Ground beef is our hero, and these recipes prove why.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Like many home cooks, I'm guessing you probably have a pound of ground beef in the freezer right now. It's likely there because it was on sale, or you just like to have some on hand for burgers or spaghetti and meatballs.
Do you ever look at that ground beef and wish you had something different to do with it? Your wish has been granted. Here are 15 recipes that use a pound (or two) of ground beef. Best of all, each recipe is ready in just about 30 minutes!
Read More: How to Thaw Ground Beef
Salisbury Ground Beef
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Salisbury Ground Beef
This riff on a classic is Salisbury steak taken up a notch—and it's easier to make than the original.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Using ground beef is easier on your budget than beef and broccoli made with steak but still provides all the flavor you love.
Ground Beef Hummus Bowls
Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz
Get Recipe: The 10-Minute Dinner I Make All the Time
Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz says, "Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Everyone wants to have their own thing, and, with hummus and ground beef as a jumping-off point, this dish lets them do just that."
One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas
Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: The 20-Minute Ground Beef Dinner I Make All the Time
Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight."
One-Pot Taco Pasta
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: One-Pot Taco Pasta
Make this large pot of slightly spicy, cheesy taco pasta and you'll feast on the leftovers at least one more night.
Easy Beef Krapow
Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: The 10-Minute Ground Beef Dinner I Make Once a Week
Contributor Frank Tiu says, "This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available."
Baked Ground Beef Tacos
Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RD
Get Recipe: Baked Ground Beef Tacos
Contributor Sara Haas says, "If you have the time and a good collection of spices, feel free to make your own taco seasoning mix. Since you’ll want the mixture to be a little saucy, stir in 1 teaspoon cornstarch to the 2/3 cup water before adding to the ground beef mixture in the skillet."
Easy Taco Casserole
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Easy Taco Casserole
Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, "It's important for this recipe to use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips."
Hamburger Stroganoff
Get Recipe: Hamburger Stroganoff
Swapping ground beef for steak makes this classic weeknight friendly and affordable!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Helper
Never buy the box mix again! This homemade version of the classic Hamburger Helper can be made with ingredients you likely have in your pantry already.
Creamed Tacos
Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: This Is the Only Way I'll Eat Velveeta—It's So Delicious
This filling, super easy meal is sort of like serving personal bowls of chili con queso for dinner. You wouldn't do it every night, but once in a while, it's a real treat.
Garlicky Gingery Ground Beef
Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn
Get Recipe: Garlickly, Gingery Ground Beef
This easy skillet recipe is salty, sweet, and meaty, and with just five ingredients it proves that you don't need to be fussy to have a lot of flavor.
Burger Salad
Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
Get Recipe: Burger Salad
Burger salads are a no-fail favorite at recipe writer Coco Morante's house. This recipe pleases the grown-ups and the kid contingent alike!
Unstuffed Peppers
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Unstuffed Peppers
Skip the hassle of stuffing individual peppers and make this crowd-friendly "unstuffed" version.
Hamburger and Macaroni
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Hamburger and Macaroni
You might call this hamburger hotdish, mulligan, or Johnny Marzetti. Whatever it's called, it's comforting and so simple!
