• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Roundups

    35 Ground Beef Wonders That Will Save You Time and Effort

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on March 12, 2025, updated February 11, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that can make meal prep a breeze. With just a few simple recipes, you can whip up satisfying dishes that the whole family will enjoy. From classic burgers to hearty casseroles, these 35 ideas will help you save time in the kitchen while still serving up delicious meals.

    Beef Burritos

    Beef Burrito.
    Photo Credit: Much Butter.

    This beef burrito is a simple and satisfying meal that combines ground beef, refried beans, and rice all wrapped in a tortilla and topped with sauce and cheese. It's a great option for busy nights, and you can even freeze them for later, ready in just 30 minutes.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    Get the Recipe

    Beef Enchiladas

    BEEF ENCHILADAS.
    Photo credit: House of Yumm.

    This enchilada recipe is packed with flavorful ground beef and gooey cheese, all covered in a tasty homemade Tex Mex sauce. It's a simple dish that's perfect for a satisfying dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole

    Cheesy Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Mandi of the Mountains.

    This cheesy hamburger hashbrown casserole is super comforting and satisfying. It’s quick to prepare, making it a great dinner option that everyone in the family will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

    Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

    This dish brings together crispy tater tots and the flavors of a cheeseburger into a fun and satisfying meal. It's a great option for kids and perfect for a cozy dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Chopped Cheese Sandwich

    Chopped Cheese Sandwich.
    Photo Credit: Cooking with Carlee.

    Chopped cheese sandwiches are a quick and delicious dinner that brings the flavors of a New York City bodega right to your kitchen. This easy recipe is sure to be a hit with everyone in the family.

    Get the Recipe

    Taco Soup

    Taco Soup
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Taco Soup combines seasoned ground beef with corn, beans, and fire-roasted tomatoes for a fun take on taco night. Top it off with your favorite ingredients for a colorful and satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Dutch oven with Cheeseburger Macaroni.
    Photo Credit: Homemade Hooplah.

    This cheeseburger macaroni is a quick and easy dinner option that everyone will enjoy. It features soft pasta and seasoned ground beef, all topped with gooey melted cheese, and you can prepare it all in just one pan.

    Get the recipe

    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 when you just want something comforting and easy to make.

    Get the Recipe

    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

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Baked Meatballs

    Cheesy Baked Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: Simply Delicious.

    Cheesy baked meatballs are a fantastic one-pan dinner that everyone will love. With juicy meatballs in a tasty tomato sauce and melted cheese on top, this dish is sure to be a hit.

    Get the Recipe

    Chorizo Burgers

    Chorizo burger.
    Photo credit: 2 Cookin' Mamas.

    Chorizo Burgers offer a tasty twist on the classic burger. Mixing chorizo with ground beef gives them a juicy and spicy kick, perfect for grilling and serving with cheese and your favorite toppings.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet

    Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet.
    Photo Credit: The Hungry Bluebird.

    This dish features seasoned ground beef and pasta shells cooked in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. It's a comforting meal that brings back memories of childhood favorites while being simple to make at home.

    Get the Recipe

    One Pot Enchilada Pasta

    One Pot Enchilada Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Dance Around the Kitchen.

    This creamy one-pot pasta combines all the delicious flavors of beef and cheese enchiladas. It's a simple and satisfying meal that's perfect for dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Instant Pot Beef and Shells

    Instant Pot Beef and Shells
    Photo Credit: Earing In An Instant.

    This simple one-pot dish combines ground beef and pasta in a creamy, cheesy sauce. It's a quick and satisfying dinner option that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    One Pan Baked Ziti

    Baked Ziti.
    Photo credit: Raising Generation Nourished.

    This one-pan baked ziti is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. It’s easy to prepare and clean up afterward.

    Get the recipe

    Tater Tot Casserole

    Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo credit: Simply Five Ingredients.

    This dish features a tasty ground beef filling covered with cheesy tater tots, creating a simple casserole that’s ready in just 30 minutes. It’s a comforting meal that’s great for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    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 hearty and satisfying dish. It’s made with red wine, plenty of spices, and quality tomatoes, allowing all the flavors to come together beautifully.

    Get the Recipe

    Meatballs without Breadcrumbs and Eggs

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

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

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chili

    Chili With Ground Meat And Beans.
    Photo credit: Melanie Cooks.

    All the ingredients go into the Instant Pot, and you can have a tasty chili ready in under 30 minutes. This is a quick and easy dinner option for busy nights.

    Get the recipe

    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!

    Get the recipe

    Ground Beef Cottage Pie

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

    This ground beef pie is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It's a great option for a quick dinner without any peas.

    Get the Recipe

    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 mixed with a simple homemade sauce for a satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet

    Easy Ground Beef and Rice Skillet.
    Photo Credit: One Hot Oven.

    This ground beef and rice skillet is a comforting meal that's perfect for dinner. It's an easy option for busy weeknights, and even picky eaters will want more.

    Get the Recipe

    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 goodness and a layer of shredded cheddar on top, it’s a complete dinner that everyone in the family will love.

    Get the Recipe

    Ground Beef Taco Salad with Kale, Tomatoes, and Avocado

    Ground Beef Taco Salad with Kale, Tomatoes, and Avocado.
    Photo Credit: Kalyn's Kitchen.

    This Ground Beef Taco Salad is packed with kale, tomatoes, avocado, red pepper, sliced olives, and Queso Fresco. Topped with a creamy salsa verde dressing, it's a fresh and satisfying meal that's perfect for dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Homemade Hamburgers

    air fryer hamburger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features juicy ground beef that’s cooked just right and ready to be topped with your favorite burger fixings. With just ground beef, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, it’s an easy meal for any night.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup

    Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup.
    Photo Credit: Lynn's Way of Life.

    Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup is a quick and easy meal that combines cabbage, lean ground beef, and rice. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty without a lot of work.

    Get the Recipe

    Kimchi Sloppy Joes

    Kimchi Sloppy Joe.
    Photo credit: Served From Scratch.

    This classic dish gets a fun twist with some Korean flavors. It's a great way to enjoy a simple meal that's packed with taste.

    Get the recipe

    Hobo Casserole

    Hobo Casserole.
    Photo credit: Bowl me Over.

    This is an easy and delicious one-pan meal that everyone in your family can enjoy! It has layers of tender beef, potatoes, creamy filling, and cheesy goodness for the perfect weeknight meal.

    Get the recipe

    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 with some tortilla chips.

    Get the recipe

    Minced Beef with Tofu, Peas, and Oyster Sauce

    Minced Beef with Tofu, Peas, and Oyster Sauce.
    Photo Credit: Nut Work.

    Minced Beef with Tofu, Peas, and Oyster Sauce is a tasty dish that pairs perfectly with a warm bowl of rice, making it a comforting meal for chilly nights. This simple recipe is a milder take on mapo tofu, and kids usually love its smooth texture and flavorful sauce.

    Get the Recipe

    Air Fryer Meatballs

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

    These air fryer meatballs are quick and easy to prepare, taking less than an hour. They’re juicy and tender, and look great on your dinner plate.

    Get the recipe

    One Pan Fajita Pasta

    One Pan Fajita Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Almond Eater.

    One Pan Fajita Pasta combines pasta with classic fajita flavors like tomatoes, ground beef, and cheese for a comforting meal. It's quick and easy to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes and only using one pan.

    Get the Recipe

    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 pantry ingredients, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal in no time.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Steak potatoes and corn in slow cooker.
      20 Dump-and-Cook Recipes for a Relaxed Memorial Day Feast
    • White bean panzanella salad.
      19 Easy Summer Salads Perfect for Picnics and BBQs
    • A plate of shrimp ceasar pasta salad.
      22 Easy Ideas for Spring Pasta Dinners
    • Baked lamb chops with veggies.
      21 Lazy Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour

    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Air Fryer Roast Beef
    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach
    • Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake [Dump and bake!]
    • sliced rib eye steak topped with salt
      How to Cook a Rib Eye Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet (3 Methods)

    Popular Articles

    • Crockpot lasagna.
      18 Simple Slow Cooker Meals Your Family Will Love
    • Meatball casserole.
      21 Cheap Dinner Casseroles We Can’t Stop Making
    • Patty melt.
      14 Stupid Simple Summer Ground Beef Recipes That Will Make You Love Cooking Again
    • Braised short ribs.
      18 Easy Crockpot Dishes for a Stress-Free Memorial Day Celebration

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB