10+ Ground Meat Recipes You’ll Love to Try Tonight

Ground meat is a real kitchen workhorse. You can whip up so many different dishes with it, whether you’re after something quick, simple, or a bit more comforting.

With just one main ingredient, you get a ton of tasty meals that fit your mood and schedule.

This type of meat goes well with all sorts of flavors and cooking styles. It’s honestly a great pick for everyday meals since it cooks fast and pairs with whatever you already have.

You’ll find plenty of options here that are easy enough for busy weeknights but still delicious.

1) Classic Beef Burgers

Classic beef burgers are always a hit and super easy to make. Go for ground beef with about 20% fat—it keeps burgers juicy and full of flavor.

Mix the beef with a little salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Don’t overwork the meat or your burgers might get tough.

Shape the patties just a bit bigger than your buns so they shrink down to the perfect size. Grill or cook on the stove until the centers hit 160°F (71°C).

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80% lean)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Gently mix beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
2. Form 4 patties, slightly larger than buns.
3. Preheat grill or pan to medium-high heat.
4. Cook patties 4-5 minutes per side until 160°F (71°C) inside.
5. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

2) Korean Ground Beef Bowls

Korean ground beef bowls come together in under 30 minutes. Start by cooking lean ground beef with garlic and ginger.

Add soy sauce and brown sugar for that sweet-savory kick. Serve the beef over hot white rice.

Top with green onions or sesame seeds if you want a little crunch. It’s simple, but the flavors are bold and satisfying.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add ground beef; cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Stir in brown sugar and soy sauce; cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Serve over rice and garnish as desired.

3) Shepherd’s Pie with Ground Beef

Shepherd’s pie hits the spot on a cold night. Start by cooking ground beef with onions and garlic.

Toss in some peas and carrots, then spread the mixture in a baking dish. Top it all with mashed potatoes.

Pop it in the oven and bake until the top turns golden and bubbly.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
• 2 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Heat olive oil in a pan and cook onion and garlic until soft.
3. Add ground beef and brown it. Stir in tomato paste, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix in vegetables and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Pour beef mixture into a baking dish.
6. Spread mashed potatoes evenly on top.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes turn golden brown.

For more details, see this Easy Shepherd’s Pie recipe.

4) Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Ground beef and broccoli stir fry is a lifesaver on busy nights. Use lean ground beef with fresh broccoli and a punchy sauce.

Cook the beef and veggies together so the sauce soaks in. The sauce usually has soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of honey or brown sugar.

It’s not too sweet and makes a great dinner over rice or noodles.

Making this dish takes about 30 minutes, so it’s fast when you’re busy. The ground beef absorbs the sauce well, giving you a satisfying meal without a lot of fuss.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup beef broth (low sodium)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
2. Cook the ground beef until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
3. Add onion, garlic, and ginger; cook for 2 minutes.
4. Stir in broccoli and beef broth, cover, and steam for 3-4 minutes until broccoli is tender.
5. Mix soy sauce, honey, and cornstarch slurry, then pour into the pan.
6. Stir constantly until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
7. Serve hot over rice or noodles.

For more details, see Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.

5) BBQ Beef and Beans

BBQ Beef and Beans comes together quickly for a weeknight dinner. Mix ground beef with beans in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.

Serve it over rice or sprinkle cheese on top for a hearty meal. If you want, throw in some onions and bacon for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 2 cans of beans (such as pinto or kidney)
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 slices of bacon (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook bacon in a pan until crispy, then set aside.
2. In the same pan, cook onions until soft.
3. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper. Brown the beef.
4. Stir in beans, barbecue sauce, and cooked bacon.
5. Simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes until flavors combine well.
6. Serve warm with rice or cheese on top.

For more details, see this BBQ Beef and Beans recipe.

6) Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps

Sriracha beef lettuce wraps are a fun, spicy way to use ground beef. Cook the beef with sriracha and hoisin or soy sauce for a flavorful filling.

Toss in some chopped onions, garlic, and a dash of fish sauce if you’re feeling fancy. Spoon the beef into crisp lettuce leaves.

Top with veggies or herbs for crunch. You’ll have these ready in about 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1-2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce or soy sauce
• 2 tsp cooking oil (such as peanut or sesame)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1-1.5 tsp minced garlic
• Optional: fish sauce, chopped scallions, or crushed peanuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
2. Add onions and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes.
3. Add ground beef; cook until browned and cooked through.
4. Stir in Sriracha, hoisin or soy sauce, and fish sauce if using. Cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Spoon beef mixture into lettuce leaves.
6. Add toppings like scallions or peanuts if desired.
7. Serve immediately.

For more ideas, check out these Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps.

7) Ground Beef Meatloaf

Meatloaf is comfort food at its best. Mix ground beef with chopped onions, breadcrumbs, and eggs to help it hold together.

Shape it into a loaf and bake. Slather ketchup or glaze on top for more flavor.

Bake at 375°F (190°C) so it cooks through and gets a nice crust. Serve it with mashed potatoes or steamed veggies.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ to 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup dried breadcrumbs
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper until combined.
3. Shape the mixture into a loaf and place it in a baking dish.
4. Spread ketchup over the top of the meatloaf.
5. Bake for 60 minutes or until an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) is reached.
6. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

8) Easy Beef Bolognese

Beef Bolognese doesn’t have to be complicated. Brown ground beef in a pan, then add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery for flavor.

Let the sauce simmer until it thickens and tastes rich. Serve it over pasta or tuck it into lasagna.

Using ground beef with a little fat, like 80/20, keeps things juicy. If you have leftovers, just freeze them for another night.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 fat)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 1 celery stalk, finely diced
• 1 can (14 oz/400g) crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup (120ml) beef broth
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Toss in the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Stir often and cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Add the ground beef. Brown it, breaking it up as you go.
4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Stir everything together.
5. Turn the heat down and let it simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.
6. Sprinkle in salt and pepper. Serve hot—maybe over pasta, or however you like.

For more details, you can visit an easy Bolognese recipe.

9) One-Pan Ground Beef and Veggie Skillet

This one-pan meal is so fast and straightforward. You cook ground beef with fresh veggies—zucchini, bell peppers, onions—all in a single skillet.

It’s a healthy pick since you get your protein and veggies in one go. Use whatever vegetables you’ve got on hand.

This dish comes together in about 30 minutes. Cleanup? Basically a breeze.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups zucchini, cubed
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 3/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Pour olive oil into a large skillet and heat over medium.
2. Add the ground beef. Brown it, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Toss in onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and broccoli.
4. Cook another 8-10 minutes, just until the veggies soften up.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

For detailed ideas, you can check this ground beef veggie skillet recipe.

10) Ground Beef Nachos

Ground beef nachos are just plain fun. You cook up seasoned ground beef with onions and spices, then pile it onto crispy tortilla chips.

Add a whole lot of cheese and toss on your favorite toppings—think tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream. Bake it until the cheese bubbles.

You can season the beef with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Or just grab some pre-made nacho seasoning if you’re in a hurry.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Tortilla chips
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• Optional: diced tomatoes, jalapeños, sour cream

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).

2. Heat some vegetable oil in a pan, then toss in the onion. Cook until it softens—takes just a few minutes.

3. Add the ground beef and let it brown. Once it’s cooked through, go ahead and drain any extra liquid.

4. Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir it all together so the flavors mix.

5. Grab a baking sheet and spread out the tortilla chips.

6. Spoon the cooked beef evenly over the chips.

7. Sprinkle cheese generously on top.

8. Pop it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, just until the cheese gets all melty and irresistible.

9. Throw on any toppings you like before serving.

If you want to dive deeper, check out the Loaded Beef Nachos Recipe.