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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Ideas for Ground Beef Dinners to Make on Busy Weeknights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 21, 2025, updated July 15, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Finding quick and easy dinner ideas can be a challenge, especially on busy weeknights. Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it perfect for whipping up satisfying meals in no time. Here are 20 simple and delicious ground beef dinner ideas that will help you get dinner on the table without the stress.

    Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole

    Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This dish combines the comfort of tater tot casserole with the classic flavors of shepherd’s pie, creating a simple one-pot meal. It includes frozen vegetables for added nutrition and is topped with melted cheddar cheese, making it a satisfying option for dinner. Everyone in the family will love this hearty and easy-to-make meal.

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    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin

    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe is a great option for a filling meal. With tender Russet potatoes and flavorful ground beef, it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family. It’s simple to prepare and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

    Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker casserole combines green beans, cream of mushroom soup, tater tots, and cheddar cheese for a comforting meal. The layers of ingredients come together to create a filling dish that everyone will enjoy. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    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 less than an hour. You can cook them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, giving you plenty of options. The result is a juicy and flavorful meatball that everyone will enjoy.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole brings all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying meal. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a potluck, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite.

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    Slow Cooker Taco Beef Ramen

    Slow Cooker Taco Beef Ramen.
    Photo Credit: The Lazy Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Taco Ramen is a fantastic dish that combines the flavors of tacos with the comfort of ramen. Ground beef is cooked with a tasty mix of taco seasonings, tomatoes, and corn, creating a hearty base. The ramen noodles cook right in the slow cooker, making this a simple one-pot meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.

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    Spaghetti Bolognese Bake

    Spaghetti Bolognese Bake.
    Photo Credit: Slow the Cook Down.

    This spaghetti bolognese bake is a comforting family meal that everyone will love. It combines a hearty meat sauce with spaghetti, all topped with plenty of cheese and baked until bubbly. It's an easy dish that brings warmth to any weeknight dinner.

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    Air Fryer Meatballs

    A stack of meatballs.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These air fryer meatballs are simple to prepare and don’t require eggs or breadcrumbs. In less than an hour, you can have juicy and tender Swedish-style meatballs ready to enjoy. They look great and are a step up from any meatballs you’ve made before.

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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 easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. It combines rich flavors and hearty ingredients, all made with simple items you probably already have in your pantry. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe cuts down on cooking time while still delivering a satisfying meal.

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    Sloppy Joe Biscuit Bake

    Sloppy Joe Biscuit Bake.
    Photo Credit: My Suburban Kitchen.

    Busy weeknights can still be enjoyable with a simple meal like this Sloppy Joe biscuit bake. It's an easy dish that the whole family will appreciate. You can whip it up quickly, so there's no need to resort to fast food. This recipe is sure to become a favorite for dinner.

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    Cheesy Gordita Crunch

    Crunchy tacos.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    The cheesy gordita crunch is a fun twist on taco night that’s super easy to make. It only takes a few extra minutes to prepare, and it combines a crispy taco with a cheesy quesadilla. Using simple, fresh ingredients, these homemade tacos are just as delicious as what you’d get at Taco Bell, but even better because you made them yourself.

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    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers without Rice
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Stuffed peppers can be ready in just 45 minutes with this simple recipe. Packed with Tex-Mex flavors from taco seasoning and topped with cheese, they are satisfying on their own or paired with tortilla chips. This dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Tater Tot Casserole

    Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Healthy Epicurean.

    Tater tot casserole is easy to whip up from scratch and skips the canned soup. It combines a variety of vegetables with lean ground beef in a flavorful sauce, all topped with gooey cheddar cheese and crispy tater tots. This dish is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

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    Greek Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    Greek Spaghetti with Meat Sauce-Makaronia me Kima.
    Photo Credit: The Greek Foodie.

    Greek spaghetti with meat sauce, or makaronia me kima, is a comforting and tasty dish. It’s made with ground beef simmered in red wine, along with plenty of herbs and quality tomatoes, allowing all the flavors to come together beautifully. This dish is perfect for a cozy dinner and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    One Pot Spaghetti

    One Pot Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Dance Around the Kitchen.

    One Pot Spaghetti is a simple twist on the classic dish that makes weeknight dinners easier. With fewer dishes to wash and a quicker cooking time, it’s a great option for busy evenings. Plus, it’s packed with flavor, making it a family favorite.

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    Beefy Mac and Cheese

    Beefy Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: My Kitchen Sanctuary.

    Beefy Mac and Cheese is a classic comfort dish that everyone loves. It combines creamy, cheesy pasta with flavorful ground beef and a zesty tomato sauce, topped off with a bit of sour cream for added richness. This dish is perfect for a cozy dinner and is sure to please the whole family.

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    Homemade Hamburgers

    air fryer hamburger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features juicy, well-cooked ground beef that pairs perfectly with your favorite burger toppings. With just a few simple ingredients like ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, you can whip up a satisfying meal. It's a great option for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Mexican Beef & Rice Skillet

    MEXICAN BEEF AND RICE SKILLET.
    Photo credit: Cook Dinner Tonight.

    This Mexican beef and rice skillet is an easy, one-skillet dinner recipe. This simple dinner recipe turns ground beef into a tasty dinner that is packed with flavor!

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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 topped with plenty of cheese. This recipe skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead, which keeps it light and healthy. It's a straightforward Mediterranean dish that's both tasty and easy to prepare.

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    Beef and Beer Chili

    Beef and beer chili.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Beef and Beer Chili is a great choice for game day, a busy weeknight, or a cozy Sunday dinner with family. It’s packed with all the traditional chili staples like ground beef, different types of beans, and essential spices, plus a touch of your favorite beer for extra flavor.

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    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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