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85 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes That Will Never Let You Down

It's time to branch out from burgers.

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saucy beef bolognese, and herby ricotta rolled into flour tortillas and topped with more bolognese mozzarella and parmesan then baked until bubbly and perfect
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

When I'm looking for meals that are cheap, quick, yet still delicious, ground beef reigns supreme. It’s versatile, quick-cooking, and great for when you’ve got a crowd to feed. If you’re not careful though, it can become a little one-note. Have some on hand and not sure what to make with it? Look no further! From classics like meatloaf and burgers to creative meals like lasagnchiladas or meatball Parm orzo, we’ve got you covered. There’s something here to please any and every appetite.

Let’s start with the classics. Though we’re all for trying new things or putting spins on our favorites, you’ve gotta walk before you can run. We’ve tested our recipes for things like stuffed peppers, goulash, sloppy Joes, Salisbury steak, meatballs, chili, and more over and over again to guarantee they’re the best and the most reliable they can be. Trust us, you’re going to want to bookmark these.

Once you’ve got some of those recipes down, it’s time to have a little fun. We’ve also included twists on all your favorite flavor combinations here—you could turn them into a casserole, like we did in our our stuffed pepper casserole, our unstuffed cabbage casserole, our lasagnchiladas, or our sloppy Joe casserole; into a sandwich or burrito, like our French onion meatball sub, our copycat Taco Bell grilled cheese burritos, our roasted cabbage burgers, or our Big Mac crunchwrap; or into a soup, like our meatball sub soup or our taco soup. Feel free to get creative too, if there’s any mash-ups you’re craving, let us know in the comments below and we’ll see what we can do to make them.

1

Copycat Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burritos

grilled cheese burrito
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

There’s a good reason why the Taco Bell grilled cheese burrito has inspired a cult following. Stuffed with Spanish rice, crunchy tortilla chips, seasoned beef, sour cream, nacho cheese, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, and fried in more cheese, this burrito is missing nothing. And now you can make it at home.

Get the Copycat Taco Bell Grilled Cheese Burritos recipe.

2

Cheesy Taco Bake

ground beef and cheese baked over chips in a casserole dish
PHOTO: LINDA XIAO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you love our taco lasagna, then get ready to meet a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation: this cheesy taco bake. Instead of using tortillas, like we do in our lasagnchiladas, we're layering seasoned ground beef, cheese, and tomato-sour cream mixture on top of tortilla chips for added texture.

Get the Cheesy Taco Bake recipe.

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3

Copycat Wendy's Chili

copycat wendy's chili topped with cheese and saltines
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This is not only the perfect copycat recipe, it's a perfect chili recipe, and we have Dave and Wendy to thank for the inspiration! We kept this recipe as close to the original as possible and you can tell in the results.

Get the Copycat Wendy's Chili recipe.

4

Monster Meatballs

large meatballs covered in red sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Meatballs are one of my favorite weeknight dinner categories for their ease and endless adaptations. They’re simple to make and, if done well, can be so flavorful. Plus, they also make for a great meal prepping for the week. The only annoying thing about them? Forming each individual meatball, over and over again. Enter: these jumbo-sized meatballs.

Get the Monster Meatballs recipe.

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5

Taco Lasagna

taco lasagna
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This hearty Tex-Mex taco lasagna hits so many of the classic casserole notes: Cheesy? ✔️ Perfect for a crowd? ✔️ Flavor for days? ✔️ Great (greatest?) way to stretch a pound of ground beef? ✔️ The list goes on and on.

Get the Taco Lasagna recipe.

6

Lasagnchiladas

saucy beef bolognese, and herby ricotta rolled into flour tortillas and topped with more bolognese mozzarella and parmesan then baked until bubbly and perfect
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This dish is exactly what it sounds like. Everything you’d usually find between the noodle layers in lasagna—saucy beef Bolognese and herby ricotta—rolled into flour tortillas and topped with more Bolognese, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then baked until bubbly and perfect.

Get the Lasagnchiladas recipe.

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7

Goulash

elbow macaroni in a tomato sauce
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: LAURA REGE

A classic nostalgic comfort dish, goulash is the hearty weeknight dinner we'll always crave. The best thing about it? Everything cooks together in one pot—even the pasta!

Get the Goulash recipe.

8

Tater Tot Casserole

tater tot casserole with ground beef, corn, and cheddar cheese
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sure, this Midwestern classic is ideal for the kiddos, but trust—your inner child will be scooping seconds too. If you love a dinner shortcut (hello, canned cream of mushroom soup!) spiked with a little semi-homemade love, then this crispy-potato topped beauty is a must.

Get the Tater Tot Casserole recipe.

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9

Meatball Parm Orzo

tomato based orzo in a skillet topped with meatballs and cheese
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

I decided to recreate all the warmth, heartiness, and flavor of meatball subs in a simple one-pot pasta dish. The resutl? This meatball Parm orzo has all the makings of your favorite go-to weeknight meal. It only uses one pot and involves barely any chopping, and it's certainly a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Meatball Parm Orzo recipe.

10

Roasted Cabbage Burgers

roasted cabbage burger topped with american cheese, pickles, red onion, bacon, ketchup, and mustard
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

I love cabbage in any form, but these baked cabbage burgers are something extra special. Roasted cabbage steaks are topped with melty cheeseburgers and a smattering of all your favorite burger condiments for a cozy wintertime take on this summer backyard staple.

Get the Roasted Cabbage Burgers recipe.

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11

Sheet-Pan Quesadillas

tortillas filled with meat and cheese on a sheet pan
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Quesadillas are a classic late-night snack or easy dinner, but when we need to serve a crowd, we bring out the sheet pan. This hack makes cooking quesadillas for a crowd easier than ever. In just around an hour, you'll have a cheesy, crowd-pleasing meal that is sure to satisfy.

Get the Sheet-Pan Quesadillas recipe.

12

Taco Gnocchi Bake

a pan with gnocchi covered in enchilada sauce, cheese, avocado, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

In this recipe, gnocchi gets the taco treatment for a simple weeknight meal. Along with some ground beef, black beans, and plenty of cheddar cheese, it’s a fun twist on the potato-based pasta.

Get the Taco Gnocchi Bake recipe.

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13

Classic Stuffed Peppers

colorful stuffed peppers with ground beef and tomato rice
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Bell peppers are strong enough to hold their shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with just about anything. This is our favorite recipe, but the customization options are endless—check out all our stuffed pepper recipes here too.

Get the Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe.

14

Smash Burger Tacos

the ultimate comfort food hybrid with a crispy, juicy, thin beef patty, melty american cheese, and all the classic burger fixings loaded onto a toasted flour tortilla
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Here is the ultimate comfort food hybrid with a crispy, juicy, thin beef patty, melty American cheese, and all the classic smash burger fixings loaded onto a toasted flour tortilla. You’ll never have to choose between burger night or taco night again!

Get the Smash Burger Tacos recipe.

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15

Burger Bowls

a bed of fresh romaine lettuce topped with everything you'd find on a classic american diner cheeseburger, tangy dill pickles, thinly sliced red onion, juicy tomatoes, smoky bacon, cheddar cheesy ground beef, a drizzle of burger sauce, and of course a few golden crispy fries
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Craving a juicy cheeseburger but not the mandatory nap that comes with it? This cheesy, saucy, veggie-packed burger bowl is your solution. These bowls are just as versatile as an actual burger, so have fun with your preferred toppings too.

Get the Burger Bowls recipe.

16

Ground Beef Stir-Fry Teriyaki Bowls

teriyaki based ground beef stir fry with broccoli
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

We love stir-frying for countless cheap and easy dinners, but especially in this recipe that combines ground beef with broccoli, carrots, and teriyaki sauce. Best part? Ground beef means no slicing or dicing the meat; just go from the package directly to the pan and get cooking.

Get the Ground Beef Stir-Fry Teriyaki Bowls recipe.

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17

Classic Chili

classic beef chili with sour cream and toppings
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour, our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes. If you’re looking for the most classic version to come home to after a long day, then this is the recipe for you.

Get the Classic Chili recipe.

18

Pineapple BBQ Meatballs

saucy bbq meatballs with pineapple chunks
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

These meatballs are juicy, tender, and glazed to perfection in a sauce made with sweet pineapple chunks. You can serve this as a quick and easy dinner, or stick a toothpick in each meatball for a crowd-pleasing make-ahead appetizer.

Get the Pineapple BBQ Meatballs recipe.

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19

Hamburger Casserole

a casserole dish filled with elbow macaroni, ground beef, and a creamy sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

It can be hard to replicate the perfection of a restaurant-quality burger, but this casserole captures the same magic in the form of an easy weeknight dinner. Bonus: no flipping patties over a hot grill!

Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.

20

Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers

beef and rice stuffed poblano peppers with cheese
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING BARRETT WASHBURNE

Classic stuffed peppers are one of our readers’ all-time favorites, and we thought we'd done them every possible way...until now. Here, we swap the bell peppers for poblanos and update the typical stuffing by using fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle chiles, and spices.

Get the Beef & Rice Stuffed Poblano Peppers recipe.

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