Looking for dinner inspiration? Here you’ll find easy ground beef recipes, including family dinners, comfort food classics, burgers, pasta dishes and more.
If you’re anything like me, then a pack of ground beef is a regular occurrence in your weekly shopping basket. Over the years, I’ve found myself with quite the selection of meals using ground beef on the blog. So many, that I wanted to put together my very best recipes to help you answer the question: ‘what can I make for dinner with ground beef?’.
Every single recipe here only uses simple, store-bought ingredients. They are all packed with flavour, simple to make and sure to be family favourites that you’ll make time and time again.
To help you navigate and find your new favourite dinner, I’ve placed the recipes into 5 categories:
Pasta Recipes (10 recipes)
Ground beef and pasta are a match made in heaven. From creamy pasta dishes and cheesy bakes to comforting classics like bolognese, these recipes are guaranteed to satisfy.
1. One Pot Creamy Beef Pasta
For how simple this recipe is, you’re going to be gob-smacked at just how delicious it is. The best part? It’s all made in one pot!
2. Beef Orzo
From one easy one pot meal to another, this is one of those dinners that feels kinda fancy, but, in reality, it truly couldn’t be easier to make.
3. Hamburger Helper
One dish that doesn’t feel quite so fancy is our dear friend ‘hamburger helper’. Having said that, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it will definitely be one of the most incredible hamburger helper recipes you’ll ever try!
4. Best Ever Lasagne
What’s awesome about a big hearty lasagne is that you can make 8 dinners out of it. It’s perfect to make ahead and freeze, turning ground beef into a batch-cooking dream.
5. Cheesy Taco Pasta Bake
This is the delicious twist on classic beef tacos that you never knew you needed. It’s hearty, family-friendly and loaded with flavour!
6. Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls
Because if you’re not stuffing garlic bread bowls with spaghetti, meat sauce and copious amounts of cheese, you’re not doing dinner right.
7. One Pot Chili Mac
This chili mac is cheesy, spicy, hearty and delicious. Better still, it’s all made in one pot!
8. Spaghetti Bolognese
Everybody needs an amazing spaghetti bolognese recipe up their sleeve, and this one is absolutely fail-proof.
9. Red Wine Chorizo Bolognese
Traditional? No. An awesome twist that you’ll absolutely fall in love with? Absolutely.
10. Taco Spaghetti
And just to round up off the pasta category, here’s another one-pot wonder that’s simple to make, loaded with flavour and only requires a handful of ingredients. This recipe also leads neatly into our next ground beef category.
Tex-Mex Recipes (9 recipes)
If you’re after something with a little more kick, these Tex-Mex inspired recipes have you covered. They’re bold, hearty and loaded with flavour, making them perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners alike.
1. Chilli Con Carne
This is one of my all-time most popular recipes, and for good reason. If you want to talk about dinners that’ll end up on your rotation and never leave, this chilli is top of the list.
2. Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
These quesadillas are so full of flavour, it’s impossible to only have one!
3. Ground Beef Tacos
Upgrade your taco night with these classic ground beef tacos. They only require a handful of ingredients, and they come together in a pinch!
4. Unstuffed Peppers
If you’re a fan of stuffed peppers, this stuffed pepper casserole will end up on your rotation and never leave. The fact it’s all made in one pan is simply the cherry on the cake!
5. Ground Beef Enchiladas
This is one of those dinners that always gets rave reviews. These enchiladas are ultra cheesy, super saucy and loaded with so much flavour!
6. Taco Pockets
What’s awesome about these taco pockets is that you can prep them ahead of time and freeze them, then whip them out at your next taco night.
7. Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
Chili cheese dogs are good, but when they’re baked with even more cheese and finished with crispy onions and bacon, they’re even better.
8. Upside Down Puff Pastry Tacos
From one taco hack to another, these upside down tacos are great fun to make and even better to eat!
9. Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
The sweet and spicy contrast here is almost too much to bear. These stuffed sweet potatoes are simply way too easy and delicious not to try!
Burgers and Sandwiches (8 recipes)
If you’re craving something a little more indulgent, these burgers, sandwiches and burger-inspired recipes are just the ticket. Expect plenty of cheesy, meaty goodness and flavours that are guaranteed to hit the spot.
1. Cheeseburger Wellingtons
No, your eyes are not deceiving you; that is a cheeseburger wrapped in puff pastry, and yes, it truly is as good as it looks!
2. Double Smash Burgers
Sometimes life just calls for a crispy, juicy smash burger, and this is the most delicious way to make one.
3. Cheeseburger Burritos
All the deliciousness of a bacon double cheeseburger packed inside a toasted tortilla wrap – yes, heaven truly is a place on earth.
4. Patty Melts
I remember the first time I tried a patty melt, and it was love at first bite. Here I’ll show you the most delicious way to make one!
5. Cowboy Burgers
There are burgers, then there’s cowboy burgers. If you’ve never made one before – take this as your sign!
6. Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes get a bad rep, but if you make them like this, there’s no way you won’t love them.
7. Breakfast Burgers
Breakfast for dinner, anyone? There’s no time of day these burgers don’t go down a treat!
8. Cheeseburger Loaded Waffle Fries
Put these on the table and watch them disappear in minutes. These waffle fries truly are the ultimate crowd pleaser!
Comfort Food Classics (10 recipes)
Some recipes never go out of style. These comforting ground beef classics are hearty, satisfying and guaranteed to keep everyone coming back for seconds.
1. Traditional Cottage Pie
This recipe has been in my family for many years now and, if I do say so myself, it’s absolute perfection. I’m confident your family will love it too!
2. Mini Cottage Pies
Turn the family favourite into a crowd pleaser that everyone will love!
3. Moussaka
There’s no two ways about it, moussaka takes a little elbow grease to make. But it’s always worth it, especially when you make it this way.
4. Mince and Tatties
This is an absolute Scottish classic that screams ‘comfort’. Perfect for chilly nights when all you want is a hug in a bowl.
5. Ground Beef Hotpot
If you’ve never made a beef hotpot like this before, you need to try it. All the classic flavours of a chilli, baked with tender potatoes until rich and delicious.
6. Ground Beef Gyros
Here’s a twist on the classic gyro that always goes down a treat. A quick and delicious dinner that uses simple, store-bought ingredients.
7. Mini Meatloaves
No – there’s nothing I won’t make mini. Jokes aside, if you’re fed up with a regular meatloaf for dinner, make these mini meatloaf cupcakes for a fun and delicious twist!
8. Cottage Pie Baked Potatoes
This recipe isn’t just a fad; it’s actually an incredibly delicious way to serve a classic cottage pie!
9. Beef & Onion Bread Roll Pies
These bread roll pies are the perfect handheld dinner. Topped with puff pastry and packed with juicy ground beef, they’re bound to be a new family favourite!
10. Slow Cooker Cajun Beef Hotpot
And finally, another delicious hotpot ready for the taking. This time it’s all made in the slow cooker – potatoes and all!
Meatball Recipes (7 recipes)
Few things are as comforting as a batch of juicy meatballs. These recipes are hearty, satisfying and perfect for cosy family dinners.
1. Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs
Sometimes life just calls for a classic. I’ve spent years perfecting this recipe, so you’re in good hands.
2. Swedish Meatballs
Hands up if you’ve taken a trip to Ikea JUST for the meatballs. Well, here I’ll show you how to make Ikea meatballs at home that taste even better than the original.
3. BBQ Meatballs
Meatballs don’t always have to be wrapped in a tomato sauce. Try these BBQ meatballs for a delicious alternative!
4. Skillet Meatballs for Two
These skillet meatballs make the perfect date night dinner for two. They’re easy to make, packed to the brim with flavour and beyond delicious.
5. One Pot Meatballs and Rice
Step aside spaghetti, tonight we’re doing rice. Yep, meatballs and rice make such an awesome family dinner – especially given everything is cooked in one pot!
6. Meatball Subs
Is there anything in this world more delicious than a good old meatball sub? Certainly not when the meatballs are stuffed with mozzarella!
7. Meatball Pasta Bake
This truly is one of the heartiest and most delicious pasta bake recipes you’ll ever make.
And there we have it! A collection of the most delicious ground beef dinners. If you loved this Roundup be sure to Pin it for later! Made any of the recipes? Let me know how you got on in the comments.
