20 Easy Budget-friendly Ground Beef Recipes

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It’s time to take your ground beef game to the next level! We all love our classic burgers and tacos, but there’s a whole world of delicious flavors waiting to be discovered. This awesome collection of 20 ground beef recipes will totally expand your culinary horizons and show you just how amazing and versatile this ingredient can be. Get ready to shake up your dinner routine and have some fun with ground beef!

Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

A close-up of spaghetti bolognese topped with grated cheese highlights this classic ground beef recipe. The dish features spaghetti noodles mixed with a savory meat and tomato sauce, garnished with shredded cheese, creating a hearty and appetizing appearance.

Whip up this speedy Spaghetti Bolognese recipe and you’ll have a meat sauce so packed with Italian flavor, it might just start singing opera! Ready in just 30 minutes—because who has time to wait for deliciousness?

Get The Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Italian Stuffed Peppers

Four Italian stuffed bell peppers in vibrant red, orange, and yellow rest on a white plate. Each is filled with a savory mixture of ground meat, rice, and herbs, topped with grated cheese and garnished with chopped parsley.

This colorful dish is sure to delight any crowd! Not only is it an easy and delicious recipe perfect for midweek meals, but it’s also impressive enough to serve to dinner guests!

Get The Recipe: Italian Stuffed Peppers

Romanian Cabbage Rolls

Close-up of stuffed cabbage rolls on a plate, topped with creamy yogurt sauce and garnished with herbs. A fork is cutting into one roll, revealing a filling of rice and ground meat.

Come try the delicious flavors of Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale)! Tender cabbage leaves are filled with a tasty mix of ground meat, rice, and spices, then baked in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce. It’s cozy, comforting, and perfect for sharing!

Get The Recipe: Sarmale (Romanian Cabbage Rolls)

One Pot Hamburger Stroganoff

A close-up of an easy beef and mushroom stroganoff with wide egg noodles, garnished with chopped parsley. The creamy sauce coats the ingredients, making it perfect for simple yet satisfying dinners, and a wooden spoon is partially visible.

This super easy one-skillet ground beef stroganoff is creamy, tasty, and just right for those busy weeknights. Whip it up in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients!

Get The Recipe: One Pot Hamburger Stroganoff

Classic Diner-Style Patty Melt

A hand lifts half of a grilled cheese burger sandwich with melted cheese and beef patty, revealing gooey cheese inside—an irresistible twist on classic ground beef recipes. The sandwich is served with golden French fries on a white plate.

Golden, buttery rye bread, juicy beef patties, gooey melted cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a tangy burger sauce—this patty melt is pure comfort food with all the classic diner vibes in every bite.

Get The Recipe: Classic Diner-Style Patty Melt

Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

Beef and noodle casserole up close with lots of sauce.

This creamy Sour Cream Beef and Noodle Casserole is a hearty, satisfying weeknight winner. Tender noodles, ground beef, and sausage in a rich sauce – easy to make and sure to please the whole family.

Get the Recipe: Beef Noodle Casserole

Traditional Cottage Pie

Close-up of a shepherd's pie featuring a golden-brown mashed potato topping. Below, there's a mixture of cooked ground meat, peas, carrots, and other vegetables, all in a brown gravy, served on a white plate.

A comfort food classic, this cottage pie is pure coziness. Savory ground beef, carrots, onions, and peas simmer in rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. Hearty, delicious, and soul-warming, it’s the ultimate craving-satisfier.

Get The Recipe: Traditional Cottage Pie

Classic Chili Con Carne

This comforting and hearty Classic Chili Con Carne recipe is perfect for a family meal or for serving to friends at a casual dinner party.

Get The Recipe: Classic Chili Con Carne

Savor the delightful blend of zesty Mexican spices and comforting Italian cheese with this delicious taco macaroni and cheese. Prepared in just one pot using a Dutch oven, this dish comes together in a mere 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: The Best One Pot Taco Macaroni And Cheese

Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy

Gravy smothering Swedish meatballs in a copper baker.

These delectable Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy are crafted with a tantalizing combination of ground beef and pork, expertly seasoned with aromatic spices and herbs. Simmered to perfection in a rich, fragrant brown gravy, this dish boasts a delightful medley of savory flavors.

Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Ultimate Cottage Pie

A spoon serving cottage pie stopped with cheesy potatoes.

This recipe is a game-changer. The thick, rich gravy is absolutely delicious, and the topping will blow you away!

Get The Recipe: Ultimate Cottage Pie

Italian Meatballs

Meatballs in sauce being served with a spoon.

This recipe produces generous meatballs, perfect for feeding a large group! Prepare a big batch for dinner and freeze the leftovers for a convenient meal whenever you need it.

Get The Recipe: Italian Meatballs

Moussaka

Moussaka is a delightful Mediterranean classic. This version uses either lamb or beef, layers with roasted eggplant, and tops with feta.

Get The Recipe: Moussaka

Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

This Traditional Homemade Meatloaf recipe is moist, tender, and flavorful. Once you try it, you’ll cherish this recipe forever!

Get The Recipe: Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

Beef Empanadas

Golden-brown empanadas filled with savory ground beef, arranged on a parchment-lined baking tray, garnished with cilantro, and accompanied by a small dish of sour cream.

These savory homemade beef empanadas are a delight to prepare. The flaky shells encase a delicious filling of seasoned ground beef, creating a mouthwatering snack that’s perfect for game day or any casual gathering.

Get the Recipe: Beef Empanadas

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Skip the jar! These homemade Italian meatballs are simmered in rich spaghetti sauce for a taste of authentic Italian comfort food.

Get The Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs

The Best Hamburger Recipe

a Cheeseburger on a bun piled high with toppings

Searching for the best hamburger recipe? With this comprehensive guide, you can make delicious, juicy burgers using any cooking method.

Get The Recipe: The Best Hamburger Recipe

Italian Meatloaf

Close-up of a sliced meatloaf made with ground beef, topped with melted cheese and tomato sauce, garnished with herbs in a white dish. Perfect for hearty recipes!

This Italian Meatloaf is like a cozy dinner party wrapped in a loaf! It mixes the heartwarming vibes of meatballs with a beefy embrace, Parmesan’s charm, and a splash of marinara sauce, before inviting melty mozzarella to crash the party. It’s so savory and cheesy, you might just find yourself in a food coma worthy of a snooze!

Get The Recipe: Italian Meatloaf

Ground Beef Tacos

Four beef tacos in yellow corn tortillas topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, and cilantro—served with lime wedges and red salsa—make a perfect choice for Easy Dinner Recipes.

Make the best Ground Beef Tacos ever with bold, smoky homemade taco seasoning! They’re packed with flavor, super easy to make, and ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for a weeknight dinner everyone will rave about!

Get The Recipe: Ground Beef Tacos