13 Easy Ground Beef Recipes That Never Fail

When it comes to quick, budget-friendly, and crowd-favorite meals, ground beef always seems to play a role. It’s satisfying, comforting, delicious, and cooks up so quickly it’s easy to understand why it’s as popular as it is. You’ll love these classic and creative recipes featuring ground beef.

Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet

A skillet of rice and ground beef with cheese over top. — Photo Credit: xoxo Bella.

This hearty beef and rice skillet has Tex-Mex flavors in each bite. Add some black beans, avocado slices, and plenty of spices and you’ll love that this budget-friendly meal can feed a crowd. Serve with tortilla chips or tortillas on the side along with some fresh toppings if desired.

Get the Recipe: Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

If my kids had to pick an all-time favorite meal, this is it. Our homemade spaghetti with meat sauce features a slow-simmered, rich tomato meat sauce made with perfectly browned ground beef, Italian sausage, a balanced tomato sauce, and traditional Italian seasonings. Serve with al dente spaghetti, a salad, and garlic bread.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.

Taco Salad

If you love a classic taco salad, you will always be happy to see this recipe on the menu. It’s quick, easy, and always hits the spot. Ground beef cooks super fast, making it a great weeknight option. Put out all of the salad components and let everyone make their own salad.

Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Salad.

Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

msn cover - beef and broccoli — Photo Credit: My Everyday Table.

This ground beef stir fry is delicious, but it’s also nutritious! This meal has protein, produce, carbs (energy), and flavor! This easy meal comes together in just 20 minutes by utilizing some quick kitchen shortcuts and can also be prepped ahead if that’s your style.

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry.

Ground Beef and Cabbage Soup

A bowl of cabbage and ground beef soup with carrots. — Photo Credit: The Roasted Root.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy soup that’s cozy and will fill you right up, this is it. This recipe is made with just 10 basic ingredients and is so easy a beginner can make it. It’s loaded with veggies like cabbage, onion, tomatoes, and carrots and ground beef for a filling protein.

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Soup.

Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadilla

The whole family will love these cheesy beef quesadillas! It’s comforting, delicious, easy, and ready in just 20 minutes. The ground beef is cooked and then it’s layered with two layers of cheese for the ultimate layered gooey cheese quesadilla. Serve with fresh toppings.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadilla.

Homemade Bolognese

After you make this homemade bolognese sauce you won’t need to add jarred sauce to your shopping list. This recipe uses red peppers, pork, and ground beef to make a hearty and flavorful sauce that is perfect with rigatoni. This one is sure to become a favorite.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Bolognese.

Bacon Blue Cheeseburger with Roasted Garlic Aioli

This amazing burger has seven, yes you read that correctly, seven layers of delicious flavor that you are going to love. Blue cheese, ground beef, roasted garlic aioli AND bacon jam? This is a burger that is sure to please!

Get the Recipe: Bacon Blue Cheeseburgers.

Ground Beef Ramen Noodles

This homemade dinner rivals takeout from your local restaurant. Made with bell peppers, carrots, and ground beef, this easy dish delivers great flavors in a budget-friendly package that manages to pack in flavor, veggies, and protein!

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Ramen Noodles.

Mexican Picadillo

Ground beef, potatoes, tomato sauce, and chiles all come together for a quick, flavorful, and inexpensive dinner that your family will love. Serve it as a main dish over rice, or use it to make nachos or tacos.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Picadillos.

Italian Meatball Marinara Subs

Homemade meatballs with a rich and hearty marinara sauce served on a toasted brioche bun? Yes, please! The whole family will love this Italian-inspired meatball dinner!

Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Marinara Subs.

Mini Taco Meatloaves

Saucy taco meatloaves with cheese over the top. — Photo Credit: Zona Cooks.

Make a mash-up meal that the whole family will love. These spicy and saucy personal-sized meatloaves are smothered with cheese for a satisfying meal that brings the best of two classic dinners together into one easy recipe that’s ready in less than 40 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Mini Taco Meatloaves.

Big Mac Salad

This Big Mac salad delivers the great flavors of classic fast food in salad form. With ground beef, crunchy and cool lettuce, onions, pickles, and cheddar cheese, this salad will satisfy your hunger! Top with a drizzle of a special sauce-inspired dressing and sesame seeds for classic burger vibes.

Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad.