50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (2024)

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (1)

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When you're stuck in a weeknight dinnertime rut, grab some ground beef and get cooking! From Tex-Mex dinners to Italian-inspired feasts, ground beef is one of the most versatile proteins you can bring to the table. It also happens to be the star in so many budget-friendly dinner ideas: sliders, skillet meals, and soups. Here, you'll find plenty of healthy ground beef dinners, baked pastas, and one-pot meals to freshen up your dinner routine. These ground beef recipes prove there's no shortage of ways to put it to good use.

If a hearty dish is what you're after, take a peek at the many ground beef casseroles in this roundup. They're so simple to make and recipes like cheeseburger casserole, taco casserole, and sour cream noodle bake (a Drummond family favorite) please even the pickiest eaters! You'll also discover burgers done every which way. If you're feeding a crowd, the cheeseburger sliders are a big time hit. Instead of flipping tons of patties, seasoned ground beef is spread on slider buns with all the fixings for an easy meal. Of course, anytime your cooking pasta recipes, adding some ground beef is a no-brainer. Ree Drummond's slow cooker bolognese cooks all day with minimal effort. Now that's a winning idea!

1

Slow-Cooker Bolognese

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (2)

This recipe makes a big batch, so enjoy it for dinner, and freeze the rest for dinner another night! This hearty bolognese makes Italian night easy.

Get Ree's Slow-Cooker Bolognese recipe.

SHOP SLOW COOKERS

2

Salisbury Steak

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This diner classic features hamburger steaks topped with creamy mushroom gravy. It's spectacular served with mashed potatoes!

Get the Salisbury Steak recipe.

3

Taco Casserole

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Switch up taco Tuesday with this family-friendly casserole. The ground beef, corn, and black bean mixture is layered in the baking dish with tortilla chips and cheese. It's hearty and delicious!

Get the Taco Casserole recipe.

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4

Eggplant Lasagna

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With meat sauce, fresh eggplant, and delicious ricotta cheese, this lasagna is a winner. It can even be assembled up to 2 days ahead and baked before dinnertime!

Get the Eggplant Lasagna recipe.

5

Cheeseburger Sliders

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Next time you want to make burgers for a crowd, make these easy, cheesy sliders instead! Rather than forming and cooking separate hamburger patties, this recipe piles cooked ground beef on slider buns.

Get the Cheeseburger Sliders recipe.

SHOP SHEET PANS

6

Pierogi and Meatball Skillet

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When comfort food cravings call, this skillet supper is here to answer. The homemade Swedish-style meatballs are extremely easy to make. They're paired with store-bought pierogi for a dinner that's ready in under an hour.

Get the Pierogi and Meatball Skillet recipe.

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7

Goulash

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The whole family will gobble this goulash right up! Similar to chili, but also mac and cheese, it's a cozy, comforting crowd pleaser that's ready in 30 minutes.

Get the Goulash recipe.

8

Moussaka

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If you've never tried this classic Greek dish, you're in for a delicious surprise. With layers of eggplant, potato, spiced meat sauce, and creamy bechamel sauce, it's a feast for the senses.

Get the Moussaka recipe.

9

Manicotti

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In this Italian dinner recipe, tubes of pasta are stuffed with a four cheese mixture and topped with hearty meat sauce. The perfect finishing touch? Even more cheese baked on top!

Get the Manicotti recipe.

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10

Cowboy Casserole

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Saddle up for this hearty, comforting casserole. This one-pan meal is loaded with ground sirloin, crispy bacon, spinach, and corn, and topped with golden tater tots. What could be better?

Get the Cowboy Casserole recipe.

SHOP CAST-IRON SKILLETS

11

Classic Cheeseburgers

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (12)

Skip the drive-thru! When the craving hits for a cheeseburger, you can make your own by combining ground beef with ground sirloin and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Don't forget your favorite toppings!

Get the Classic Cheeseburger recipe.

12

Stuffed Cabbage

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (13)

Bring something fresh and flavorful to the dinner table with this stuffed cabbage. This recipe makes up to eight servings and uses simple ingredients.

Get the Stuffed Cabbage recipe.

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13

Italian Meatball Soup

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (14)

This soup is chock full of tender, bite-sized meatballs and vegetables. Serve it with hunks of Italian bread and all the parmesan your heart desires!

Get Ree's Italian Meatball Soup recipe.

14

Cheeseburger Casserole

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Have a family full of cheeseburger lovers? Then you must make this pasta bake for dinner! Every nook and cranny is covered in melty cheese sauce, plus there's seasoned ground beef too.

Get the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe.

15

Taco Soup

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Rushed for time on busy weeknights? This soup may just be your saving grace. It's ready in only 30 minutes! Serve with all your favorite taco toppings.

Get the Taco Soup recipe.

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16

Beef Enchiladas

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These enchiladas are beefy, cheesy, and oh-so easy! Store-bought enchilada sauce helps get them on the dinner table quickly.

Get the Beef Enchiladas recipe.

SHOP BAKING DISHES

17

Homemade Hamburger Helper

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If you grew up loving Hamburger Helper, you'll adore this homespun version filled with ground beef, macaroni, and plenty of melty cheese.

Get the Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.

18

Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Oh stuffed peppers, how we love thee! These beauties are so versatile, but we think they're best with ground beef and lots of cheese.

Get the Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe.

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19

Hamburger Soup

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This chunky, hearty soup is just what you need for a quick meal. It's loaded with ground beef and lots of veggies for a soul-nourishing supper.

Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe.

20

Patty Melts

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These patty melts are great for feeding a hungry crew: They're quick to make and will leave everyone feeling satisfied. Don't forget the potato chips for serving!

Get Ree's Patty Melts recipe.

SHOP GRILL PANS

50 Family-Friendly Dinners You Can Make With Ground Beef (2024)

FAQs

How much ground beef to cook for 50 people? ›

I would suggest a quarter-pound ground beef/pork per person. That works out to about 12–1/2 - 13 pounds. You might have some leftover, but better that than having too little.

How many pounds of ground beef do I need for 25 people? ›

Try serving 3/4 of a pound per person to factor in the extra weight. If you're dishing up some ground beef for taco night, ¼ of a pound per person should be sufficient. You might want to consider ¾ of a pound for those with heartier appetites. A half a pound might not be enough.

What meal to make for a lot of people? ›

8 Delicious Dinners That Feed A Crowd
  • Classic Lasagna. ...
  • Pulled Pork. ...
  • White Chicken Chili. ...
  • Sloppy Joes. ...
  • Beef Stew with Carrots & Potatoes. ...
  • Gail Simmons' Epic Spaghetti Pie. ...
  • Moroccan-Style Brisket with Dried Fruit & Capers. ...
  • The Ultimate Chili Recipe.

What to cook for 50 guests? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

How many tacos will 10 pounds of ground beef make? ›

Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

How much taco meat to feed 50 people? ›

My thinking on the (relatively) easiest way to prep a large assortment of food would be to do tacos (which also happen to be a personal favorite!) I feel like the general rule is 1/2 lb of meat per person.

How much meat can feed 50 people? ›

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

How much ground beef for 100 servings? ›

An average serving of meat per person is about 4-ounces, a generous serving would be about 6-ounces. If serving 100 people 6-ounces each, you would need 37.5 pounds of cooked meat. Allow for shrinkage during cooking.

How can I feed 50 guests cheap? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  1. Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
  2. Cheese Cob Dip. ...
  3. The Best Burger in Oz. ...
  4. Kangaroo Casserole. ...
  5. Sausage Casserole. ...
  6. Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
  7. Quiche Lorraine. ...
  8. Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

What is a good dinner that everyone would like? ›

27 Quick And Easy Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love
  • One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta. tasty.co. ...
  • Garlic Broccoli Shrimp Stir-Fry. tasty.co. ...
  • 3-Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  • Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. ...
  • Taco Soup. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. ...
  • One-Pan Garlic Butter Salmon. ...
  • 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry.
Oct 25, 2023

How do you feed 100 guests on a budget? ›

Opt for chicken and pork dishes because they are cheaper meat choices than beef. Opt for cookies, fruit cups, and pre-portioned slices of cake as dessert fare instead of ice cream.

How many pounds of taco meat do I need for 50 people? ›

A portion of meat for one person is considered to be about 1/4–1/3 of a pound. The high end of that is about 35 lbs. Since some people will eat more, especially at a large gathering, I would add another 10 lbs. of meat just to be sure there is enough to satisfy everyone.

How many pounds of ground beef do I need for 60 people? ›

A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

How many pounds of ground beef do I need to feed 40 people tacos? ›

Generally speaking, four ounces of taco meat per person should be enough to make plenty of tacos for everyone in your group. That's approximately one-half to three-quarters of a pound of raw ground beef, depending on the size of the portion.

How much food do you need for a party of 50? ›

Food for Dinner Parties
FoodUp to 10 guests40-50
Boneless beef roast5 pounds25 pounds
Pork roast or ham5 pounds25 pounds
Casseroles2 (13x9")7 (13x9")
Side dishes5 cups25 cups
9 more rows

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