10+ Beef Recipes for Dinner Easy and Delicious Ideas for Every Night
Beef’s just one of those dinner staples that never really gets old. It’s tasty, versatile, and fits into all kinds of recipes, whether you’re in a rush or have time to linger in the kitchen.
You can whip up something quick or go for a dish with deep, rich flavors if you’re feeling fancy. Beef recipes for dinner offer tons of options for whatever mood or schedule you’ve got.
Cooking with beef lets you play with all sorts of textures and styles. Think juicy steaks, hearty stews, or even something in between.
If you’re hunting for easy and satisfying beef dinners, you’re in the right place. Let’s get to it.
1) Classic Meatloaf
Classic meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food. It’s simple, filling, and you can pull it off on any night.
You’ll mix ground beef with onions, breadcrumbs, and egg to keep it together. Top it off with a sweet ketchup glaze for that tangy kick.
This bakes up juicy and tender. Throw it next to mashed potatoes or some veggies, and you’re set.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- ½ cup milk
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup ketchup (for glaze)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix beef, onion, milk, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Shape into a loaf and plop it in a baking pan.
- Spread ketchup on top.
- Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through.
- Let it rest 5 minutes before slicing.
2) Beef Chili
Beef chili is warm, hearty, and ridiculously easy. Start by browning ground beef with onions and garlic.
Toss in chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika for depth. Then add tomatoes and beans.
Let it simmer so everything melds together. Top it with cheese or sour cream if you’re into that.
It’s a one-pot wonder—quick, filling, and just the thing for a cozy night.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) beans (kidney or black), drained
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Cooking Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a big pot over medium.
- Add onions and garlic, cook till soft.
- Brown the beef.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt.
- Add tomatoes and beans.
- Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
For the nitty gritty, check out Best Beef Chili.
3) Lasagna with Ground Beef
Lasagna with ground beef is a crowd-pleaser. You layer cooked ground beef with tomato sauce, pasta sheets, and cheese.
Start by browning beef with onions and garlic. Add tomato sauce for a rich meat sauce.
Layer sauce, noodles, and cheese in a baking dish. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about an hour.
Let it rest before you cut in, or it’ll fall apart—learned that the hard way.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 24 oz tomato sauce
- 9 lasagna noodles (cooked)
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Cook noodles as directed.
- Brown beef with onion and garlic; drain.
- Stir in tomato sauce, simmer 10 minutes.
- Spread meat sauce in a baking dish.
- Add noodles, then ricotta, mozzarella, and more sauce.
- Repeat layers, finishing with cheese.
- Cover with foil, bake 45 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
- Remove foil, bake 15 more minutes.
- Cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
More tips here: How To Make the Easiest Lasagna Ever.
4) Juicy Burgers
Juicy burgers are perfect when you want something fast and satisfying. Just ground beef, salt, and pepper can make a killer burger.
Mix in a little mayo or breadcrumbs if you want extra moisture. Shape into patties—not too thick or they’ll take forever to cook.
Grill or cook in a skillet. Let them rest a few minutes before you dig in; that way, the juices stay put.
Play with spices or toppings—make it yours. It’s dinner in a snap.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking Instructions
- Mix beef, mayo, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Shape into 4 patties.
- Heat grill or skillet to medium-high.
- Cook 4-5 minutes per side, or until 160°F (71°C) inside.
- Rest burgers for 3 minutes before serving.
5) New York Strip Steak with Caramelized Onions
New York strip steak with caramelized onions is simple but feels special. Season steaks with salt, pepper, and whatever spices you like.
Sear them in butter or oil on medium-high for about 2 minutes per side. Then, roast at 400°F (200°C) for 6 minutes for medium-rare.
While the steak’s in the oven, caramelize onions in butter over low heat. Stir often until they’re soft and golden.
Serve the steak topped with those sweet onions. It’s a combo that just works.
Ingredients
- 2 New York strip steaks (12-15 oz each)
- 1 large white onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp butter or olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: garlic powder or steak rub
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season steaks with salt, pepper, and spices.
- Heat butter or oil in a pan, medium-high.
- Sear steaks 2 minutes per side.
- Roast steaks in oven for 6 minutes.
- In another pan, melt butter on low.
- Add onions, cook 13-15 minutes, stirring, until caramelized.
- Rest steaks for 5 minutes.
- Top with onions and serve.
6) Beef Stroganoff
Beef Stroganoff is cozy and comes together fast. You cook thin beef strips with mushrooms and onions.
Stir in a creamy sour cream sauce. It’s rich, savory, and just plain good.
Serve it over egg noodles or rice. Dinner’s ready in about half an hour.
If you want a solid, no-fuss recipe, this Beef Stroganoff recipe is a favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef sirloin or chuck, thinly sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper
- Egg noodles or rice, for serving
Cooking Instructions
- Heat butter in a pan over medium.
- Cook onions and mushrooms until soft.
- Add beef, brown on all sides.
- Sprinkle flour, stir, then add beef broth slowly.
- Simmer until sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat, stir in sour cream.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve over noodles or rice.
7) Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Slow cooker pot roast is about as easy as it gets. Grab a beef chuck roast, onions, garlic, and a few seasonings.
Brown the roast for flavor, then pop it in the slow cooker. Add carrots and potatoes if you like.
Let it cook low and slow until the beef is fall-apart tender. You end up with a juicy roast and plenty of rich gravy.
The best part? You can set it and forget it. Dinner’s ready when you are.
Ingredients
- 3 lb beef chuck roast
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 5 garlic cloves
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 3-4 carrots, chunked
- 3-4 potatoes, chunked
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
Cooking Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium (about 350°F / 175°C).
- Brown the roast on all sides, 4 minutes per side.
- Move roast to slow cooker.
- Add onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes around it.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder over everything.
- Cover and cook on low 8 hours, or high 4-5 hours.
- Roast should pull apart easily.
- Serve hot with veggies and gravy.
Want details? Here’s a perfect slow cooker pot roast.
8) 30-Minute Mongolian Beef
Mongolian beef is fast and packed with flavor. Thin slices of flank steak get cooked in a savory sauce of soy, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.
The sauce is sweet, salty, and clings to every bite of beef. Fry the steak, toss it in the sauce, and let it thicken.
You’ll have dinner in 30 minutes—serve with rice or steamed veggies. Easy, right?
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Optional: green onions for garnish
Cooking Instructions
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Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
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Add steak slices and cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes.
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Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
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Pour sauce over beef and simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
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Serve hot with rice.
9) Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Beef and broccoli stir fry? That’s a weeknight classic—fast, tasty, and surprisingly easy. You cook up the beef until it’s just right, steam the broccoli so it’s still got a bit of crunch, and then toss everything in a savory sauce.
Soy, garlic, and ginger do most of the heavy lifting in the flavor department. You can throw it over rice or noodles, whatever you’re in the mood for.
The broccoli keeps things fresh, and the beef stays juicy if you don’t overdo it. I love that you only need a few ingredients and a skillet or wok—no fancy gear required.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef (thinly sliced)
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Cooking Instructions
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Mix cornstarch and water, then toss beef in it.
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Steam or blanch broccoli for 2-3 minutes until bright green.
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Heat oil in a wok or pan over medium-high heat.
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Cook beef until browned, about 3-4 minutes.
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Add garlic and ginger, stir for 30 seconds.
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Add sauces and water mixture, then broccoli.
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Cook 2 minutes more, stirring until sauce thickens.
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Serve hot over rice or noodles.
You can find more tips on making this dish here.
10) One-Pot Taco Pasta
One-Pot Taco Pasta is just what it sounds like: everything cooks together, and you’re eating in about half an hour. Ground beef, pasta shells, a cheesy, taco-inspired tomato sauce—plus maybe some onion and bell pepper for good measure.
You only need one pot, so cleanup’s a breeze. The dish is hearty, cozy, and honestly, who doesn’t like tacos and pasta?
You can play with the spice by tweaking the taco seasoning. Want more kick? Add green chiles. Extra cheese? Always a yes. For the full breakdown, check out this One-Pot Taco Pasta recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta shells
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz/400 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
Cooking Instructions
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Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat.
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Toss in the onion and bell pepper. Cook until they soften up a bit.
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Mix in the taco seasoning, pasta, tomatoes, and beef broth.
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Turn up the heat and bring it all to a boil. Let it simmer for about 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta feels tender.
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Sprinkle in the cheese and stir until it melts. Serve it up warm—enjoy!