22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

Ground beef is great for making meals that are easy, nutritious and affordable. These recipes use ground beef along with other affordable foods like pasta and potatoes to make a delicious, filling meal. Recipes like Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet and Loaded Twice-Baked Potatoes are healthy, tasty and utilize an affordable protein in the best way.

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Pressure-Cooker Meatloaf & Potatoes

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (1)

Meatloaf and potatoes cook together in your multicooker, such as the Instant Pot, in this weeknight-ready recipe. Cooking meatloaf in your pressure cooker keeps it nice and moist and, once assembled, the whole meal is cooked in just 20 minutes! Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018

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Cauliflower Rice-Stuffed Peppers

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (2)

Slash the calories and carbs of traditional stuffed peppers by swapping white rice for cauliflower "rice." The riced cauliflower is hearty and won't turn to mush during baking. Use an assortment of red, yellow, orange and green peppers to make an appealing presentation. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2018

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American Goulash

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (3)

American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2018

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Loaded Twice-Baked Potatoes

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (4)

Potatoes are one of the great comfort foods, especially when stuffed with a satisfying mixture of lean ground beef and broccoli florets plus reduced-fat sour cream and Cheddar cheese. Add a tossed salad and you have a healthy and hearty meal that will leave you feeling good. Source: EatingWell Magazine, February/March 2006

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Sweet & Sour Beef-Cabbage Soup

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (5)

This wholesome sweet-and-sour soup combines beef, caraway seeds, sweet paprika and cabbage--ingredients that star in a number of German dishes. It is particularly nice served with crusty rye bread. For an even heartier soup, add diced cooked potatoes along with the cabbage. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell. Source: EatingWell Soups Special Issue April 2016

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Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (6)

Instead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you're serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2010

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Classic Hamburger

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (7)

Slow-cooked onions add moisture and flavor to these lean beef burgers. A quick blend of mayonnaise, ketchup, relish and vinegar makes a perfect tangy, sweet and creamy "special sauce" for this burger. We love the dill relish here, but use sweet relish if you prefer it. Serve with sweet potato fries. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2011

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Meatballs with Roasted Green Beans & Potatoes

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (8)

Meatballs, green beans and potatoes happily coexist while roasting together on a large sheet pan. Seasoned with fresh rosemary and Italian seasoning and served with pasta sauce and Parmesan, this one-dish meal is one you'll want to make again and again. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Southern Beefy Skillet

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (9)

Make this entire meal in one skillet! The beef soaks up the flavor from the vegetables and herbs, making it juicy and full of flavor. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Mom's Chili

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (10)

This healthy basic beef chili recipe is well worth doubling so you can throw a batch in the freezer. Serve topped with diced red onion, sliced scallions, shredded cheese and your favorite hot sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2016

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Oven-Fried Beef Taquitos

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (11)

This healthy beef taquitos recipe calls for baking instead of deep-frying, making the taquitos substantially healthier than what you'd get at a restaurant. One order of these little deep-fried, rolled-up tacos at a restaurant can set you back almost 1,000 calories and 60 grams of fat! Don't worry if some of the taquitos crack open while baking--they're still crispy and delicious. Serve with your favorite salsa, guacamole and reduced-fat sour cream. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2013

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Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (12)

Sneak extra vegetables into your child's day (and yours too!) with this easy one-skillet pasta recipe. Finely chop mushrooms to resemble the texture of ground beef and stir them into a classic meat sauce for an extra-healthy twist on a dinnertime favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2017

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Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (13)

This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2019

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Marinara Meat Sauce Topped Baked Potato

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (14)

Break out of your pasta routine by subbing in a baked potato in this simple and satisfying dinner for one. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati has a unique spin on chili--they serve it over spaghetti. Typically the chili is just made with meat, no beans, but we couldn't resist adding beans to add fiber and nutrients. Serve with sliced cucumber and red onion with lemon juice and olive oil. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2012

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Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (15)

Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2018

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Chili-Cheese Nachos

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (16)

Make nachos a healthy dinner when you top them with an easy 30-minute chili. Serve this healthy recipe with sliced scallions, avocado, fresh tomatoes and sour cream, if desired. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2017

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Tex-Mex Taco Salad

This version of the chain-restaurant favorite has fresh flavors and a healthy nutritional profile. Vary the heat by varying the type of salsa you use. Baked corn tortilla chips and lime wedges are natural accompaniments.

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No-Chop Skillet Chili

This dump-and-simmer recipe is terrific for camping--or for dinner on a busy weeknight. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Cheeseburger Stuffed Baked Potatoes

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (17)

Skip the bun and serve all of your favorite cheeseburger ingredients--beef, cheese, tomatoes, red onions and lettuce--with baked potatoes for a hearty and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love. Feel free to swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or tofu crumbles. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Broccoli, Beef & Potato Hotdish

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (18)

This easy casserole, full of ground beef, roasted broccoli and topped with hash browns, was inspired by the classic Minnesota Tater Tot hotdish. Roasting the broccoli before adding it to the casserole gives the whole dish a much more complex and exciting flavor, but it's by no means necessary. If you want to keep it simple, skip roasting the broccoli (Step 2) and use 6 cups frozen broccoli, thawed, in its place (omit 1 tablespoon oil, as well). Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2010

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Chunky Cheeseburger Soup

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22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (19)

A spoonful of this tomatoey cheeseburger soup delivers the experience of a perfect burger bite--savory beef and onions, sweet and tangy condiments and, of course, Cheddar and American cheese! This kid-friendly and easy soup is sure to appeal to everyone in your household. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

22 Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cheap ground beef taste better? ›

  1. Add herbs and spices: Mix in dried herbs and spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder to give your ground beef a bolder flavor.
  2. Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking.
Feb 21, 2023

How much ground beef to make burgers for 20 people? ›

Burgers
  1. 10 burgers = 40 to 60 ounces = 2½ to 3¾ pounds ground beef.
  2. 15 burgers = 60 to 90 ounces = 3¾ to 5⅔ pounds ground beef.
  3. 20 burgers = 80 to 120 ounces = 5 to 7½ pounds ground beef.
  4. 25 burgers = 100 to 150 ounces = 6¼ to 9⅓ pounds ground beef.
Jul 21, 2016

What is the cheapest food to feed a crowd? ›

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

How many pounds of ground meat do I need for 20 people? ›

According to the USDA, a serving of ground beef is 3 ounces. Considering that, 3.75 pounds of ground beef would be enough to serve 20 people.

Why does baking soda make ground beef taste better? ›

Baking soda helps prevent ground beef from drying out, allowing those burger patties to keep their moisture and brown quicker for the most flavorful cookout. Not to mention, baking soda is the ideal ingredient for getting the most out of your Thanksgiving bird.

What can I add to ground beef for flavor? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 tablespoons oregano.
  2. 1 tablespoon chili powder.
  3. 1 teaspoon cumin.
  4. 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  5. 2 teaspoons onion powder.
  6. 12 teaspoon salt.
  7. 1 lb ground beef.
  8. 12 cup water.

What is the best binder for burgers? ›

If they aren't bound well, the patties will start to fall apart as soon as you start cooking them. The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs. They work well with ground meat and are easy to incorporate into the rest of your ingredients.

Do you mix egg with ground beef for burgers? ›

Instructions for How to Make Ground Beef Patties for burgers: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, 1 egg, and a generous amount of salt and pepper to season (half tsp each). Egg is a burger binding agent for the ground beef patty. Divide the well mixed beef into four equal round balls and form into patties.

Does egg help keep burgers together? ›

Egg yolk acts as a binder and adds flavor

After forming it into a patty, he explains that the egg actually helps bind the meat together, and adds an incredibly rich flavor to the burger patty. As a good rule of thumb, it's best to add one yolk per pound of ground beef.

How to feed 40 people cheaply? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  1. Taco Bar. A taco bar is one of the best inexpensive meals for large groups. ...
  2. Meatballs. ...
  3. Butter Chicken. ...
  4. Lasagna. ...
  5. Chili. ...
  6. Homemade Pizza. ...
  7. Baked Pasta. ...
  8. Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What is a good meal to serve 20 people? ›

Easy Meat Dishes that are Great to Feed to a Crowd
  • Simple Barbecue Beef Roast.
  • Simple Overnight Saucy Crock Pot Chicken.
  • Simple Overnight Melt-in-Your-Mouth Beef Roast.
  • Simple Oven Fried Chicken.
  • Simple Honey Mustard Chicken Legs.
  • Simple Roasted Rotiserie Chicken.
  • Simple Hawaiian Beef Roast.
  • Simple Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs.
Jul 24, 2011

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 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.

How much ground meat do I need for 25 people? ›

How Much Food to Serve at a Party
FOODSERVE 25SERVE 50
Meats
Hamburgers6-1/2–9-1/2 pounds13–15 pounds
Ham or roast beef10 pounds20 pounds
Hot dogs4 pounds7 pounds
35 more rows
Apr 1, 2024

Why does cheap ground beef taste different? ›

Diet is one of the most influential factors that impacts beef flavor and aroma. This is because the dietary nutrients cattle consume directly impact the fatty acid profile and nutrient profile of their fat. One of the most-common mantras in the meat industry is that fat is flavor.

What makes ground beef taste better? ›

Add herbs and spices: Mix in dried herbs and spices such as cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder to give your ground beef a bolder flavor. Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking.

How to make cheap beef tender? ›

The Secret to Making Cheap Meat Tender and Tasty
  1. Cut It Across the Grain.
  2. Cook It to the Right Temp.
  3. Cook It Slowly.
  4. Try Pounding.
  5. Marinate.
Jul 10, 2023

What should I season my ground beef with? ›

Salt and Pepper: These are essential seasonings for enhancing the overall flavor of the beef. Garlic: Garlic powder or minced garlic adds a rich and savory flavor to ground beef dishes. Onion: Onion powder, diced onions, or onion flakes can provide a sweet and aromatic quality to the meat.

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