Simple Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

Weight Watchers Friendly Simple Ground Beef Recipes

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (1)

Green Chile Cheeseburger

If you are looking for ground beef recipes that are quick and easy, I hope this list of some of my favorites provides you with what you're looking for - or at least spurs some easy dinner ideas of your own.

I am a fan of easy dinner recipes that begin with ground beef. I actually prefer hamburgers and meatloaf to steak.

When time is short and I'm looking for something quick and easy to make for dinner, my mind naturally gravitates towards recipes with just a few easy-to-find ingredients that might already be in the pantry.

Ground turkey can be substituted for the beef in most all these recipes too. The key to easy healthy balanced eating is figuring out what works for you.

You can turn it into quick easy homemade hamburgers (that are so much cheaper and better for you than the kind found at the fast food chains).

Or, you can use it in a wide variety of easy recipes including soup, chili, spaghetti, goulash, skillet dishes, casseroles, meatloaf and even salads.

I've gathered some of my favorite simple ground beef recipes here together all in one place so when I need one, I know exactly where to turn.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes - Soups

Many of my most favorite easy dinner recipes are soups. I love easy soups for so many reasons. They are a great quick and easy dinner solution for feeding yourself and those you love in this fast-paced world where schedules are often hectic and erratic.

They’re healthy, economical and nutritious complete meals in a bowl, perfect for a simple weeknight supper. They can be made ahead. (I love to make a batch or two of soup during the weekend that can be warmed on busy weeknights.)

They are easy to make. I think it's nearly impossible to make a bad soup, making them a great way for new and less experienced cooks to get comfortable in the kitchen.

I have a huge and growing collection of easy soup recipes. Here are a few that call for ground beef.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (2)

Taco Soup Photo - Flicker: Big C Harvey

Easy Taco Soup

A great easy hearty satisfying soup that can be ready in about 30 minutes - perfect for a healthy lunch or supper. I love to make big batches of soup during the weekend to enjoy all week long.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (3)

Hamburger Macaroni Soup

Easy Hamburger Vegetable Noodle Soup

This easy vegetable soup is a personal favorite when I want something quick and easy at the end of a long day. Using a bag of frozen mixed vegetables really cuts down on the ingredient list and prep time required. I think this is one of those easy dinner recipes you'll find yourself turning to again and again, especially during the fall and winter.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (4)

Slow Cooker Mexican Meatball Soup

A great easy ground beef soup for the slow cooker. It stirs together in minutes and then cooks away for hours unattended, so dinner is ready when you are!

Simple Ground Beef Recipes - Meatloaf

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (5)

Simple Meatloaf

Meatloaf is another great solution when you are in need of quick easy dinner ideas. And there are hundreds of ways to make it from simple to complicated.

It's another easy recipe that can be made ahead and then baked just in time for dinner. It's also great reheated and leftovers make great sandwiches. Here are a few of my favorite simple easy meatloaf recipes.

Simple Meatloaf Recipe

What makes this meatloaf recipe deliciously simple, is the use of a package of dry onion soup mix. With just 5 ingredients you can have it mixed up and in the oven in minutes.

Paula Deen Meatloaf Recipe

My favorite quick and easy meatloaf of the moment that uses oats, canned diced tomatoes and includes a yummy ketchup based topping.

Weight Watchers Meatloaf

This Weight Watchers meatloaf might just be my new favorite meat loaf!It bakes up moist and delicious thanks to the addition of lots of finely chopped vegetables and turns out 4 very generous servings.

Skinny Mini Meatloaf Muffins

Have you ever made mini meatloaf muffins?You just take your favorite meatloaf recipe and bake it in muffin tins and voila – meatloaf muffins!

Simple Ground Beef Recipes - Casseroles

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (6)

Easy Casserole Recipes

Some of my most favorite easy dinner recipes are easy casserole recipes. Easy casseroles have several things going for them. They can be made a head. They are comforting. Most people love them. And they bake away by themselves, giving you time to attend to other more important things.

Here's a healthy ground beef recipe that's sure to please the entire family. It does mine.

It's a lighter healthier take on a a recipe called Family Burrito Bake from the Pampered Chef Dinner in Your Deep Covered Baker (affiliate link), that's already pretty healthy.

Ground beef, chopped mushrooms, garlic, spinach, ricotta cheese and basil are combined into a tasty stuffing that is spread on cooked lasagna noodles that are then rolled up like pinwheels, placed in a baking dish, topped with jarred marinara sauce and baked until hot and bubbly.

Easy Baked Ziti

This is an easy versatile recipe. Feel free to substitute sausage for the ground beef or turkey (or leave it out for a vegetarian option.) You also can add extra vegetables, Cooked chopped mushrooms, zucchini, peppers and spinach all would be good.

Simple Ground Beef Recipes - Skillets

Simple Ground Beef Recipes (7)

Easy Skillet Lasagna Toss

Hamburger Goulash with Elbow Macaroni

This recipe for hamburger goulash with elbow macaroni is an old stand-by straight from Mom’s recipe box.

Easy Lightened Up Skillet Lasagna

A quick and easy one-pot dish combining lasagna noodles, spaghetti sauce, ground beef, vegetables and a little cheese, this easy skillet lasagna is perfect for a busy weeknight supper.

More Quick Easy Dinner Recipes for Weight Watchers with Ground Beef...

  • Makeover Cheeseburger Soup
  • Cheeseburger Salad
  • Easy Homemade Hamburgers
  • Easy Healthy Taco Salad

*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.

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Simple Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my ground beef for flavor? ›

Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking. Add a flavorful liquid: Add a small amount of beef broth, tomato sauce, or red wine to the ground beef while it cooks to add extra flavor.

What is the trick to cooking ground beef? ›

Place the ground meat in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. The most important trick to browning ground beef is using a wooden spoon ($6, Amazon) or heatproof spatula to break up the meat into equal-size pieces as it cooks. This ensures that all the ground beef pieces brown evenly.

Did I cook my ground beef enough? ›

Because doneness and safety cannot be judged by color, it is very important to use a food thermometer when cooking ground beef. To be sure all harmful bacteria are destroyed, cook all ground beef products to an internal temperature of 160 °F throughout. Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked.

What seasonings taste good on beef? ›

Spices like onion and garlic, with their inherent pungency, are some of the first that come to mind when it's time to season beef. They are savory and strong, and also easy to come by! Black Pepper goes wonderfully with beef, with its slightly hot bite and the piney aroma. Cayenne is a terrific spice to use with beef.

What does adding vinegar to ground beef do? ›

Vinegar can tenderize meat by breaking down its connective tissues and proteins, making it more tender and easier to chew. Additionally, vinegar can add flavor to the meat, especially when used as part of a marinade or sauce.

Why do you put vinegar in ground beef? ›

Culinary professionals know that a small amount of vinegar makes food taste bright and fresh. Too much, however, may make the food unpleasantly sour. First and foremost, vinegar is used as a tenderizer for meat and poultry. It may be added as an injected marinade in very tough proteins or applied via a soak or rub.

Why cook ground beef in milk? ›

It's milk. Here's why:

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

Should ground beef be rinsed after cooking? ›

Rinsing raw ground beef could pose a health risk by splashing bacteria-filled juices all over your kitchen's surfaces. After the beef has been cooked, you're just rinsing away good flavor. If you want to get rid of some of the grease, drain the beef, but don't rinse it. It's just not necessary.

Should you let ground beef sit out before cooking? ›

While throwing a frozen patty on a grill or pan may seem like a timesaver, you'll see better results if you let the meat reach room temperature before it's cooked.

What to avoid in ground beef? ›

Raw and undercooked meat may contain harmful bacteria. USDA recommends not eating or tasting raw or undercooked ground beef. To be sure all bacteria are destroyed, cook meat loaf, meatballs, and hamburgers to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer.

Is a little pink in ground beef OK? ›

When a patty is cooked to 160 °F throughout, it can be safe and juicy, regardless of color. Eating pink ground beef patties without first verifying that the safe temperature of 160 °F is reached is a significant risk factor for foodborne illness (Kassenborg et al, 1998; slu*tsker et al, 1998).

How to cook ground beef on stove? ›

Instructions
  1. Heat the pan and coat with oil. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. ...
  2. Add the meat to the hot pan and break into large pieces. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. ...
  3. Break meat into smaller pieces, season, and brown. ...
  4. Finish browning.
Aug 29, 2023

How long to cook ground beef on stove? ›

Heat the olive oil in a medium size pan over medium heat. Add the beef and allow it to cook undisturbed until it starts to brown at the bottom, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the beef while stirring occasionally, being careful not to overmix the beef.

What can I add to beef to make it taste better? ›

Garlic, onion, black pepper, and salt are staple spices when flavoring beef. Garlic and onion are potent, pungent aromatics that play well against beef's deep, meaty umami.

How do you add flavor to lean ground beef? ›

Lean into your pantry

Adding some ground spices like cumin, ground fennel, garlic powder, or even mushroom powder will amplify the savory taste of the beef and add a new flavor profile. You can add the spices early on so that they bloom in the fat while the meat browns.

How do you make hamburger meat taste good? ›

The magic lies in the seasoning – a simple yet potent mix of garlic, onion, cumin, and cayenne, creating some of the most tasty ground beef.

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