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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Grandma Approved Ground Beef Dinners for Super Busy Nights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 2, 2025, updated April 29, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    When time is tight and dinner needs to be on the table fast, ground beef is a go-to ingredient that can save the day. From quick skillet meals to hearty casseroles, there are plenty of easy recipes that are both satisfying and simple to prepare. Here are 20 grandma-approved ground beef dinners that will help you whip up a delicious meal in no time.

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These meatballs are simple to prepare and can be ready in under an hour. You can cook them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, resulting in juicy and flavorful meatballs.

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    Slow Cooker Meatloaf

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker meatloaf is a simple and tasty dish that you can whip up with just a few basic ingredients. It's perfect for holiday meals or any time you want a comforting dinner without much effort.

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    Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner

    Ground Beef and Rice Skillet Dinner.
    Photo Credit: Shaken Together Life.

    Ground Beef and Rice Skillet is a quick, one-pan dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. With hamburger, rice, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese, it’s a satisfying meal that brings comfort to the table.

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    Homemade Hamburgers

    air fryer hamburger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These burgers are juicy and cooked just right, perfect for piling on your favorite toppings. With just ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, you can whip them up easily.

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    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole

    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This casserole features tater tots, a southwestern twist, and plenty of cheese. It's a comforting dish that's perfect for a cozy dinner.

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    Chili Mac 'n Cheese

    Chili Mac 'n Cheese.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This creamy macaroni and cheese combines all the classic flavors of American beef chili in one simple dish. It's an easy meal that everyone in the family will enjoy, making it a great choice for comfort food.

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    Healthy Chili with Beef and Butternut Squash

    Healthy Chili with Beef and Butternut Squash.
    Photo Credit: Amy Casey Cooks.

    A warm bowl of chili is perfect for a cold day. This healthy version with ground beef, kidney beans, and butternut squash is packed with flavor.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and satisfying pasta sauce that captures the classic flavors without taking hours to prepare. Using simple ingredients you probably already have, this dish is perfect for busy nights.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos in a simple one-dish meal. Packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, it's perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner.

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    One Pot Creamy Beef Pasta

    One Pot Creamy Beef Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Simple Everyday Recipes.

    This creamy beef pasta is a fresh take on a classic dish that's full of flavor. It's a one-pan meal that comes together in just 30 minutes, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.

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    Cowboy Stew

    Cowboy Stew
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

    Cowboy Stew is a favorite for feeding a crowd with ease. Loaded with ground beef, smoked sausage, potatoes, beans, and vegetables, this dish is filling and satisfying for everyone.

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    Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

    Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit: Nourished By Nic.

    This dish offers a healthier take on traditional pasta by using a mushroom spaghetti sauce with ground beef. It's a great way to add more vegetables to your meal, even if you're not a big fan of mushrooms.

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    Eggplant Moussaka

    Eggplant Moussaka with Lamb.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Eggplant Moussaka is a hearty dinner packed with vegetables and ground beef or lamb, all covered in cheese. This version skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead for a tasty and healthy Mediterranean meal that's easy to prepare.

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    Air Fryer Meatloaf

    AIR FRYER MEATLOAF.
    Photo credit: The Food Blog.

    This classic meatloaf is juicy and has a crispy crust, and it cooks in half the time compared to the usual oven method. It's a great option for a quick and satisfying meal.

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    Chopped Cheese Sandwich

    Chopped Cheese Sandwich.
    Photo Credit: Cooking with Carlee.

    Chopped cheese sandwiches are a quick and delicious dinner that brings the flavors of a New York City bodega right to your kitchen. This easy recipe is sure to please everyone in the family with its cheesy goodness.

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    Ground Beef Taco Skillet

    Ground Beef Taco Skillet.
    Photo Credit: Cupcakes & Kale Chips.

    This Ground Beef Taco Skillet is a simple one-pan meal that everyone will enjoy. With a mix of spices, tasty beef, filling rice and beans, and lots of cheese, it’s a quick dinner that brings a festive vibe to any night.

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    Italian Meatballs

    Italian Meatballs served over pasta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Baked Italian meatballs are quick to prepare, taking only 30 minutes from start to finish. They are full of great flavors from herbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic.

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    Italian Stuffed Peppers

    Italian Stuffed Peppers.
    Photo Credit: From a Chef's Kitchen.

    Italian Stuffed Peppers are a cozy meal that everyone loves. They feature green bell peppers filled with ground beef and farro, all smothered in a tasty tomato sauce for a filling dish.

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    Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna

    Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe With Ravioli.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Ravioli is a simple way to create lasagna, serving as the noodles and combining perfectly with the ricotta layers. This slow cooker ravioli lasagna is a favorite in my family.

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    Easy Cheeseburger Casserole

    Easy Cheeseburger Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dude That Cookz.

    Cheeseburger Casserole is a simple and tasty meal that’s great for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients like ground beef, onions, tomato puree, cheese, and spices, you can whip up a hearty dinner that everyone will love.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Corn chowder.
      25 Slow Cooker Dinners You’ll Be Making All Summer Long
    • Ham and potato casserole.
      25 Layer and Bake Casseroles We’re Making All Summer Long
    • Cabbage roll in a bowl.
      29 Lazy Ground Beef Dinners for When You’re Too Tired to Cook
    • Chicken and veggies.
      18 Cheap Chicken Dinners That Hit the Spot

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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