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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    26 Family Friendly Ground Beef Dinners for When You’d Rather Not Cook

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 11, 2025, updated April 23, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Finding quick and easy dinner ideas for the family can be a challenge, especially on busy nights. Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it perfect for weeknight meals. Here are 26 family-friendly ground beef dinners that are simple to prepare and sure to please everyone at the table.

    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 just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal that’s perfect for feeding a crowd.

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    Ground Beef Stir-Fry

    Stir-fried ground beef.
    Photo credit: Foodess.

    Ground Beef Stir Fry is a simple dinner packed with healthy vegetables. This quick recipe can be made in just 30 minutes and features a delicious sauce.

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    Slow Cooker Cottage Pie

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

    This meal is sure to please everyone at the table. With ground beef, veggies, and seasonings all topped with creamy mashed potatoes, it’s a filling comfort food that’s easy to prepare in the crock pot.

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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 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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    Meatloaf

    Meatloaf.
    Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This lighter version of meatloaf skips the breadcrumbs and is easy to put together. It uses just a few ingredients and bakes up quickly, making it a great choice for a weeknight meal that everyone will love.

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    Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole

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

    This dish combines tater tot casserole and shepherd’s pie into a tasty one-pot meal. With frozen veggies for extra substance and a layer of shredded cheddar on top, it’s a satisfying dinner that everyone will love.

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    American Goulash

    American Goulash
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    American Goulash is a simple, one-pot dish that combines ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni. It's a comforting meal that's great any time of the year and even better the next day!

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    Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf

    Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf.
    Photo Credit: I heart Naptime.

    Mozzarella stuffed meatloaf is a dish that everyone will love. Packed with flavorful ground beef and a cheesy center, it’s a comforting meal that’s great for sharing.

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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 simple and satisfying meal. Ground beef cooks in a tasty taco seasoning with tomatoes and corn, while ramen noodles are prepared right in the slow cooker, creating a convenient one-pot dish.

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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.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew

    Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This stew is a filling meal made with ground beef and is easy to prepare. It's a great option when you want something hearty without spending too much time or money.

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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. It's a filling dish that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Homemade Hamburgers

    air fryer hamburger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These burgers are juicy and cooked just right, perfect for serving with your favorite toppings. With just ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, you can whip up a satisfying meal for everyone.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna

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

    Ravioli is a simple way to create lasagna, as it replaces the traditional noodles and pairs perfectly with ricotta. This slow cooker ravioli lasagna is a hit with families and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Zucchini Beef Meatballs

    Zucchini Beef Meatballs.
    Photo credit: Lemons + Zest.

    These tasty beef meatballs are packed with zucchini for a healthy twist. With just 15 minutes of prep and simmering in sauce, dinner is ready to enjoy!

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    Ground Beef Curry

    Ground Beef Curry.
    Photo Credit: My Therapist Cooks.

    This mild ground beef curry is easy to whip up at home and takes just 45 minutes to prepare. It's a simple and tasty dish that everyone will enjoy.

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    Baked Anelletti

    Baked Anelletti.
    Photo Credit: Like Mother Like Daughter.

    A baked anelletti is a filling and cozy pasta dish that's great for feeding a crowd. It's layered with a savory meat tomato sauce, sprinkled with breadcrumbs and cheese, then baked until golden and bubbly.

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    Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar

    Meatloaf with BBQ Sauce and Brown Sugar.
    Photo Credit: Winding Creek Ranch.

    This easy meatloaf topped with BBQ sauce and brown sugar is a delicious meal that the whole family will love. It’s full of flavor and can be ready in just 10 minutes.

    Get the Recipe

    Creamy Burrito Casserole

    Creamy Burrito Casserole.
    Photo Credit: In the Kitch.

    This creamy burrito casserole is packed with layers of meat, cheese, tortillas, and peppers, giving it a delicious Mexican twist. It's a simple dinner that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    American Chop Suey

    American Chop Suey.
    Photo Credit: Dishes Delish.

    American chop suey is a simple and hearty meal featuring ground beef, tasty veggies, and elbow macaroni all mixed in a rich tomato sauce. It comes together in just 30 minutes, making it a great choice for busy weeknights and a hit with the whole family.

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    Spaghetti Bolognese Bake

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

    This spaghetti bolognese bake is a comforting meal that the whole family will love. It combines a hearty meat sauce with spaghetti and plenty of cheese, all baked until golden and bubbly.

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    One Pan Dorito Casserole

    One pan Dorito casserole on a dish.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    10 ingredients and 30 minutes are all it takes to get this quick and easy Dorito casserole on the dinner table!

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

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

    This easy slow cooker tater tot casserole combines green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and cheddar cheese for a comforting meal. It's a hearty dish that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Big Mac Casserole

    A plate of Big Mac casserole.
    Photo Credit: Mary's Whole Life.

    This Big Mac casserole combines the classic flavors of a Big Mac into a delicious meal. With lean ground beef, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and a tasty homemade Big Mac sauce, it's perfect for feeding a crowd.

    Get the recipe

    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it perfect for a potluck or a simple weeknight dinner.

    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 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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