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    Home » Main Dishes » Beef

    The Easiest Dinners: 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes

    Published: Sep 19, 2023 · Modified: Sep 19, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

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    Looking for an easy dinner recipe with great flavor? You’ve come to the right place! A building block to dozens of easy recipes that will please the entire family, a pound of ground beef or turkey is the perfect thing for an easy weeknight meal. I’ve rounded up over a dozen simple 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes for endless inspiration the whole family will love.

    These easy ground beef recipes, like Slow Cooker Meatloaf or truly homemade Sloppy Joes, are sure to top your list of family favorite dinners. With simple ingredients and a short list of key ingredients, you’ll want to make a double batch of everything so that you have delicious dinner main dishes all season long.

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    Table of Contents
    • Why Cook with Ground Beef
    • 5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes

    Strolling the meat aisle first thing in the morning, I am eagle-eyed to find juicy ground beef on sale or markdown. I’ve found that shopping the clearance section of the meat department is a great way for me to save money on groceries as well as stock up on what I need for these simple ground beef recipes, some of the easiest dinners I know.

    Who doesn’t love taco night? Or an easy lasagna recipe?

    When life gets busy, I want easy meals that I can prep quickly with just a handful of ingredients. Having a stash of lean ground beef in the freezer is a start. And this list of the best ground beef recipes from fellow cooks who know the best way to get dinner on the table is the only other thing you — or I — need!

    Why Cook with Ground Beef

    prepping ground beef on counter top.

    Ground Beef (or even ground turkey, chicken, or pork) is one of those easy ingredients to keep on hand. It’s super versatile to include in easy casseroles, burgers, crockpot meals, and skillet meals. You can make a basic ground beef mixture to freeze and then add to all kinds of simple recipes, like enchilada casserole or homemade hamburger helper.

    5-Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes

    With the exception of salt, pepper, and water, the following are all five ingredient recipes that feature ground beef as the main protein. They range from easy casserole recipes to simple pressure cooker meals.

    Whether you add seasoned meatballs to a jar of spaghetti sauce for a simple ground beef skillet or saute green peppers and another green vegetable to tuck into a ground beef stroganoff, you’re sure to find inspiration from these ground beef dinner ideas.

    And of course, while ground beef is the main protein, you can easily swap it out for another grind, either animal or vegetable protein, as well as beans in many cases!

    In the process of curating the list, I’m getting hungry and so ready to dig into these delicious ground beef recipes. Good thing I found ground beef on sale for less than $4/pound!

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    Homemade Taco Meat
    Homemade Taco Meat cooks up quickly, freezes beautifully, and tastes amazing. Make your favorite tacos with ground beef, chicken, turkey, or plant based grind and season it with our homemade taco seasoning.
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    Seasoned Ground Beef Recipe
    Cook up a few pounds of this versatile meat mix to use in any recipes calling for seasoned ground beef.
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    Slow Cooker Meatloaf
    Meatloaf has been a classic American dinner for decades. Make it the easy way next time with this simple Slow Cooker Meatloaf Recipe!
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    Mini Meatloaves
    Talk about quick and cheap eats! Mini meatloaves full of flavor pair with made-from-scratch mac and cheese for filling comfort food that won’t disappoint.
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    Beef Chimichanga Recipe
    Chimichangas are crispy burritos that are easy to make at home! While frying is traditional, you can also crisp them on the griddle or bake them in the oven. These are loaded with beef and beans.
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    Sloppy Joes from Scratch
    Sloppy Joes are a quick and easy dinner that won’t break the budget. In fact, you can very easily — and economically — make this savory meat mixture completely from scratch. No cans, mixes, or ketchup required.
    Learn More
    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe With Ground Beef - Southern Plate
    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe With Ground Beef – Southern Plate
    With just 5 ingredients, this easy mushroom and beef tater tot casserole recipe is creamy, rich, and full of flavor in every bite.
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    Mediterranean Ground Beef Kabob Recipe – Fit Mama Real Food
    Mediterranean Ground Beef Kabob Recipe – Fit Mama Real Food
    This Mediterranean ground beef kabob recipe couldn’t be more straightforward. Pair these delicious kabobs with fresh Mediterranean flavors!
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    Ground Beef and Potato Taco Recipe
    This potato taco recipe is a family favorite! Ground beef and potato tacos are a delicious and affordable family meal, perfect for any night of the week!
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    Beefy Velveeta Cheese Soup
    Beefy Velveeta Cheese Soup
    Beefy Velveeta cheese soup is a fantastic comfort food combining flavors of Rotel dip and a cheeseburger! With keto cheeseburger soup option!
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    4 Ingredient - Baked Tortellini Casserole
    4 Ingredient – Baked Tortellini Casserole
    Baked Tortellini Casserole is done in under 30 minutes and you only need 4 ingredients to make it. Your family will love this hearty meal!
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    Easy Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls - Fantabulosity
    Easy Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls – Fantabulosity
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    Meatzza - thecleanhappylife
    Meatzza – thecleanhappylife
    Meatzza is a protein filled pizza that is gluten and grain free! A perfect way to have pizza night while eating healthy!
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    Instant Pot Ground Beef & Potato Hash
    Instant Pot Ground Beef & Potato Hash
    Instant Pot ground beef and potato hash is a hearty, tasty meal perfect for busy weeknights. This classic comfort food satisfies even the pickiest eaters and only needs a few ingredients and 15 minutes to make!
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    Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef - iFoodReal.com
    Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef – iFoodReal.com
    How to cook Instant Pot Frozen Ground Beef in 25 minutes or less, it’s a complete dinner time saver. Use this method for any ground meat!
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    Easy 4-ingredient Slow Cooker Ravioli
    Easy 4-ingredient Slow Cooker Ravioli
    This easy 4-ingredient crockpot ravioli has all the flavors of lasagna but only 10 minutes of prep time! This dump-and-go recipe is perfect for busy nights.
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    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice
    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice
    Instant Pot Ground Beef and Rice is an easy 5-ingredient meal that can be on the table in under 30-minutes! This one-pot recipe uses pantry staples! #onepotmeal #instantpot #groundbeefdinner
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    Taco Zucchini Boats
    Taco Zucchini Boats
    Turn your ordinary zucchini into tasty taco stuffed zucchini boats filled with seasoned meat and rice, and covered in your favorite toppings.
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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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