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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Quick and Easy Ground Beef Dinners for Busy Nights

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

    Ground beef is a go-to ingredient for quick and satisfying meals, perfect for those busy nights when time is short. With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a variety of dishes that the whole family will enjoy. From classic burgers to hearty casseroles, these 24 recipes will help you get dinner on the table in no time.

    Cheesy Tortellini Skillet Lasagna

    Cheesy Tortellini Skillet Lasagna
    Photo Credit: Flavor Mosaic.

    Skillet lasagna is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic dish without spending hours in the kitchen. You can have this delicious meal ready in just 20 minutes.

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    Stuffed Zucchini Boats

    Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    Zucchini boats filled with a tasty tomato sauce and topped with cheese are a comforting dish. This is a great option for a cozy dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Smash Burger Quesadilla

    Smash Burger Quesadilla.
    Photo Credit: The Candid Cooks.

    This smash burger quesadilla is a delicious and satisfying meal that's perfect for a cozy night in. It comes together in less than 20 minutes, making it a quick option for dinner.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking Taco Casserole,.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    Walking Taco Casserole is a simple and tasty meal that everyone will enjoy. With all the cheesy goodness of a walking taco, you can whip it up in a cast iron skillet in just 30 minutes.

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    Creamy Italian Meatball Soup

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

    This Italian meatball soup is simple to make in just one pot. It features tender meatballs and pasta in a rich, creamy tomato broth with plenty of herbs.

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    Korean Beef Bowl

    Korean beef served over rice.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish combines sweet and savory flavors in a delicious way. It features lean ground beef along with ginger, brown sugar, garlic, and some spices.

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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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    Rigatoni Bolognese

    Rigatoni Bolognese (1).
    Photo Credit: Living Lou.

    This easy Rigatoni Bolognese is a delicious Italian dish featuring ground beef, pork, and sausage. It's a hearty meat sauce that's great for weeknight meals or special gatherings, especially when served over rigatoni.

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    Slow Cooker American Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Cincy Shopper.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash is a hearty dish packed with beef and vegetables. This simple recipe is perfect for dinner any night of the week.

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    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Spinach

    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Spinach.
    Photo Credit: Mediterranean Latin Love Affair.

    Baked Ziti is a comforting casserole filled with a savory ground beef and vegetable sauce, topped with plenty of cheese. The addition of a ricotta and cottage cheese mix gives it a creamy texture that everyone will enjoy.

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    Ground Beef Stroganoff

    Ground Beef Stroganoff.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This flavorful stroganoff is a quick and easy dinner option that packs a punch. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Rigatoni Bolognese

    Rigatoni Bolognese.
    Photo Credit: The Almond Eater.

    Rigatoni Bolognese is a simple and tasty one-pot meal. This classic Italian meat sauce is great for weeknight dinners or special occasions, especially when served over rigatoni pasta.

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    One Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.
    Photo credit: Bowl of Delicious.

    This dish combines dried spaghetti with ground beef, jarred sauce, and water, creating a simple dinner that only requires one pot. The pasta releases its starch into the sauce, making it thick and perfect for coating every strand of spaghetti.

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    Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs in Tangy Sauce

    Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs in Tangy Sauce.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    These meatballs with rice are simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce that brings back great memories. This dish is a comforting favorite that everyone loves.

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    Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

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

    Oven baked ziti is a simple dish that everyone loves, topped with gooey cheese. It's perfect for feeding a group without much effort.

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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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    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 and topped with cheese, they’re great on their own or alongside some tortilla chips.

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    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans

    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Ground beef, bell peppers, and onions come together to create a satisfying meal. The right seasonings really bring out the flavors and make this dish stand out.

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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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    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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    Ground Beef Tacos

    Ground beef tacos with salsa.
    Photo credit: House of Yumm.

    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!

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    Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup

    Instant Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Recipe Well.

    Stuffed Pepper Soup has all the flavors of stuffed peppers but is much simpler to prepare. With bell peppers, ground beef or turkey, rice, and beans, this soup is a hearty meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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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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    More Recipe Roundups

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      19 Delicious Summer Salads That Are Perfect for Any Gathering
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      26 Stupid Simple Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour
    • Ribs.
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    • Chicken taco casserole.
      24 Easy Casseroles That Won't Break the Bank

    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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