Introducing 50 delectable ground beef recipes that won’t break the bank! If you’re on the lookout for budget-friendly meal options without sacrificing flavor, you’re in for a treat. These dishes are designed to make the most of affordable ground beef, ensuring every bite is both delicious and economical. Get ready to spice up your mealtime routine with these wallet-friendly wonders!
Appetizers and Snacks
1. Mini Beef Empanadas
These snack-size empanadas are filled with achiote-spiced ground beef and wrapped in a flaky dough.
2. Beef and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Portobello mushrooms with a thick beef mince ragu loaded with bacon & mozzarella cheese are easy to make & are a treat for everyone!
3. Layered Beef Taco Dip
Spicy, tangy, and savory flavors are stacked atop each together in a baking dish to create this sensational Layered Ground Beef Taco Dip. While this budget ground beef recipe is fantastically snackable, it is also hearty enough to be dinner any night of the week.
4. Beef and Bean Sheet Pan Quesadillas
Crisp, buttery tortilla, seasoned filling and melty cheese make this Beef and Bean Sheet Pan Quesadilla an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love!
5. Ground Beef Grilled Cheese
A pan-fried grilled cheese sandwich, with BBQ sauce infused ground beef, and smothered in melted cheese. This is sure to be devoured!
Main Dishes
6. Classic Beef Meatloaf
This is a Meatloaf recipe for people who love their Meatloaf oozing with flavour, moist and tender yet not crumble apart when sliced, and a sticky caramelised meatloaf glaze . It’s so much more than just a giant hunk of ground beef in a loaf shape!
7. Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry
Quick and delicious, this healthy Ground Beef Stir Fry is packed with vegetables and makes for the perfect weeknight meal or meal prep. All you need are some pantry staples to make the sauce and a handful of vegetables and you’ll have yourself a fresh and hearty meal in no time.
8. One-Pot Beef Pasta
This is a beef pasta cooked with Italian seasonings in a creamy tomato sauce. The epitome of easy homemade comfort food with the convenience of one-pot cooking!
9. Beef and Potato Casserole
A budget-friendly and tasty Ground Beef Casserole, with beef mince and frozen vegies layered between sliced potatoes.
10. Beef and Bean Burritos
Try these beef and bean burritos are stuffed with seasoned beef, black beans, corn, rice, and more! Wrapped in large and tasty flour tortillas, these beef and bean burritos bring restaurant-quality Mexican food to your kitchen table in under 30 minutes.
Pasta and Rice Dishes
11. Spaghetti with Beef Bolognese Sauce
This Ground Beef Bolognese Sauce is rich, thick and has beautiful depth of flavour. It’s perfect for a quick midweek meal but even better if you can simmer it for a couple of hours! Serve it over pasta, stuff into jacket potatoes, make an epic Lasagna or Baked Spaghetti Pie!
12. Beef and Cheese Stuffed Shells
Stuffed Shells with Ground Beef is a baked casserole-style dinner with meat sauce, plenty of cheese, and tons of Italian flavor. This easy family favourite is perfect for any night of the week.
13. Ground Beef Risotto
Think of this beef risotto recipe as a marriage between a basic risotto and a Bolognese sauce. In short, it makes a memorable hearty dish packed with Italian flavours.
14. Beef and Vegetable Fried Rice
This is a GREAT beef mince recipe. Fried rice made with ground beef tossed in an intense savoury sauce, it’s got extra protein from egg and good amount of veg so it’s a complete dinner you can get on the table quickly. And seriously delicious!
15. Beef and Spinach Lasagna
Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. This spinach and beef lasagna recipe with delicious layers of meat, homemade bechamel sauce, spinach, and browned bubbling cheese on top. This beef and spinach lasagna recipe is perfect for feeding a family or bringing to a potluck!
Soups and Stews
16. Hearty Beef Chili
Bring on the comfort food with this thick and hearty ground beef chili recipe! Packed with ground beef, a blend of spices, and beans in a rich and thick tomato sauce, this easy chili recipe is great on its own, on a hot dog, or transformed into a pie!
17. Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew
Hamburger stew is very similar to traditional beef stew, but it’s made with ground beef instead of stew meat. Using ground beef is a little bit less expensive than using stew meat, and I like how you get a little bit of beef in every bite!
18. Ground Beef and Barley Soup
This comforting Ground Beef Barley Soup is a delicious stovetop dairy-free soup with ground beef that whole family will enjoy.
19. Moroccan Style Ground Beef Tagine
This Moroccan Inspired Ground Beef Stew is great anytime of the year. This stew has a light broth and a unique flavor profile that might just become your new favorite meal!
20. Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup
This vegetable and ground beef soup is chock-full of colorful veggies, filling ground beef, and the most delicious broth ever. Serve it up with a nice crusty bread for dipping, and lunch is served!
Sandwiches and Wraps
21. Sloppy Joes
This Sloppy Joe recipe is sweet, tangy, zesty and savory, with the perfect texture and consistency.
22. Cheeseburger Sliders
Cheeseburger Sliders are juicy, cheesy and beefy – everything we love about classic burgers! These budget ground beef sliders are quick and easy, make-ahead, and reheat really well. They’re perfect for meal prep or gatherings.
23. Low Carb Beef Shawarma
This Low Carb Beef Shawarma with vegetables is an easy, delicious, low carb one-pot meal. It’s both flavorful and super family-friendly.
24. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches with Ground Beef
This is a super simple, at-home Philly cheesesteak recipe, made all the more divine with ground beef! It’s so easy to make and kid-friendly for those days when you want to spice up a lunch sandwich, or do something a little different for dinner.
25. Korean Beef Bulgogi Wraps
Ultra crispy and smothered in a soy-based sauce studded with rich brown sugar, sweet mirin wine, and brimming with heat from Sambal Oelek, these Beef Lettuce Wraps are the best way to do lettuce without the salad. With easy-to-find ingredients, and minimal prep and cook time, they’re also the perfect way to get dinner on the table with very minimal effort.
Casseroles and Bakes
26. Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
This Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole is easy to make with pantry ingredients like cream of mushroom soup. Your family will LOVE this quick dinner recipe!
27. Mexican Beef and Rice Bake
No more boring beef mince recipes, please! Kick off the week with THIS flavour-packed Mexican Ground Beef Casserole! With corn, capsicum/bell peppers and black beans, this rice casserole is juicy, cheesy, and packed with big Mexican flavours.
28. Beef and Potato Cottage Pie
Cottage Pie is the comfort food pinnacle! This English classic has a deeply savoury beef mince filling smothered in gravy topped with creamy mashed potato, baked until golden. One of the best cosy foods to make with ground beef.
29. Beef and Veggie Quinoa Bake
Sauteed vegetables, quinoa, salsa and ground beef cooked together for a delicious casserole that is served with cilantro lime sour cream. This Quinoa Beef Bake is an quick and easy weeknight meal!
30. Beef and Broccoli Casserole
In this creamy beef and broccoli casserole, the ground beef and broccoli are covered in three different types of cheese. The result is a family-friendly recipe that comes together in mere minutes. It will soon become your go-to family dinner recipe.
Global Inspired Beef Dishes
31. Beef Tacos
These classic Ground Beef Tacos feature homemade taco meat loaded into freshly fried taco shells. Serve up with all your favorite toppings for an easy family meal that takes less than 30 minutes!
32. Italian Beef Stuffed Peppers
This easy recipe for Italian Beef Stuffed Peppers is loaded with tender rice, seasoned ground beef in a delicious tomato sauce. They’re finished with Parmesan cheese for a crisp topping that can’t be beat! Serve with warm Garlic Bread for the perfect weeknight meal!
33. Greek Style Ground Beef Gyros
Easy Ground Beef Gyros are so delicious and ready in 30 minutes! Ground beef is perfectly seasoned with a greek spice blend then tucked inside of a soft pita with lots of fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and red onion. Finish the gyro with homemade tzatziki sauce and feta cheese.
34. Thai Basil Beef
This quick and easy Thai Basil Beef recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and is so delicious! It’s made with ground beef (or steak) and a homemade Thai basil sauce that’s easy to customize to your preferred spice level.
35. Indian Spiced Beef Mince Curry
This is an authentic Indian curried beef mince recipe called Qeema (or keema or kheema). It’s a gem of a find because it tastes incredible but unlike many Indian dishes, there are no hard-to-find spices in the ingredients. And it’s super fast – on the table in 20 minutes!
Vegetarian and Beef Blends
36. Beef and Black Bean Enchiladas
Beef Enchiladas with an extra tasty, saucy filling, smothered with a homemade Enchilada Sauce. The time saving trick in this recipe is to use one base Enchilada spice mix for both the sauce and filling!
37. Beef and Lentil Sloppy Joes
These Slow Cooker Beef & Lentil Sloppy Joes pack such a nutritional punch, with protein and fiber from lentils, and sneaky veggies! The whole family will love this healthy, hearty meal!
38. Beef and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers
These Beef and Mushroom Stuffed Peppers are easy to make, have the perfect texture, and keep well. This means you can enjoy them more than once during a given week. They are grain-free, keto, paleo, and full of flavour.
39. Beef and Cauliflower Taco Skillet
This Beef and Cauliflower Taco Skillet is like souped up Cauliflower rice, with ground beef, black beans, and a bunch of fresh ingredients on top. You get a wonderful mix of hot and cold flavors and textures, like when you eat a taco, but in bowl form.
40. Beef and Chickpea Curry
This is a savoury mince curry, made into a magnificently easy meal by adding chickpeas and serving with a lovely tomato salad and with toasted naan.
Eastern European Ground Beef Recipes
41. Russian Beef Pelmeni:
Russian pelmeni are traditional dumplings stuffed with juicy ground meat, onions, and simple seasoning. Serve them on a cold winter’s day with sour cream or melted butter.
42. Romanian Mici:
These homemade sausages, also known as mici (which will translate as “small” or ‘little’ and pronounced “Meech”), are a Romanian BBQ staple. There is no bbq without these tasty little ones. Mici or mititei is street food in Romania, loved by everyone that likes meat.
43. Polish Gołąbki:
The blend of seasoned ground meat and rice filling is a timeless favourite in Poland. Wrapped in tender cabbage leaves and bathed in a rich tomato sauce, these Polish-style stuffed cabbage rolls offer a comforting and hearty meal that satisfies both hunger and nostalgia.
44. Ukrainian Beef Kotlety:
Seasoned with garlic, onions, and herbs, these pan-fried Ukrainian ground beef patties are cultural favourites. Commonly served with mashed potatoes, buckwheat, or even a creamy mushroom sauce, these patties are one of the most delicious budget ground beef recipes.
45. Bulgarian Kufte:
Kufteta is ground meat combined with onions, spices, and different ingredients, often served with a side of yogurt sauce.. They are either shaped, elongated, or round-shaped and mostly grilled. Kufteta is extremely popular in Bulgaria, Turkey, Middle East, the Balkans, and India.
46. Bosnian Burek:
Burek is a mouth-watering Balkan phyllo dough pie with a filling of potatoes, onions and ground beef. Bosnian burek is an amazing dish is prepared with homemade phyllo stuffed with meat and potatoes. This budget beef recipe is definitely comfort food at it’s finest!
47. Croatian Ćevapi:
Croatian Cevapi are easy-to-make grilled ground beef sausages similar to Romanian Mici, seasoned with garlic and paprika. Usually served with flatbread and ajvar (roasted red pepper and eggplant spread).
48. Serbian Pljeskavica:
Pljeskavica are grilled ground beef and pork patties mixed with onions and spices. A budget ground beef recipe that is commonly served in a flatbread with toppings like kajmak (a creamy dairy spread) and ajvar.
49. Czech Sekaná:
This baked Czech meatloaf is made with ground beef, eggs, breadcrumbs, onions, and spices. You will see it most likely served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
50. Lithuanian Cepelinai:
These large potato dumplings are stuffed with seasoned ground beef or pork, boiled until tender, and served with sour cream and a bacon or mushroom sauce.
Conclusion
These 50 budget ground beef recipes offer a delicious solution to your mealtime dilemmas. With a diverse array of flavors and culinary inspirations, there’s no need for boring dinners on a budget. From comforting classics to inventive dishes, you’ve discovered a treasure trove of economical yet satisfying options. So why settle for bland meals when you can enjoy affordable culinary delights that tantalize your taste buds and keep your wallet happy?
