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. I usually use olive oil because that's my go-to, but your favorite cooking oil will work too.

What makes ground beef taste better? ›

Add herbs and spices: Mix in dried herbs and spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder to give your ground beef a bolder flavor. Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking.

What is 70 30 ground beef good for? ›

You can find ground beef blends with a range of lean points, but 70/30 is very common. The high fat content makes this ground beef the ideal product for juicy burgers that require a lot of napkins. Just be aware that the meat will shrink considerably as the fat melts.

What should I season my ground beef with? ›

11 Seasonings That Work Well With Ground Beef
  • Always include salt and pepper. ...
  • Add a bit of smoked paprika. ...
  • Choose from different types of onion powder. ...
  • Give it a noticeable garlic flavor. ...
  • Complete with Italian herbs. ...
  • Consider a curry blend. ...
  • Spice it up with cayenne pepper. ...
  • Mustard powder adds a unique tang.
Jan 21, 2023

What does adding vinegar to ground beef do? ›

Culinary professionals know that a small amount of vinegar makes food taste bright and fresh. Too much, however, may make the food unpleasantly sour. First and foremost, vinegar is used as a tenderizer for meat and poultry. It may be added as an injected marinade in very tough proteins or applied via a soak or rub.

Why does baking soda make ground beef taste better? ›

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 can I add to hamburger meat for flavor? ›

Blue cheese, grilled pineapple, or avocado will add a lot of flavor to a classic hamburger. Many, if not all, of these ingredients can already be found in your kitchen and pantry.

What is the most flavorful ground beef? ›

80% lean ground chuck (shoulder) will be the juiciest and most flavorful. It's also the grind I recommend for making burgers for the grill. It has the perfect fat-to-meat ratio. These burgers will still be juicy when grilled to the recommended internal temperature of 160 degrees.

What ground beef is best for spaghetti? ›

Generally, the best ground beef for a spaghetti sauce is ground chuck because it contains more fat than ground sirloin and ground round. More fat means more flavor, and you can always drain excess fat. It is also important to slowly brown the meet at medium-high heat so that it does not loses its moisture too quickly.

What kind of ground beef is best for tacos? ›

What's the best ground beef for tacos? Ground round or ground sirloin—these are leaner versions of ground beef, so they don't have as much flavor on their own. That makes them perfect for cooking with lots of herbs and spices, as you do when making taco filling.

What does 93 7 mean on ground beef? ›

the percentage of fat. For example, “93/7” means 93 percent lean meat and 7 percent fat. The lower the fat content, the less saturated fat you'll consume. To help reduce consuming extra fat from both ground turkey and ground beef, Hueschen recommends these options: Drain grease from the pan.

What herb goes best with ground beef? ›

The best herbs for ground beef are those listed above; you can use Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, or Sage for delicious ground beef. Depending on what you're making, ground beef can be mixed with Parsley or Dill or accented with Basil or Tarragon.

What can I add to ground beef to keep it moist? ›

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.

What can I add to ground beef to make it better? ›

Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking. Add a flavorful liquid: Add a small amount of beef broth, tomato sauce, or red wine to the ground beef while it cooks to add extra flavor.

How do you make ground beef tastier? ›

Cooked ground beef really doesn't have any real taste so it is necessary to season it up. You can use just salt and pepper or you can add virtually anything to it like jalapenos, peppers, onions, etc. Try using fresh onion rather than powder.

What gives ground beef its flavor? ›

Season ground beef with peppery spices

The main players include chili peppers, crushed red pepper, black pepper, jalapeño peppers, paprika, poblano peppers, and spicy non-pepper seasonings, such as garlic, onion, and cumin.

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