lasagnas, and meatloaves.
Ground Chuck: From the front of the cow, usually the shoulder, with about 20% fat.
Ground Sirloin: From the midsection with 10%-15% fat. Pricier, but leaner.
The general ways that ground beef differs are:
The Cut: Which part of the animal the meat comes from.
The Grade: Buy the best grade you can afford! From highest quality to lowest, the grades are: Prime (this is the top grade, from younger cows), Choice, Select, and then there is Ungraded Meat, which is fine to cook and eat but not the best quality.
The Fat Content: Different cuts have different percentages of fat. More fat can result in richer, more flavorful beef dishes, but too much fat can also lead to greasy results. The amount of fat you are looking for in the beef depends on how you are going to use it. If you are browning and draining the beef, or making burgers, a higher fat content is fine. If you are including it in a meatloaf or a casserole, you may want a lower fat content.
Hamburger Meat Storage
Ground meat can be stored in the refrigerator in its original packaging for 2 days. If you plan to use it after that, it’s best to transfer it to an airtight freezer-proof bag or container and freeze it for up to 6 months.
Dinner Ideas with Ground Beef
Ground meat can star in so many recipes; this is one of the reasons it’s so perennially popular. It’s inexpensive, easy and fast to cook, and versatile. It can take center stage as a hamburger, meatballs, or meatloaf. It can play a more supporting role, as in a casserole or a skillet dish. And it can definitely anchor a chili, become the base of a sauce, and get layered into lasagna.
In short, meals with “hamburger” are a repeating part of many folks’ dinner routines, and there’s no reason to allow that to become boring in the slightest.
This spicy ground beef chili with jalapeños is everything chili should be: hearty, warming, just spicy enough, and deeply comforting. Made with simple pantry ingredients and fresh jalapeños, it comes together easily in one pot and tastes even better the next day — making it perfect for weeknights, weekends, and game-day gatherings alike.
This Instant Pot Baked Ziti is part cozy pasta bake, part party trick. You cook the ziti on the stove, then layer it with a rich Bolognese sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan in a springform pan that goes right into your Instant Pot. After it cooks, you unmold it, and it stands up like a dramatic baked ziti–meets–lasagna. It looks wildly impressive, but the actual hands-on time is very doable for a weeknight or casual dinner with friends.
A nice straightforward and simple chili recipe, with hamburger meat at the base. You can tailor the recipe to what you have on hands, different kinds of beans, different vegetables, and dial up the heat, or dial it down as your family prefers.
Ground beef makes a terrific nacho topping. This is a great use for leftover browned ground beef, whether seasoned simply, or with Mexican, Southwestern, or Tex Mex seasonings.
This speedy Bolognese sauce recipe is a family keeper — rich, hearty, and full of flavor without the fuss of all-day simmering. Ground sirloin, a classic soffrito base of carrots, celery, and onion, red wine, and a silky finish of cream and Parmesan make this sauce perfectly balanced and ready in less than an hour. Serve it over pasta for a comforting meal that kids and grown-ups both love.
Mashed potatoes atop a savory pie are delicious; cheesy mashed potatoes are kind of sublime.Leftover ground or chopped cooked lamb also works perfectly for this. Also something to think about when you have leftover mashed potatoes on hand (I've also used packaged mashed potatoes for this, and no one knew or would have cared).
Like the best bar food in the world, but right here in your own kitchen. My family has never met a combo of ground beef and cheese that they didn't like. This simple ground beef recipe is a forever favorite.
These Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas are a go-to for busy nights, combining seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, and soft tortillas baked in a rich, flavorful sauce. Quick to assemble and perfect for family dinners, no one in my family is ever sad to find out these are for dinner.
This deeply flavorful, almost entirely hands-off Slow Cooker Beef Chili is a keeper. With tender beef, warming spices, and a long, slow simmer, it’s a classic chili that’s perfect for game day, casual entertaining, or stocking the freezer.
These burgers have a spicy kick, but you can adjust the heat level to your taste. Just one ingredient more than plain burgers, but so much more interesting!
Swedish meatballs are one of my favorite comfort foods — tender little meatballs made from a mix of beef and pork, coated in a rich, creamy sauce that’s full of flavor. I like to roll the meatballs in flour before browning them to get a lovely crust and to help thicken the sauce. These meatballs are perfect served over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice.
Sweet and sour meatballs are one of those recipes to bookmark for evenings when you crave a comforting dinner that’s packed with flavor, but easy to make. Bake tender, beefy meatballs and then glaze them with a simple sweet and sour sauce made from pantry staples like brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and vinegar. They’re perfect served over rice or noodles and the boys will fight you for the last one.
Juicy, well-seasoned meatballs simmered in marinara, tucked into soft but sturdy rolls, then crowned with melty mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan, this is the perfect meatball sub you get at the best Italian take-out joint. (See you later, Subway!)
If you’re looking for a classic, crowd-pleasing dinner, I’ve got your back with my family’s favorite meat lasagna of all time. This hearty recipe layers rich meat sauce with creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Parmesan for good measure. It’s simple enough for a busy weeknight, but guaranteed to make any meal feel like a celebration.
Big, tender meatballs baked then simmered in tomato sauce, tossed with spaghetti for the ultimate Italian comfort meal. Easy to make, perfect for family dinners or entertaining, and kid-approved.
Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.
You have a wonderful site! Healthy delicious recipes, just the right length of pages with no repeats of photos, and, BEST OF ALL – no videos that ope up and obscure the recipe that you are trying to reach. This last has spoiled so many – used to be great- websites because you can’t get to the recipe in tie to make dinner! This is just the way I want my food blog to look if I ever get around to doing it!
Thank you so much!
You have a wonderful site! Healthy delicious recipes, just the right length of pages with no repeats of photos, and, BEST OF ALL – no videos that ope up and obscure the recipe that you are trying to reach. This last has spoiled so many – used to be great- websites because you can’t get to the recipe in tie to make dinner! This is just the way I want my food blog to look if I ever get around to doing it!
Thank you so much!
thank you for your nice words!