From cheesy casseroles and one-pan skillet meals to cozy soups and crowd-pleasing appetizers, these easy, affordable ground beef recipes are packed with flavor and made for real-life cooking. I’m sharing my favorite ground beef recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights, casual family meals, or whenever you need a delicious dinner in a hurry.
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Ground beef is a weeknight hero in my kitchen. It’s budget-friendly, easy to cook, and takes on flavor like a dream. Whether I’m making a big batch of chili for game day, tossing together a cheesy skillet dinner, or prepping a casserole for a family get-together, ground beef always comes through. I’ve rounded up some of my all-time favorite recipes using this humble ingredient to help take the guesswork out of dinner planning. These dishes are hearty, comforting, and made to bring folks together around the table with joy and ease—just the way I like it.
Tips for Preparing & Serving Ground Beef Dishes:
- Go for the right fat ratio: I usually reach for 80/20 ground beef. It’s got just the right amount of fat for flavor without being too greasy. If I’m making something like tacos or spaghetti sauce, I’ll drain off a little of the extra fat after browning.
- Season while browning: Don’t wait ‘til the end! Sprinkle in salt, pepper, garlic powder, or whatever spices you love while the beef’s cooking. It soaks up more flavor that way.
- Make it ahead when you can: Ground beef recipes are great for meal prep. Many of them taste even better the next day (I’m lookin’ at you, chili and casseroles).
- Freeze extra for a rainy day: I love cooking a big batch of ground beef, portioning it out, and freezing it. On busy nights, it’s a lifesaver—ready to be to.
Why I Love Cooking With Ground Beef
One of the reasons I always keep ground beef on hand is that it’s an affordable way to feed a crowd. It stretches easily in casseroles, soups, and pasta dishes, and you can usually find it on sale or in bulk.
What Can I Make With Ground Beef? Start Here
Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
My Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe, packed with savory ground beef, ripe tomatoes, garlic, and a blend of aromatic herbs, is about to become your go-to for family dinners! Whether served over a big bowl of pasta or used in your favorite Italian-inspired recipes, it’ll have everyone asking for seconds. It tastes like it’s been simmering all day, but you can have it ready in about an hour!
Sheet Pan Hamburger Steak
This recipe is short on work and big on flavor and it's all made on a single pan. Juicy hamburger steaks along with savory mushrooms and onions is a perfect dinner made for 2 and easy enough to make for a crowd.
Easy Homemade Meatballs
This recipe for the BEST Homemade Meatballs has become a classic that's super easy to make! These meatballs are tender and juicy and are perfect served over pasta, as an appetizer, or in subs. They're baked and ready to serve with a simple, flavorful marinara sauce in just 30 minutes.
Slow Cooker Queso Beef Dip
Queso Beef Dip is creamy, cheesy, loaded with ground beef, and simple to make in the slow cooker! This velvety smooth dip with swirls of green chilies, salsa, and jalapeños is a crowd-pleasing appetizer at any party, game-day celebration, or when you're entertaining.
Crock Pot Hawaiian Meatballs
Hawaiian Meatballs smothered in a sweet tangy sauce with pineapple and fresh ginger are cooked low and slow in the crock pot. These succulent meatballs are a slow cooker masterpiece and are great served as an appetizer or main dish!
Award-Winning Southern Soul Chili Recipe
The Best Chili recipe starts off with beef and beans in a rich sauce is loaded with amazing flavor! That's perfect for tailgating, game day, or when you're feeding a crowd. Simmered for hours, it is comfort food at its BEST.
Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs
Crock Pot Bourbon Meatballs are tender, succulent, and loaded with irresistible flavors. These meatballs, prepped in just minutes, are cooked in the Crock-Pot and are perfect to serve as an appetizer, for game day or on lazy weekends.
Bloody Mary Chili Recipe
If you're a Bloody Mary fan, then you're going to LOVE this chili! With all the bold flavors of that popular drink, it's a hearty bowl of goodness that's loaded with beef, beans, and warm spicy flavors.
Easy Baked Spaghetti
Out Of This World Baked Spaghetti is a one-pan meal that's always a hit at the supper table or at a covered dish supper. With a creamy, cheesy center, and a meaty sauce, this pasta casserole is comfort food taken to a whole new level!
Easy Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
These meaty Crock Pot Sloppy Joes are simple to make in the slow cooker and loaded with rich flavors. Cooked slowly with brown sugar, tomato sauce, and spices, this homemade recipe is a meat lover's dream. It's a great, budget-friendly dish that’s ideal for a weeknight meal, parties, or when you’re feeding a crowd!
Hamburger Hobo Dinner Foil Packs
Hamburger Hobo Dinners cooked in foil packs are downright delicious! Whether you're cooking this meat and potato dish on the grill, a campfire, or the oven, these flavorful packages are sure to be hit with your family and friends. Foil pack dinners are destined to become one of your favorite ways to cook since they are easy to make, can be prepared in advance and as a bonus, clean up is virtually nonexistent.
Meat Lovers Stuffed French Bread Pizza
Meat Lovers Stuffed French Bread Pizza is easy to make and loaded with traditional pizza flavor. Seasoned ground beef and pepperoni along with two kinds of gooey cheese make this a recipe perfect for a weeknight meal
Easy One Pot Lasagna Soup
One-Pot Lasagna Soup is full of all the flavors that you love from classic lasagna, but so much easier to make! This simple recipe made with ground beef in a rich tomato broth topped with creamy ricotta and rich Parmesan is a one-pot meal that's comfort food at its best.
Quick And Easy Ground Beef Chili
Ground Beef Chili has all the flavors of your favorite classic chili recipe but made in half the time! It's comfort food that warms the soul with each hearty bite.
Glazed Meatloaf (Sweet And Savory)
Get ready to make tender, incredibly flavorful Home Style Glazed Meatloaf with this easy recipe. With a sweet and tangy topping, this homestyle meatloaf is great for a busy weeknight yet special enough to serve to company.
Cowboy Spaghetti
Cowboy Spaghetti is a fun and delicious recipe that combines two classic comfort foods: spaghetti with meat sauce and chili! It's packed with crispy bacon and tossed in a southwestern-style sauce for an irresistible bite, that's perfect for game day, casual entertaining with friends, or a family dinner.
Easy Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup is the perfect fall and winter comfort food recipe! Made with perfectly seasoned beef and loaded with veggies, this soup will become a family favorite in no time.
Crock Pot Mississippi Meatballs
Made with a few simple ingredients, Crock Pot Mississippi Meatballs are a ridiculously good party appetizer but also hearty enough for dinner. This recipe has robust flavors of ranch and garlic with a mild spicy kick from peppers. Thanks to the slow cooker, it's so easy to make!
Hot Dog Chili Sauce
Home Run Hot Dog Chili is the ultimate topping for your grilled dogs, sausages, and burgers! This meaty, tangy, slightly sweet sauce is simmered in just the right combination of herbs and spices. It's a winning recipe for your next cookout, BBQ or tailgate party!
Easy Cheesy Chili Mac (One Pot Recipe)
This Easy Chili Mac recipe combines thick and flavorful chili with homemade macaroni and cheese, a classic mashup that’s sure to warm you from the inside out! This comfort food meal will become a family favorite that's made in just one pot in about half an hour.
How to Make the Perfect Meatball Sub at Home
Tender, homemade meatballs simmered in a rich tomato sauce, then stuffed into a toasted bun, topped with cheese, are a sandwich lover's dream! Meatball Parmesan Subs are a great way to feed a hungry crowd on game day and are always a favorite at suppertime.
Easy Taco Spaghetti Casserole
Made with juicy ground beef and gooey Monterrey jack cheese, this Easy Taco Spaghetti Casserole is the perfect weeknight meal. This family favorite dinner recipe is so delicious, it'll have everyone asking for seconds!
Crock Pot Cocktail Party Meatballs
Classic cocktail meatballs are sweet, savory, and super easy to make. Made with grape jelly and chili sauce, they are the perfect small bite for any party, great for game day when you're feeding a crown, and are a go-to for family dinners.
The Secret to a Better Burger: My Go-To Hamburger Seasoning
If you’re making burgers at home, don’t skip the seasoning! I keep a jar of my Homemade Hamburger Seasoning in the pantry—it’s a simple blend of spices that adds bold, savory flavor to any ground beef patty. Just a sprinkle before cooking makes all the difference. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to plain salt and pepper.
Brenda Barrs
Love your recipes, one of my top sites for all recipes, especially southern because I grew up eating southern food all my life, being born in S.C. living here all my life.Keep sending them many are so much like the food my grandmother cooked.
Thank you so much for your sweet message! It truly means the world to me to hear that my recipes bring back memories of the food you grew up with. There’s something so special about Southern cooking and the way it connects us to family, especially grandmothers who always seemed to make everything with a little extra love. I’m so glad you’re here—I’ll keep the recipes coming!
~Donya
Donna Ward
Everything looks mouth watering, can’t wait to go and get groceries I need and lots of hamburger. These recipes are right up my alley, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Donna! Let me know which ones are your favorites.
~Donya