Ground Beef Recipes

Spin ground beef into bold global-inspired meals and tempting twists on comforting family favorites.

First up, Thai Beef and Basil Noodles with Shiitake Gravy. If you have trouble finding shiitake mushrooms, use whatever 'shrooms you have on hand. Sliced creminis would work equally well for this saucy noodle bowl.

Try a new take on tortilla soup by adding chipotle-spiked meatballs to the mix. If you can't find fresh corn on the cob, substitute 2 cups frozen corn kernels, and broil them with peppers. Use a few extra chipotle chiles to spice up a pot of beans, rice, stews, or canola mayonnaise.

Inspired by the classic cocktail, these bold-flavored burgers make a fantastic brunch entrée. For an extra umami kick, whisk 1 to 2 teaspoons vodka into the sauce.

Our take on this guaranteed family favorite saves more than 200 calories, 16 grams of fat, and nearly 670 milligrams of sodium over the leading fast-food cheeseburger pizza.

This is the iconic, traditional meat loaf like your mom used to make (or that you wished your mom would make). Mix the ingredients gently, just until combined, and don't compact the meat when shaping the loaf for best results. For extra pizzazz, garnish with parsley.

This creamy baked pasta comes together quickly. Melted, gooey part-skim mozzarella cheese makes it even more decadent—without leaving you feeling guilty. Use any short pasta—ziti or rotini also work.

Cooked quinoa acts as a binder for these kebabs, packing them with extra protein and some whole-grain goodness.

This recipe is a healthy version of Fritos Chili Pie. Often served from concession stands at fairs, festivals, and sporting events, this crowd-pleaser usually involves splitting the bag of chips open, ladling chili into the bag, and then topping with cheese, onions, and other garnishes.

In Thailand, the spicy ground beef mixture is called larb. Serve with lime wedges.

This hearty meat sauce with cheesy polenta is a nice change from spaghetti.

Add some pizzazz to traditional soft tacos by including corn kernels and black beans in the filling. The mixture also works well in crunchy corn taco shells.

Leftover mashed potatoes are mixed with white cheddar cheese to form the top crust for this British pub-food staple. Ground beef is traditionally used, but lean ground turkey will work, as well. Brown the crust under the broiler for a minute or two, if you like.

Sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg balance the pungent feta and Parmesan cheeses to give a bold, intriguing flavor to a familiar meat-and-pasta dish.

Your family won’t believe this comforting sandwich is light. For the kids, use beef broth instead of beer, and try mild wheat bread.

Cremini offer deeper, richer flavor, but you can also use regular button mushrooms.

This reader recipe was developed by Mollie Lee of San Jose, California. Lee said, "I am originally from Nebraska; one of my favorite places to eat is a small chain of sandwich restaurants called Runza. They are famous for their pillowlike beef and cabbage sandwiches. Since my husband is Korean, I created these pairing the traditional filling ingredients and flavors from his culture. These make a great snack."

This pie's crunchy topping gives way to a savory, flavorful filling full of veggies, meat, and delicious spices.

This hearty sauce will soon become a weeknight staple. Bonus: It is a budget-friendly choice. Each portion costs only $1.53.

Brimming with chopped zucchini, carrot, and mushrooms, this meat-lover's potpie packs in a hearty serving of vegetables. Cook the filling in a skillet on the stove top, then spoon it into a baking dish. Finish the casserole in the oven to brown the breadstick-dough topping.

Spiced beef and rice fill these tender, flavorful peppers. Bringing the sauce to a boil before adding it to the dish cuts down on the overall cook time of this 45-minute recipe.

Feel good about serving this comforting dish to your family at less than 200 calories per serving. If you're cooking for kids, you can omit the wine and use all broth instead.

Silky and sweet, the red currant pan sauce would be delicious served over pork chops or grilled poultry. Use leftover jam for anything from spreading over biscuits to creating a flavor base for barbecue sauce.

When shopping, you'll find lots of choices but inconsistent labeling. Some packages tout the cut of beef (like ground chuck). Others list percentages or ratios that may be confusing, like 90/10. Beef with 10% fat by weight gets 51% of its calories from fat because fat is more caloric than meat. Know these terms:

GROUND HAMBURGER Ground from the trimmings of any cut of beef. Fat can be added, but the total fat content allowable is capped at a whopping 30% by weight (81% calories from fat, raw).

GROUND BEEF Like hamburger but no added fat.

GROUND CHUCK Beef ground from the chuck (shoulder section) that contains about 15% to 20% fat (63% to 71% calories from fat, raw).

GROUND ROUND From the round (rump to hind leg), about 10% to 15% fat (51% to 63% calories from fat, raw).

GROUND SIRLOIN We like beef ground from the lean sirloin, which contains about 8% to 10% fat (up to 51% calories from fat, raw). In a recent blind tasting of several types of ground sirloin (grain-fed, organic, grass-fed, and Angus), the beefy-tasting grass-fed was the unanimous winner.

Watch: How to Cook Beef and Mushroom Sloppy Joes