17 Fast & Flavorful Ground Beef Recipes for Easy Weeknights

When it comes to weeknight dinner favorites, ground beef never disappoints! It’s affordable, versatile, and cooks up in. minutes! It’s the perfect base for everything from tacos to casseroles to skillet meals. You’ll love these easy recipes and fresh flavors.

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

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.

Walking Taco Casserole

This walking taco casserole recipe is everything you love about walking tacos in an easy casserole form! Taco-spiced ground beef is cooked with onions and zucchini and then combined with black beans and tomatoes and layered with shredded cheese. Once it’s baked and melty, you’ll top it with plenty of your favorite taco toppings and Fritos.

Get the Recipe: Walking Taco Casserole.

Crunchy Beef Tortilla Folded Wrap

You might recognize this folded wrap from social media since it took Tik Tok by storm. It’s a great way to wrap your ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, and other toppings together for a tasty handheld meal! 

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Beef Tortilla Folded Wrap.

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.

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.

Classic Meatloaf

This classic meatloaf makes a great family-style dinner. This meat is topped with a delicious tangy bbq sauce glaze, infusing flavor in each bite. To keep this meal classic and satisfying, pair with mashed potatoes and a veggie.

Get the Recipe: Meatloaf.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

Skip the boxed option and make the best homemade cheeseburger macaroni with simple ingredients. This recipe is so easy and makes a comfort food dish that sticks to the ribs. The whole family is going to want seconds of this cheesy pasta!

Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Macaroni.

Is there anything more satisfying than ground beef enchiladas? Not much! A savory ground beef filling is wrapped in tortillas, smothered with enchilada sauce, and baked into bubbly, cheesy perfection. Add your favorite fresh toppings.

Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Enchiladas.

Sloppy Joes

Saucy, tangy sloppy joes are always a comforting meal. Pile this homemade meat onto your favorite buns and serve with fries, a veggie, or even chips for an easy side. No need for cans when the homemade version is this easy.

Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joes.

One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

A fusion of two favorites—tacos and pasta—this dish is packed with seasoned beef, melty cheese, and bold Mexican flavors, all cooked in just one pot for an easy and satisfying meal.

Get the Recipe: One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta.

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 Stuffed Zucchini Boats

A low-carb take on taco night, these zucchini boats are loaded with spiced beef, melty cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings for a nutritious yet flavorful meal.

Get the Recipe: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats.

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.

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.