30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (2024)

We’ve rounded up 30 of the best ground beef recipes that we, and the internet, have to offer! So if you’re wondering “what should I make with ground beef?” you, friend, have come to the right place!

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30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (1)

Got Beef? We’ve Got a Recipe for you!

Ground beef is quite possibly the ultimate all-American go-to ingredient. It keeps pretty well in the freezer, too, so you can even stock up when it’s on sale and know that you’ve got a freezer-full of easy ground beef dinners at your fingertips. Speaking of easy ground beef recipes—we’ve rounded up 30 of the very best that we, and the internet, have to offer! So if you’re staring at your fridge wondering “what should I make with ground beef?” you, friend, have come to the right place.

30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (2)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (3)

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Easy Ground Beef Recipes with Few Ingredients

  • Thai Basil Beef (cover photo). A speedy, savory Thai beef basil stir fry that’s just a bit spicy and really hits the spot.

  • Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi). Five ingredients, a few minutes and a hot skillet, and you’ll be digging into a delicious soboro donburi, a gingery ground beef that reminds us that the best Japanese recipes are often the simplest.

  • Crock-Pot Taco Meat. Just three-ingredients and the use of our trusty slow-cooker make this Crock-Pot beef taco meat recipe an easy win.

  • Baked Mostaccioli. Filled with meat, a rich red sauce, and covered in shredded mozz. Need we say more?
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (4)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (5)

Ground Beef Burger and Sandwich Recipes

  • Classic Cheeseburger with Secret Sauce. A perfectly soft bun, quality, juicy ground beef that is seasoned well, plenty of cheese, caramelized onions and a really good secret sauce are the key to this truly classic cheeseburger recipe.
  • Patty Melt. As diner sandwiches go, the melty, meaty, oniony perfection that is the patty melt reigns supreme—if you know, you know. And if you don’t know, well, welcome to the club.
  • Meatball Sub Sandwich. Big juicy, tender meatballs simmered in marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade—either works!) stuffed into garlicky hoagie rolls, topped with mozzarella and broiled to melty, bubbly perfection.
  • Beef Sliders. These juicy ground beef sliders—slathered with a homemade bright and lemony sun-dried tomato mayo, spicy pickles, and fresh arugula—prove that bigger doesn’t always equal better.
  • Avocado Burger with Bacon. When the craving strikes for a juicy burger, you’ll want to make this avocado burger with bacon and jalapeño aioli. Get out the napkins, cuz you’re gonna need them!
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (6)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (7)

Meatballs: Quite Possibly Ground Beef’s Highest Calling

  • Swedish Meatballs. These Swedish meatballs are the best you'll ever have. Gently warmed with spices and covered in a heavenly creamy gravy sauce, then served with fluffy mashed potatoes!
  • Mediterranean Meatballs with Tzatziki. These tender spiced beef meatballs are served with our favorite simple tzatziki sauce.
  • Sheet Pan Harissa Meatballs and Cabbage. Smoky, warm, fragrant Middle Eastern spices imbue this simple sheet-pan cabbage-and-meatball dinner with big, bold flavors.
  • Meatball Shakshuka. Ground beef is mixed with the same herbs and spices used in the classic North African shakshuka and then simmered in a smoky, tomato-y shakshuka sauce for a one-pan dinner that everyone will love.
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (8)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (9)

Easy, Hearty Ground Beef Chilis & Soups

  • Taco Soup. Like making ground beef tacos for dinner, but easier.
  • Award Winning Chili. Ground beef, pork, three kinds of beans and spices to spare conspire to make this hearty, stick-to-your-ribs chili your family’s new game day go-to.
  • Lasagna Soup. Loaded with sausage and beef, plenty of herbs and garlic, and topped with a lava flow of mozzarella cheese, lasagna soup is easier to make than its oven-baked counterpart, and just as delicious.
  • Crock-Pot Paleo Chili. Hearty, protein-packed, and not a bean in sight—this meaty Paleo chili is a fast fave.
  • Stuffed Pepper Soup. Loaded with ground beef, bell peppers, tomatoes and topped with cheese, this is a hearty, easy riff on one of our favorite dinners.
  • Taco Salad. Seasoned beef with toppings piled high—beans, corn, cheese, avocado and chips. Finish it off with taco salad dressing and DIG IN!
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (10)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (11)

Cozy, Comforting, Classic Ground Beef Pasta Recipes

  • Easy Bolognese. Hearty and comforting, this meaty, easy ground beef bolognese recipe takes less time to make than it does to disappear into hungry tummies.
  • Spaghetti Sauce. Just wait until you try this deeply flavored, slow-cooked, meat-loaded homemade spaghetti sauce recipe—you'll be head-over-heels.
  • Porcupine Meatballs. These beef meatballs look like little porcupines because of the way the grains of rice stick out of them.
  • Classic Lasagna Recipe. Easy, meaty, cheesy, this classic lasagna recipe is what everyone’s dinnertime dreams are made of.
  • Salisbury steak. Think perfectly browned ground beef patties, seasoned with abandon and served with onion-and-mushroom gravy.
  • Crispy Ground Beef Taco. Ground beef tacos are easy for each person at the table to customize to their own tastes and so they’re always, always a crowd-favorite.
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (12)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (13)

Ground Beef Recipes From Around the Globe

  • Beef Empanadas. Tender, flaky crust surrounding a hearty mixture of warmly-spiced ground beef and vegetables—here's how to make the best beef empanadas you’ve ever tasted.
  • Gyro Meat. Hey guess what! Making juicy, super-seasoned gyro meat at home is easier than you think! Then, you can use that yummy beefy gyro meat to make DIY Gyro Bowls.
  • Beef Kofta Kebabs with Tzatziki. Big, bold herbs and spices make these beef kofta kebabs with tzatziki perfect for a super satisfying centerpiece for a Mediterranean-inspired feast.
  • Shepherd’s Pie. This traditional English dish is a must-make comfort food.
  • Picadillo. Our picadillo recipe makes for a homey weeknight dinner that everyone will gobble up!Chimichurri Meatballs
  • Chimichurri Meatballs. Want a delicious, quick dinner? Pair these meatballs with a big salad, or serve them as a fun, dippable party appetizer—either way, they’re sure to be a hit!
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (14)
30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (15)

Even More Ground Beef Recipe To Fall In Love With

  • Enchilada Casserole. Layers of corn tortilla, cheese, and a tasty bean and beef filling.

  • Cabbage Rolls. Stuffed with pork sausage and ground beef, then wrapped in cabbage leaves and baked to perfection.

  • Mini Meatloaf. Mini meatloaf, you offer so many solutions in one little loaf.

  • Italian Wedding Soup. Tender, juicy meatballs, rich flavorful broth, al-dente pasta, and greens make for a meal the entire family will enjoy.

  • Sloppy Joes. These saucy, beefy homemade sloppy Joes are the best kind of messy comfort food!

30 Best Ground Beef Recipes | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to best ground beef? ›

The trick to cooking ground beef well is to not move it around a lot until it's finished cooking and nicely browned. This helps create a crust on the meat which is delicious. I sauté it in cooking oil.

How do Mexican restaurants get their ground beef so fine? ›

Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants boil raw ground beef with water and seasonings until cooked through to achieve a super fine texture, and the aforementioned Maid Rite sandwiches (aka Loose Meat Sandwiches, which are NOT Sloppy Joe's!) use steam to keep the cooked ground beef soft after cooking.

What makes ground beef taste better? ›

The magic lies in the seasoning – a simple yet potent mix of garlic, onion, cumin, and cayenne, creating some of the most tasty ground beef.

What is the best tasting ground beef? ›

80/20: Ground Chuck

It's the highest lean-to-fat ratio in the specialty grinds and tends to be quite tender and juicy. Ground chuck is from the shoulder of the cow. It is rich and tender with plenty of flavor. Often referred to as “lean ground beef,” this is perfect for hamburgers and meatballs.

Why do you add baking soda to ground beef? ›

Baking Soda is an Easy Meat Tenderizer

Baking soda helps prevent ground beef from drying out, allowing those burger patties to keep their moisture and brown quicker for the most flavorful cookout. Not to mention, baking soda is the ideal ingredient for getting the most out of your Thanksgiving bird.

What to add to ground beef for flavor? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons oregano.
  2. 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  3. 1 teaspoon cumin.
  4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  5. 2 teaspoons onion powder.
  6. 12 teaspoon salt.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 12 cup water.

What spices make beef taste better? ›

Spices like onion and garlic, with their inherent pungency, are some of the first that comes to mind when it's time to season the beef. They are savory and strong, and also easy to come by! Black Pepper goes wonderfully with beef, with its slightly hot bite and the piney aroma.

Do you season ground beef before or after cooking? ›

When it comes to seasoning your ground beef, wait until after it has been browned and drained. Adding salt to raw ground beef pulls out moisture, drying the meat out and creating steam while it cooks, which prevents it from browning properly.

What is the meat in McDonald's hamburgers? ›

Every one of our McDonald's burgers is made with 100% pure beef and cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else—no fillers, no additives, no preservatives. We use the trimmings of cuts like the chuck, round and sirloin for our burgers, which are ground and formed into our hamburger patties.

What is the secret to juicy hamburgers? ›

A little extra moisture helps even well-done burgers stay juicy and tender, even if they're made from 90% lean ground beef. Mix in 1/4-1/2 cup water per pound of ground beef before forming your patties to reap the tenderizing benefit of H20. Some chefs tuck an ice cube into the middle of the patty for the same effect.

What's the difference between ground beef and hamburger? ›

What's the difference between "hamburger" and "ground beef"? Beef fat may be added to "hamburger," but not "ground beef." A maximum of 30% fat is allowed in either hamburger or ground beef. Both hamburger and ground beef can have seasonings, but no water, phosphates, extenders or binders added.

What can I add to ground beef for flavor? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons oregano.
  2. 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  3. 1 teaspoon cumin.
  4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  5. 2 teaspoons onion powder.
  6. 12 teaspoon salt.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 12 cup water.

How do you cook ground beef so it's not tough? ›

Instructions:
  1. Allow your meat to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
  2. Heat the oil in a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. ...
  3. Once the pan is hot, add the meat, and use a spatula to break it up into pieces.
  4. Let the meat brown without touching for about five minutes.
Jun 27, 2023

How do you make ground beef soft and tender? ›

Baking soda acts as a tenderizer for ground beef, keeps it moist during cooking, and encourages deep browning by raising the acidity level of the surface of the meat. Simply add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to 1 pound of ground beef for more tender meat with better browning.

What is the best ground beef mixture? ›

Adding hard working muscles that contain a lot of myoglobin will lower the cost of your end product while enhancing that flavor. A good basic mixture would be to use 50% chuck (the cheap and lean), 25% rib plate (the fatty parts) and 25% brisket (the fatty and beef flavor).

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