Did you catch a great sale on ground beef and need to use it up? You do not have to settle for ordinary burgers or spaghetti with meat sauce if you need to make something with ground beef. This versatile meat is the backbone of many creative recipes that will add some oomph to your dinner lineup.
Here are 10 recipes that you can use with ground beef as the base.
Read More »Hamburger Stroganoff: For a budget version of classic beef stroganoff, try making the traditional recipe substituting ground beef for sirloin. This hamburger stroganoff recipe is a quick and easy meal that you can whip up on a busy weeknight. The creamy stroganoff is the perfect comfort dish. Because it is relatively heavy, you will want to pair this entree with a light green salad or perhaps some steamed vegetables.
Stuffed Cabbage Shells: Famous chef Ina Garten knocks it out of the park with this stuffed cabbage shells recipe. The beef is the centerpiece of the filling, also featuring breadcrumbs, rice, and a variety of complementary spices. After stuffing the filling into the cabbage leaves, the dish is covered in a tomato-based sauce and baked until all of the flavors come together. This is a great dish for a cold winter night when you crave something warm and hearty.
Beef Taco Salad: Lighten up your usual taco night with this beef taco salad recipe. The ground beef mixes with romaine, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, crushed Doritos, and more. A dressing made with sour cream and salsa add a kick to the salad. You will not even miss your usual taco night when you mix things up with this colorful salad. This meal is a good choice for when you do not want to heat up your kitchen using the oven, making it a popular choice for many during the summer.
Italian Beef and Cheese Calzone: Your local pizzeria has nothing on these homemade Italian beef and cheese calzones. Using refrigerated pizza dough makes it easy to pull together these calzones. While the recipe calls for peppers, you can change up the filling with the vegetables of your choice. Good choices include mushrooms, onions, or spinach. Serve the calzones with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. This dish will please even the pickiest eaters.
Patty Melts: What could be better than a ooey gooey classic patty melt sandwich? This patty melt recipe is a delicious marriage of grilled cheese and a hamburger along with caramelized onions. This particular recipe calls for Swiss cheese and regular sandwich bread, however, feel free to switch this up to meet your personal preferences. This sandwich goes great with a bowl of your favorite soup or a plate of oven-baked fries.
Thai Basil Beef: Bring the taste of Thailand home with this Thai basil beef recipe. You may recognize this dish as Pad Gra Prow from your local Thai restaurant. The key to this dish is the sauce made with fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, Asian garlic chili paste, and brown sugar. Be sure to use Thai basil rather than regular basil in this recipe. If you do not want to serve this beef over jasmine rice, you can also use it as a filling for lettuce wraps for a lighter dish. The Asian flavors of this dish truly pop.
Stuffed Peppers: A classic stuffed peppers recipe is a tried and true way to use up ground beef in an interesting way. With rice, beef, veggies, and dairy, these peppers are the complete meal. The peppers provide a fun vessel for the cheesy beef and rice while delivering a host of vitamins and nutrients. This recipe is highly customizable, making it easy to suit your preferences. Garlic bread and a nice salad will round out this meal for your family.
Shepherd’s Pie:A shepherd’s pie is a classic casserole dish oozing with meat, creamy mashed potatoes, and vegetables. Some people also like to top this casserole with a handful of cheddar cheese during the last few minutes of baking. Or try adding a layer of cream cheese between the meat mixture and the potatoes to boost the creaminess and decadence of this casserole. If you often find yourself short on time when it comes to meal preparation, you may want to consider doubling this recipe and making an extra casserole to freeze for later use. This dish freezes and heats up beautifully.
Gnocchi Nicoise: You will wow at the dinner table with this new take on gnocchi and meat sauce. The nicoise olives are the star of this dish, bringing a briny take to a standard Italian entree. While you can certainly make your own homemade gnocchi, store-bought versions work just as well. The bay leaf and orange peel add another layer of flavor to this satisfying dish. Although it may seem like there is a lot going on in this dish, all of the flavors meld together to create a meal that will soon be a family favorite.
You do not have to settle for boring ground beef dishes when you have these 10 recipes in your regular rotation. As with most ground beef recipes, you can also substitute ground turkey in any of these meals if you are looking to cut calories and fat.
