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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Ground Beef Dinner Ideas That Are Budget-Friendly and Delicious

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on April 11, 2025, updated March 20, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Ground beef is a versatile and affordable ingredient that can be used in countless delicious meals. From classic burgers to hearty casseroles, there are plenty of ways to create satisfying dinners without breaking the bank. Here are 24 budget-friendly ideas that will make your weeknight meals both easy and enjoyable.

    Johnny Marzetti

    Johnny Marzetti - Ground Beef Noodle Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    Johnny Marzetti is a comforting baked pasta dish that combines ground beef with tomato sauce. It's finished off with a layer of your favorite cheese on top.

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    Gyro Inspired Air Fryer Meatballs

    Gyro Inspired Air Fryer Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: My Suburban Kitchen.

    Gyro-inspired air fryer meatballs are a simple choice for dinner or meal prep. Just mix the ingredients and cook them, then pair with your favorite sides for a delicious meal.

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    Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls

    Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls.
    Photo Credit: The View from Great Island.

    These Korean beef rice bowls come together in just 30 minutes and are perfect for dinner. Packed with rich flavors, they can be made milder for kids to enjoy.

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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 ricotta. This slow cooker ravioli lasagna is a hit with my family.

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    Baked Spaghetti Casserole

    Baked Spaghetti Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This dish is warm and cheesy, offering all the comfort of lasagna but with much less effort. It's a great option for a cozy meal at home.

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    Hobo Casserole

    Hobo Casserole.
    Photo credit: Bowl me Over.

    This one-pan meal is simple and tasty, perfect for the whole family. It features layers of tender beef, potatoes, creamy filling, and cheese, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner.

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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. With simple ingredients you probably already have, you can whip up a rich and satisfying meal in no time.

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    Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

    Ground Beef Pasta Skillet.
    Photo Credit: Lemons & Zest.

    Ground Beef Pasta is a quick and tasty meal that everyone in the family will enjoy. In under 30 minutes, this cheesy pasta dish is filled with spinach, tomatoes, and a nice blend of Italian spices.

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    Baked Shells Stuffed with Meatballs

    Baked Shells Stuffed with Meatballs.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    Pasta shells filled with cheese and meatballs, all covered in a simple tomato sauce, are a comforting dish. This is a classic meal that everyone loves.

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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 that skips the rice. Packed with tex-mex flavors from taco seasoning and topped with cheese, they’re great on their own or with some tortilla chips.

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    Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls

    SLOW COOKER CABBAGE ROLLS.
    Photo credit: The Food Blog.

    Slow Cooker Cabbage Rolls are a comforting dish that’s easy to prepare. You can enjoy a hearty and satisfying dinner waiting for you when you get home.

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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 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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    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.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos into a simple one-dish meal. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it perfect for a potluck or a quick 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 ready in under an hour. Juicy and tender, they offer a delicious twist on traditional meatballs.

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    Homemade Hot Dog Chili Sauce

    Homemade Hot Dog Chili Sauce.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This chili is great for topping chili dogs or an open-faced burger. It's thick and packed with just the right amount of spice and flavor.

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    Egyptian Macarona Bechamel

    Egyptian Macarona Bechamel.
    Photo Credit: Chocolates & Chai.

    Egyptian macarona bechamel is a cozy dish loved in Egypt, featuring penne pasta baked in a creamy béchamel sauce. It's a satisfying meal that's perfect for any occasion.

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    Slow Cooker Cottage Pie

    Slow Cooker Cottage Pie.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    This dish is a family favorite that everyone will love. With ground beef, veggies, and seasonings all topped with creamy mashed potatoes, it’s a filling comfort meal that’s easy to prepare in the crock pot.

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    Rigatoni Bolognese

    A bowl of Rigatoni Bolongese.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This bolognese recipe brings together classic Italian flavors in less than an hour. It's a satisfying meal that's easy to whip up on a busy weeknight with everyday ingredients.

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    Skillet Stuffed Peppers

    Skillet Stuffed Peppers.
    Photo credit: Raising Generation Nourished.

    Skip the fussy prep and make skillet stuffed peppers with the most rich, delicious flavor, sure to make the whole family happy!

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    Spanish Rice with Ground Beef

    Spanish Rice with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit: Miss in the Kitchen.

    Spanish Rice with Ground Beef is a simple and fast dinner that you can prepare in around 30 minutes. It's a filling one-pan meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

    Homemade spaghetti sauce over pasta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This dish features flavorful ground beef, delicious canned tomatoes, and a blend of fresh and dried herbs that create a wonderful taste. It brings the warmth of a family dinner right into your home.

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    Instant Pot Taco Soup

    Taco soup.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This taco soup brings all the great flavors of tacos without the mess, perfect for a cozy meal. By mixing V8 and broth, it creates a thicker soup packed with veggies.

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    Cabbage Roll in a Bowl

    CABBAGE ROLL IN A BOWL.
    Photo credit: Rustic Foodie.

    Cabbage Roll In A Bowl is a simple and tasty dinner option. It features ground beef, rice, tomato sauce, garlic, onions, and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

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    More Recipe Roundups

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      18 Elegant Lunch Ideas to Impress Mom This Mother’s Day
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      18 Cheap Ground Beef Recipes That Are Perfect for Spring

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, 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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