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We all have that rogue pound of ground beef sitting in the freezer with absolutely no plan attached to it.
And while tacos and spaghetti are always reliable, there are only so many times you can default to the same two dinners before you start craving something a little different.
So I pulled together some of my favorite ground beef recipes that turn that pound of ground beef into something a little more exciting!
Okay, I’ll admit… there are technically a few taco and meatball recipes on this list. But some aren’t what you’d traditionally think! We’ve got Asian-Inspired Spaghetti and Meatballs made with glass noodles and tossed in a spicy, savory sauce, and a taco skillet made in one pan.
There are also plenty of cozy, comforting, nostalgic dinners like beef stroganoff, chili, sloppy joes, shepherd’s pie, hamburger helper and more.
As for recipes that require as little effort as possible, that’s where ground beef really shines. Stir-fries, skillet meals, and one-pot beefy noodle dishes come together quickly and without tons of cleanup.
Craving Asian takeout…? Make this instead! Use that lone pack of ground beef you have in the freezer with whatever veggies you have in the fridge, make a quick spicy saucy and this will be ready even quicker than takeout.
You can still enjoy Italian food if you're gluten and dairy-free with these easy weeknight meatballs that get simmered in a classic homemade marinara sauce.
If a recipe comes from your grandma, you know it's gonna be good! This is my husband's grandmother's meatball recipe that I hope becomes a recipe you pass down, too!