70 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes That Are Weeknight MVPs (2024)

It's time to branch out from burgers.

By Camille Lowder
70 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes That Are Weeknight MVPs (1)

When we’re talking about , ground beef reigns supreme. It’s versatile, quick-cooking, and great for when you’ve got a crowd to feed. If you’re not careful though, it can become a little one-note. Have some on hand and not sure what to make with it? Look no further! From classics like meatloaf to creative meals like totchos, we’ve got you covered. There’s something here to please any and every appetite.

Let’s start with the classics. Though we’re all for trying new things or putting spins on our favorites, you’ve gotta walk before you can run. We’ve tested our recipes for things like stuffed peppers, goulash, sloppy Joes, Salisbury steak, meatballs, chili, and more over and over again to guarantee they’re the best and the most reliable they can be. Trust us, you’re going to want to bookmark these.

Once you’ve got some of those recipes down, it’s time to have a little fun. We’ve also included twists on all your favorite flavor combinations here—you could turn them into a casserole, like we did in our our stuffed pepper casserole or our unstuffed cabbage casserole; into a sandwich, like our French onion meatball sub or our Big Mac crunchwrap; or into a soup, like our meatball sub soup or our taco soup. Feel free to get creative too, and if there’s any mash-ups you’re craving, let us know in the comments below and we’ll see what we can do to make them.

1

Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

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We're so obsessed with Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme that we have not one, but 9!! copycat recipes. And while we love our twists (mmm, especially our Big Mac crunchwrap), we'll always have a special place in our hearts for the original.

Get the Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme recipe.

2

Classic Stuffed Peppers

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Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with just about anything. This is our favorite recipe, but the customization options are endless—check out all our stuffed pepper recipes here too.

Get the Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe.

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3

Mexican Beef 'N' Rice Skillet

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Is there anything better than a one-skillet meal? We don’t think so, particularly if it’s as family-friendly and quick as this one, featuring spiced ground beef, flavorful rice, hearty beans, and lots of cheese. It all comes together in just 40 minutes with minimal prep too!

Get the Mexican Beef 'N' Rice Skillet recipe.

4

Goulash

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A classic nostalgic comfort dish, goulash is the hearty weeknight dinner we'll always crave. The best thing about it? Everything cooks together in one pot—even the pasta!

Get the Goulash recipe.

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5

Sloppy Joes

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If you're craving a reliable, nostalgic, easy (and cheap) weeknight dinner, then there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes’ night is in order. Our tried-and-tested recipe uses the unstoppable trio—ground beef, tomato flavors, and onion—to create a flavor-packed meal that’s for way more than just sandwiches.

Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.

6

Cabbage Roll Skillet

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Cabbage rolls just became a viable weeknight dinner with this quicker to make skillet dinner, which skips the rolling and gets dinner directly on the table. It’s less work, yet the payoff of a comforting home-cooked meal all the same.

Get the Cabbage Roll Skillet recipe.

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7

Classic Chili

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While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes. If you’re looking for the most classic version to come home to after a long day, then this is the recipe for you.

Get the Classic Chili recipe.

8

Taco Spaghetti

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One-pot taco spaghetti is a fast-as-can-be weeknight dinner that pairs all your favorite taco fixin’s with spaghetti rather than taco shells. Everything comes together in one pot—from browning the beef to simmering the sauce, even boiling the spaghetti!

Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe.

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9

Smash Burgers

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If you're unfamiliar, the draw of a smash burger is its SUPER thin patties. Because they are so slim, it's impossible for the ground beef to dry out, but you still get those deliciously crispy, lacy edges. Win win!

Get the Smash Burgers recipe.

10

Caramelized Beef With Rice

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This flavorful, weeknight-friendly dinner cooks in under 10 minutes! Top tip: Brown the ground beef and then caramelize it with agave syrup (or any sweetener you prefer)—the sugars melt, darken, and get nutty delicious.

Get the Caramelized Beef With Rice recipe.

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11

Freezer Burritos

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To make these after-school/work snacks, ground beef gets simmered in hearty spiced tomato sauce, then layered into a flour tortilla with refried beans, rice, and a blend of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese. Though we made these for freezing, we won't judge if you eat one right away. 😉

Get the Freezer Burritos recipe.

12

Big Mac Salad

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Got a craving for a Big Mac, but avoiding the drive-thru? This salad is for you—it's got everything you love, minus the bun!

Get the Big Mac Salad recipe.

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13

Classic Italian Meatballs

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The perfect meatball is a work of art. It must be tender, packed with flavor, nicely round, and hold together while cooking. Lucky for you, our classic Italian meatball recipe passes all of these tests with flying colors.

Get the Classic Italian Meatballs recipe.

14

Taco Soup

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When you’re craving tacos but looking for something with a little more oomph and comfort, taco soup is the dinner for you. It’s hearty and filling, super-flavorful, and comes together FAST (we’re talking 30 minutes fast!).

Get the Taco Soup recipe.

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15

Loaded Beef Totchos

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Totchos (tater tots + nachos) are truly the BEST of both worlds. Be sure to cook the tater tots first so they have a chance to get crispy, then go wild with your toppings.

Get the Loaded Beef Totchos recipe.

16

Hamburger Steaks

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Hamburger steak is similar to Salisbury steak in that both are covered in an onion and mushroom gravy, but what separates this version is a more simply-flavored patty mixture and the omission of tomato-based ingredients like tomato paste and ketchup, resulting in an unadulterated, beefier bite.

Get the Hamburger Steaks recipe.

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17

Taco Salad

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When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying summer meal. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.

Get the Taco Salad recipe.

18

Miso Bolognese

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We’re no strangers to the simple magic of a well-done Bolognese; it’s a staple in our weeknight dinner rotation. To avoid falling into a dreaded rut, we turned to one of our favorite superpower ingredients to jazz it up. Enter: miso!

Get the Miso Bolognese recipe.

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19

Classic Meatloaf

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For some, it's a dependable weeknight dinner; for others, a nostalgic comfort food from childhood. Whatever meatloaf is for you, one thing is for sure: Your go-to recipe should be simple and dependable, just like this one.

Get the Classic Meatloaf recipe.

20

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

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We took inspiration from our classic stuffed peppers for this casserole, creating a mixture of ground beef, tomato-flavored rice, and melty cheese. That being said, just like our other stuffed pepper recipes, you can really experiment with this recipe to make it your own.

Get the Stuffed Pepper Casserole recipe.

70 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes That Are Weeknight MVPs (2024)

FAQs

What to make with 73 27 ground beef? ›

Ground Beef that is not less than 70% lean (usually a 73/27 or 75/25 lean-to-fat ratio) is used for burgers and in recipes calling for browning (crumbles) and pouring off drippings, such as chili, tacos and spaghetti sauce. When properly cooked, it is moist and juicy.

How many meals can a pound of ground beef make? ›

One pound of ground beef can go a long way if you're cooking for one. In fact, we can get at least four single serving meals out of just one pound.

What to use fatty ground beef 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 beef should I use to make ground beef? ›

The best cuts of beef for burgers:
  1. Chuck steak. Chuck is the most commonly used cut of beef in burger blends. ...
  2. Sirloin or Tri-Tip. Sirloin is a relatively lean cut of steak, but has a good amount of flavor. ...
  3. Round. Round is extremely lean and very cheap. ...
  4. Brisket. ...
  5. Boneless Short Rib. ...
  6. Plate (Skirt and Hanger Steak).

Is 73 ground beef good for meatloaf? ›

Like meatballs, many meatloaf recipes include a blend of meat, which will determine whether you need fattier or leaner beef. If it's an all-beef recipe, avoid 90/10, and go for 80/20 or 85/15. Most recipes call for 70/30 or 80/20 ground beef, which makes a rich and juicy burger patty with a good exterior crust.

What is 80 20 hamburger good for? ›

In conclusion, 80 20 ratio is a great choice for any recipe that requires a little bit of fat. The fat content ensures a juicy and flavorful patty, making it the perfect choice for burgers, meatloaf, and other dishes.

How many burgers will 1 pound of ground beef make? ›

Burgers. Our Test Kitchen uses a range of 1 to 1½ pounds of ground beef to make 4 burgers, which is 4 to 6 ounces of ground beef per burger.

How many burgers does 2 lbs of ground beef make? ›

If you're really hungry, I'd say at least 10 burgers - but if you want to be a bit more conservative, you can probably make 8 nice-sized burgers with 2 pounds of ground beef. Enjoy!

How many pounds of ground beef do you need to feed 70 people? ›

Try serving 3/4 of a pound per person to factor in the extra weight. If you're dishing up some ground beef for taco night, ¼ of a pound per person should be sufficient. You might want to consider ¾ of a pound for those with heartier appetites. A half a pound might not be enough.

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 is the best brand of ground beef to buy? ›

Dakota Grass-Fed Organic 90/10 Ground Beef was just ranked as the Best Beef Product of 2021 by the world's #1 nutrition website, "Eat This, Not That!" Dakota Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished Organic Ground Beef is raised with no added hormones or antibiotics ever and is naturally gluten-free. Sold in 1lb packages.

What to do with a lot of ground beef? ›

Ground Beef can also be batch cooked in advance and incorporated into meals for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners during the week.
  1. Lazy Beef Lasagna. ...
  2. Beef Confetti Taco Salad. ...
  3. Friday Night Lights Frito Pie. ...
  4. Beef Sausage and Egg Cups. ...
  5. Mediterranean Beef Kofta. ...
  6. One-Dish Beef Stroganoff. ...
  7. Beef Enchilada Soup.

What is the secret to best ground beef? ›

For More Tender Ground Meat, Grind It After Cooking Too. It's the meat — not the quality or the flavor, but the texture. Ground meat, even when you grind it yourself, tends to be a bit larger and more crumbly, which is great when you want chunky marinara or sloppy Joes.

What kind of ground beef does McDonald's use? ›

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.

Is 73 27 hamburger good? ›

The finished product is a juicy inside with a delectable crust on the outside. While 80/20 may be 'superior' in a sense, because it is widely viewed as the standard for the optimal lean-to-fat content of a burger, you shouldn't sleep on 73/27 just because of the 7% higher fat content.

What do you use 70 30 beef for? ›

The higher fat content renders too much grease on the pan and can even lead to a potential grease fire. However, 70/30 meat would be perfect for something like meatloaf or meatballs.

Is 73/27 ground beef good for dogs? ›

Yes, that is too much fat for your dog. Too much fat for a dog can lead to pancreatitis, which is life threatening and requires intensive hospital care in order to treat it.

How many calories are in 73 lean 27 fat ground beef? ›

73% LEAN/27% FAT GROUND BEEF PATTIES
NameAmountUnit
Energy312kcal
Protein15.2g
Total lipid (fat)26.8g
Carbohydrate, by difference0g
11 more rows

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