Ground beef recipes are my answer to a busy weeknight: hearty, budget-friendly dinners like my family's stuffed cabbage rolls, cheesy stuffed shells, slow cooker soups, and Tex-Mex favorites.
Before you start, one rule I never skip: always cook ground beef to 160F. I explain why in the FAQ at the bottom of this page.
grandma's recipe!
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
My family's classic cabbage rolls and my most popular ground beef recipe; they are easier than you think, and there are crockpot instructions too.
Cabbage Rolls, Meatballs, and Comfort Classics
Stuffed cabbage rolls are the comfort food of my youth, and my stuffed cabbage rolls are my family's classic recipe. My halupki recipe shows you three ways to make these Eastern European cabbage rolls.
My IKEA Swedish meatballs copycat simmers tender meatballs in a creamy pan gravy, and my bolognese sauce has both slow cooker and sous vide instructions.
Stuffed Shells and Pasta Bakes
Pasta bakes stretch a pound of ground beef to feed a crowd. My lasagna roll ups have all the flavors of traditional lasagna in an easy-to-serve spiral, and my ricotta and cottage cheese stuffed shells are filled with ground beef, spinach, and three cheeses.
For a twist, try my Philly cheesesteak stuffed shells or my Mexican stuffed shells, which pack taco flavors into jumbo pasta shells.
Ground Beef Soups and Chili
Soup stretches ground beef further than almost anything. My crock pot cowboy soup is loaded with ground beef, beans, corn, and vegetables, and my stuffed pepper soup has all the flavor of stuffed bell peppers with ground beef, rice, and tomatoes.
If you love cabbage rolls, my cabbage roll soup gives you the same flavors in a bowl. For a low-carb option, my no bean chili is full of protein and skips the beans.
Tex-Mex and Game Day Favorites
My Dorito taco salad is a crunchy, crowd-feeding dinner salad, and my Frito pie layers corn chips, chili, and melted cheddar.
My taco egg rolls are stuffed with browned beef, black beans, corn, Rotel, and cheese, and you can air fry or deep fry them. My Cincinnati chili cooks in the crock pot and is served 5-way style.
What can I make with a pound of ground beef?
Start with the sections above: pasta bakes for make-ahead dinners, soups and chili for the slow cooker, and Tex-Mex favorites for game day.
If you also have rice on hand, my hamburger and rice recipes have even more ideas.
What temperature should ground beef be cooked to?
Cook ground beef to 160F, measured with an instant-read thermometer. Grinding mixes any bacteria from the surface of the meat all the way through, which is why ground beef needs a higher temperature than a steak.
Do not rely on color. Ground beef can turn brown before it reaches a safe temperature, and some stays pink even after it does.
How long does raw ground beef last in the refrigerator?
Cook or freeze raw ground beef within 1 to 2 days of buying it.
Frozen ground beef stays safe as long as it stays frozen, but use it within about 4 months for the best flavor and texture.
How do I thaw frozen ground beef safely?
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, in a sealed bag submerged in cold water (change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. If you use cold water or the microwave, cook it right away.
Never thaw ground beef on the counter. The outside warms into the danger zone, 40F to 140F, while the center is still frozen.
Can I freeze ground beef soups and casseroles?
Yes, most of them freeze well. Cool leftovers quickly and get them into the refrigerator or freezer within 2 hours of cooking.
Check each recipe card for its specific freezing and reheating instructions.
