See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.


I’ve collected 40 of my best ground beef recipes, all in one place! These ground beef dinner ideas are easy to make, family-friendly and so satisfying.

Instant pot goulash served in a bowl with a fork.

Ground beef is a dinnertime staple and for good reason. It’s high in protein, budget-friendly and extremely versatile. When you’re wondering what to make with ground beef, browse through these ground beef recipes and you’re sure to find a tasty meal that the whole family will love. From crave-worthy comfort foods to healthy ground beef recipes and more, there’s something for everyone in this list!

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Easy Ground Beef Recipes

Sloppy joe mixture served on a toasted burger bun with potato chips on the side.

Sloppy Joe Recipe

These beefy, saucy sloppy joes will have you winning the easy dinner game. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, these messy sandwiches are perfect served with a pan of crispy Baked French Fries.

Close up of rigatoni pasta bake.

Baked Rigatoni

Hot from the oven, this cheesy baked rigatoni recipe is a surefire way to bring everyone to the dinner table. Serve it with buttery Garlic Bread and a crisp Green Salad.

Meatloaf with two slices cut.

Meatloaf Recipe

This classic meatloaf is moist, tender and slathered with the best sweet and tangy meatloaf glaze. Served with creamy Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans, it’s a meal you’ll want to make again and again.

Goulash in a Dutch oven pot with a wooden spoon.

Goulash

This American goulash recipe is a one pot wonder. Ground beef and macaroni pasta cook together in a richly flavored tomato sauce. It’s basically an excuse to wash less dishes, and we’ll take it!

Air fryer hamburgers served on buns with cheese, lettuce and tomato.

Air Fryer Hamburgers

These air fryer hamburgers are basically the best way to cook juicy burgers year-round. Topped with melty cheese and your favorite hamburger fixings, they’ll be devoured in no time.

Bowl of instant pot spaghetti sprinkled with parmesan and fresh basil.

Instant Pot Spaghetti

Meet our fave Instant Pot recipe for a weeknight: Instant Pot Spaghetti! The pasta soaks up incredible flavor from the meaty sauce as everything cooks together in the pot.

Close up of meatball sub sandwich on toasted roll with marinara sauce and cheese.

Meatball Sub

Juicy meatballs, savory marinara sauce, melty cheese and toasty bread are a mouthwatering combination in these hearty sub sandwiches.

Ground beef stroganoff in an instant pot.

Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff

This ground beef stroganoff hits the spot at the end of a long day. A few key ingredients make this one pot meal something to celebrate: umami mushrooms, rich egg noodles and creamy Greek yogurt.

Healthy Ground Beef Recipes

Six baked stuffed bell peppers in baking dish.

Stuffed Peppers

Colorful bell peppers are the perfect vessel for the seasoned ground beef, rice and tomato filling in these healthy stuffed peppers. Melty cheese and Italian seasonings bring it all together.

Spaghetti squash casserole in baking dish.

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Cheesy, saucy and bubbly hot from the oven, this spaghetti squash casserole is a lower carb alternative to a pasta bake. Serve it with an Italian Salad or Roasted Cauliflower.

Ladle full of chili held over pot of chili.

Chili Recipe

Thick, hearty and deeply flavored, this chili recipe is hands down the best. While it simmers, whip up this easy cornbread recipe to complete the meal.

Homemade spaghetti sauce in pot sprinkled with fresh basil.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Celebrate Italian flavors with this simple homemade pasta sauce, just like nonna might have made.

Stuffed pepper soup in a pot with a ladle.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Like classic stuffed bell peppers, but deconstructed, this flavorful soup is comfort in a bowl. Nourishing veggies and brown rice make this soup both nutritious and satisfying.

Chili in a slow cooker with a ladle.

Slow Cooker Chili

Capitalize on the convenience of your crock pot with this make ahead chili recipe. This one’s perfect for feeding a crowd!

Family-Friendly Ground Beef Dinner Ideas

Bowl of hamburger soup with a spoon.

Hamburger Soup

When you’re looking for a ground beef recipe that the whole family will love, this hamburger soup fits the bill. With ground beef, potatoes and colorful veggies, it’s a warming meal that’s perfect for a dreary day.

Taco pasta on a serving spoon over a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Taco Pasta

This ground beef recipe is the ultimate comfort food. It’s cheesy, a tad spicy and so easy to make – you’ll want to dish up a second helping!

Two slices of instant pot meatloaf served with meatloaf sauce and mashed potatoes.

Instant Pot Meatloaf

Homemade meatloaf and creamy mashed potatoes that cook together in the Instant Pot? Yes, please! When you’re craving old-fashioned home cooking, this meal is hard to beat.

Wooden spoon with cheesy beef pasta held over skillet of pasta.

Beef and Pasta Skillet

This no-fuss recipe is a comforting combination of macaroni and meat sauce topped with melty cheese.

Instant pot chili in a bowl topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese and green onions.

Instant Pot Chili

This Instant Pot chili recipe is made with ground beef and a rich tomato base that’s layered with spices and seasonings. Load up your bowl with toppings and enjoy!

Sliced air fryer meatloaf on a serving dish.

Air Fryer Meatloaf

Delicious crispy edges and a tangy meatloaf sauce make this air fryer meatloaf something special. Serve it with Roasted Carrots and Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

Instant pot goulash in a bowl garnished with parsley.

Instant Pot Goulash

Cheesy, saucy and undeniably hearty, this goulash recipe is ready in just over 30 minutes, start to finish. You’ll be glad to have it in your recipe rotation!

Ground Beef Casserole Recipes

Ground beef hamburger casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon.

Hamburger Casserole

With pasta, cheese, veggies and tomato sauce, this ground beef casserole is a simple way to get dinner on the table. Dish it up and wait for the compliments to roll in!

Shepherd's pie in baking dish with serving spoon.

Shepherd’s Pie

Ground beef and vegetables in a flavorful gravy are topped with rich and creamy mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort food meal.

Taco casserole in baking dish with taco toppings on top.

Taco Casserole

Layers of tortillas, meat, beans and cheese baked until hot and melty, this taco casserole recipe uses salsa as a shortcut ingredient to add a hefty dose of flavor.

Baked spaghetti in casserole dish with serving spoon.

Baked Spaghetti

I used to think baked spaghetti was a strange concept, but no more! This easy-peasy recipe has become one of our most-loved quick ground beef dinners.

Serving of casserole on a plate topped with sour cream and pico de gallo.

Mexican Casserole

Roasted sweet potatoes, tender rice and ooey gooey cheese enhance the meat, bean and corn filling of this healthy casserole.

Ground Beef Recipes for Taco Night

Ground beef taco meat served in soft corn tortillas with a variety of toppings.

Ground Beef Tacos

Everyone needs a great taco recipe in their repertoire and this is mine. A simple homemade taco seasoning plus a secret ingredient make this taco meat exceptionally moist and flavorful.

A serving of taco salad in a salad bowl with skillet of taco meat in the background.

Taco Salad

Swap the tortillas for a bed of greens in this spin on taco night. Salsa makes a simple, spicy dressing for this vibrant taco salad.

Taco meat in instant pot.

Instant Pot Taco Meat

If you forgot to thaw your ground beef for taco night, this Instant Pot recipe is ready to save the day. Yes, that’s right – you can cook the meat from frozen, no defrosting required.

Close up of two beef enchiladas served on a plate with sour cream, avocado and cilantro.

Beef Enchilada Recipe

Anyone else want to dive right into that plate of beefy, cheesy goodness? Seasoned ground beef, black beans and corn are wrapped in soft tortillas and smothered with enchilada sauce and melty cheese. 

Ground Beef Pasta Recipes

Baked ziti in a skillet with a serving spoon.

One Pot Baked Ziti

When you’re craving classic Baked Ziti but short on time, this one pot recipe is just what you need. With creamy ricotta, stretchy mozzarella and salty Parmesan, there’s no skimping on flavor with this cozy dish.

Baked lasagna in a baking dish.

Lasagna Recipe

With layers of noodles, a robust meat sauce and plenty of cheese, this homemade lasagna is truly the best. It’s my go-to recipe for entertaining, served with a big Italian Salad and crusty Garlic Bread.

Close up of cheesy pasta bake on a wooden spoon.

Macaroni Pasta Bake

Kids and adults alike will cheer when this beef and macaroni pasta bake is on the menu! Make it in advance and pop it in the oven at dinnertime.

Cheesy taco pasta in an Instant Pot with a serving spoon.

Instant Pot Taco Pasta

Fans of quick and easy will adore this taco pasta recipe. Top it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar to temper the spicy flavors.

Classic lasagna in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Lasagna

Busy cooks will appreciate that you don’t need to boil the noodles for this easy crockpot lasagna recipe.

Fork taking a bite of lasagna.

Instant Pot Lasagna

This mouthwatering lasagna is made in the Instant Pot for a family-friendly meal that’s big on flavor but short on prep time.

What to Make with Ground Beef? Meatballs!

Close up of meatballs in a serving dish with marinara sauce, parmesan cheese and parsley, with one meatball on a spoon.

Meatball Recipe

These classic Italian meatballs are perfect for serving over pasta with Marinara Sauce. Making them with panko breadcrumbs locks in the juices for ultra moist and tender meatballs.

Swedish meatballs and sauce in a cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon.

Swedish Meatballs

Tender, spiced meatballs swimming in a luscious creamy gravy make for a dreamy meal, especially served atop buttery Mashed Potatoes.

Italian meatballs and marinara sauce in slow cooker with wooden spoon.

Crockpot Meatballs

This set it and forget it recipe puts your slow cooker to work so you don’t have to. For the ultimate convenience, make a double batch of meatballs and freeze half; then dump them in your crockpot on a busy day.

Fork grabbing a meatball off of a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.

Instant Pot Meatballs

Cooking meatballs in the Instant Pot is a hands-off way to achieve tender, flavorful meatballs with minimal effort. This recipe includes a simple homemade pasta sauce that cooks in the Instant Pot with the meatballs. Easy and delish!

Instant pot goulash served in a bowl with a fork.

40 Best Ground Beef Recipes

Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Inactive Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 34 minutes
This recipe collection features 40 of the best ground beef recipes, all in one place! From crave-worthy comfort foods to healthy ground beef recipes and more, you'll love these ground beef dinner ideas. Start with this easy Instant Pot Goulash, a comfort food classic that's family-friendly and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 ¾ cups low sodium beef broth, or chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked, 9 ounces by weight
  • 30 ounces canned diced tomatoes
  • 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • chopped fresh parsley, optional, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Turn on the Instant Pot sauté function. When the pot is hot, add the ground beef and cook, crumbling, until browned. Drain excess grease if desired.
  • Add the onion and cook until softened, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and bell pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Press Cancel to turn off the saute function.
  • Pour in the broth and stir, scraping up any bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir.
  • Add the pasta to the pot and press it down into an even layer in the liquid but do not stir. It is ok if the pasta is not all covered by the liquid. Put the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce on top of the pasta. Do not stir.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and move the steam release valve to the sealing position. Set the cook time to 4 minutes at high pressure. The Instant Pot will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure and then the cook time will start counting down.
  • When the cook time ends, do a quick release of the pressure by carefully moving the steam release valve to the venting position. When the pin drops down, open the Instant Pot lid.
  • The goulash may look a little watery and some of the pasta may be slightly stuck together. Stir gently and the extra liquid will be absorbed and the pasta will separate.
  • Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Serve, topped with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Serves 6 generously or makes 8 smaller servings.
Serving: 1/8 recipe, Calories: 411kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 59mg, Sodium: 467mg, Potassium: 402mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 692IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 180mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
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Collage of easy ground beef recipes with text overlay.
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