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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Family Friendly Ground Beef Dinners Straight From Grandma’s Kitchen

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 7, 2025, updated April 3, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Ground beef is a staple in many family kitchens, and for good reason. It's versatile, budget-friendly, and can be transformed into a variety of comforting meals that everyone will enjoy. From classic casseroles to the best meatballs, these 23 recipes bring the warmth and love of grandma's cooking right to your dinner table.

    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, from kids to adults.

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    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

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

    These meatballs are packed with flavor and are super easy to make. You can cook them on the stove, in an air fryer, or in the oven, and they’ll be ready in under an hour.

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    Cowboy Meatloaf Mashed Potato Casserole

    Cowboy Meatloaf Mashed Potato Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Bowl Me Over.

    The Cowboy Mashed Potato Meatloaf Casserole brings together the flavors of the Wild West in a single dish. This hearty meal features flavorful meatloaf topped with creamy mashed potatoes, cheese, and crispy bacon, all baked to a delicious golden brown.

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    Beef Lasagna

    Beef Lasagna.
    Photo Credit: Chocolates & Chai.

    Lasagna is one of the most comforting meals you can enjoy. With its hearty meat sauce, creamy layers, and plenty of cheese, beef lasagna is a favorite for many.

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    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit: Ground Beef Recipes.

    Oven baked ziti is a crowd-pleaser that's easy to prepare. Topped with gooey cheese, this dish is perfect for feeding a group.

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    Beef Tamale Casserole

    Beef Tamale Casserole.
    Photo credit: Jam Jar Kitchen.

    Tamale Pie is a simple and tasty dinner that everyone in the family will enjoy. With just a boxed cornbread mix, ground beef, and a few common ingredients, you can whip up a filling meal in no time.

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    Classic Sloppy Joes

    Sloppy Joes.
    Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This dish is quick and easy, ready in just 15 minutes. Ground beef is sautéed with onions and garlic, then combined with a simple homemade sloppy joe sauce for a satisfying meal.

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    Italian Meatloaf

    Italian Meatloaf over spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This Italian meatloaf is simple to prepare—just combine the ingredients and bake it. It turns out juicy and tasty, making it a great choice for a family dinner, especially when served with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

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    Giant Meatballs

    Giant Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: Luci's Morsels.

    These giant meatballs are perfect for satisfying your cravings, whether as an appetizer or served over pasta. They’re tender and delicious, resting on a bed of herbed ricotta, and they’re easy to make, sure to become a favorite.

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    Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Hamburger hash in the crockpot combines soft potatoes, beef, and corn in a creamy mushroom sauce, topped with melted cheese right before serving. This hearty dish is perfect for cozy dinners and will quickly become a favorite.

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    Beef & Beans Casserole

    Beef & bean casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish features tender beef and beans baked in a tasty tomato sauce, topped with melted Cheddar cheese. It's a comforting meal that's perfect for busy nights.

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    Creamy Italian Meatball Soup

    Creamy Italian meatball soup with fresh herbs.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This creamy Italian meatball soup recipe comes together in one pot and is loaded with juicy meatballs and al dente pasta nestled in an herb-filled creamy tomato broth.

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    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup

    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This cheesy soup is a family favorite, packed with ground beef, potatoes, Velveeta cheese, chicken broth, and vegetables. The flavors blend together perfectly, making it a dish everyone will love.

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    Rigatoni Bolognese

    Rigatoni Bolognese.
    Photo Credit: Living Lou.

    This easy Rigatoni Bolognese is a delicious Italian dish made with ground beef, pork, and sausage. It's a hearty meat sauce that's great for busy nights or when you want to impress at dinner.

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    Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

    Ground Beef and Potato Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Zona Cooks.

    This cheesy casserole is great any time of day, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's packed with soft potatoes, ground beef, onions, cheese, and a creamy mushroom sauce.

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    Mexican Picadillo

    Mexican Picadillo.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    This dish features tender ground beef cooked with Latin spices, tomatoes, and plenty of vegetables. It's a flavorful and hearty meal that's perfect for any night.

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    Ground Beef Cottage Pie

    Cottage Pie with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    This ground meat pie is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It's a great option for a quick meal, especially if you're not a fan of peas.

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    Frito Taco Bake

    Frito Taco Bake.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    Frito Taco Bake is a simple and tasty dish that brings together seasoned ground beef, a cheesy sauce, and crunchy Fritos. It's a great option for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends.

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    Spaghetti Pie with Sour Cream

    Spaghetti Pie with Sour Cream.
    Photo Credit: That Skinny Chick Can Bake.

    Spaghetti Pie with Sour Cream is a tasty pasta dish that the whole family will enjoy. It's simple to prepare and brings a comforting Italian twist to your dinner table.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This walking taco casserole is a quick and easy meal that you can whip up in just 25 minutes. It all cooks in one pan, making it a fun twist on your usual taco night.

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    Beefy Pasta Bake

    Beefy Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Bitz n Giggles.

    This dish features cheesy beef and noodles, all topped with crispy French fried onions. It's a comforting meal that's perfect for busy nights.

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    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    CHEESEBURGER MACARONI.
    Photo credit: Cook Dinner Tonight.

    This is an easy, cheesy hamburger mac that you can whip up in about 30 minutes. It's a simple one-pot meal that takes little effort to prepare.

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    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    These peppers are filled with beef and rice, all simmered in a tasty marinara sauce. They cook easily in the slow cooker, making a cozy dinner that everyone will love.

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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, all topped with plenty of 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.

    Get the recipe

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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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