Ground Beef Recipes: 52 Cheap Meals With Cost per Serving

The short answer: These 52 ground beef recipes cost $1.37 to $2.72 a serving ($1.75 on average) using November 2026 ALDI prices, with about 19 g of protein per serving. Each one lists cost, protein and cook time so you can pick dinner in a minute.

Cheapest nights: 46 recipes land at $2.00 or less a serving; the lowest are the cabbage, egg-roll bowl and stretch-soup dinners.

Fastest: 27 recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less, including smash burgers, tacos and lettuce wraps.

A full week: our 7-day budget beef plan below feeds four people dinner for about $48 to $55 using 5 to 6 pounds of beef, beans and pantry staples.

Free and paid next step: get the free recipe book (we email it to you), or plan the week with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).

Prices were checked November 5, 2026, using ALDI's online store prices (80/20 ground beef at $5.29/lb) and the September 2026 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average of $6.79/lb for 100% ground beef. Your store and region may differ.

Looking for a longer list of night-by-night ideas without the cost math? See our ground beef dinner ideas hub. This page is the priced recipe version: ingredients, method, cost and protein for every meal.

Stretch a pound of beef into hamburger soup when you want a one-pot bowl.

Jump to a recipe type

Type	Recipes	Cost range	Best pick
Easy ground beef recipes in 30 minutes or less	22	$1.37 to $2.52	Beef tortilla pizza
Ground beef pasta recipes	7	$1.45 to $1.73	Cheeseburger casserole
Tacos, bowls and wraps with ground beef	9	$1.38 to $2.14	Taco soup
Skillet and one-pot ground beef recipes	5	$1.59 to $1.86	Picadillo with potatoes
Ground beef casseroles and bakes	5	$1.39 to $2.72	Beef and potato bake
Soups, chili and slow cooker ground beef recipes	4	$1.44 to $1.84	Slow cooker sloppy joe filling

How we priced these ground beef recipes

Every recipe here starts from one pound of 80/20 ground beef unless the method says otherwise. No specialty cuts, no restaurant tricks and no ingredients you will use once.

Cost per serving is the gram weight of each ingredient times its shelf price, divided by servings, plus 10 cents a serving for spices, garlic, salt and oil already in the pantry. Beef is ALDI 80/20 at $5.29/lb (ALDI online price checked November 5, 2026). Staples such as rice, pasta, beans, tortillas and cheddar use the same day's ALDI prices. The national average that month, for comparison, was $6.79/lb on the BLS series above.
Protein comes from USDA FoodData Central values for raw 80% lean ground beef (about 17.2 g per 100 g, FDC 174036). We count the beef and the main add-ins (beans, cheese, eggs). The real number is a little higher once you add a side salad or milk.
Time is hands-on plus cooking time, starting from raw beef and pantry staples. Slow cooker recipes list the active minutes; the machine does the rest.

Tip: Compare the shelf tag per pound, not the package price. A 2.25 lb ALDI pack at $5.29/lb often beats a 1 lb tray at a higher unit price.

Want the wider grocery math for a family? Our grocery budget for a family of 4 and how to grocery shop on a budget guides show where beef fits in a weekly cap.

52 cheap ground beef recipes

Recipes are numbered so you can write them into your weekly planner. Cost and protein are per serving.

Easy ground beef recipes in 30 minutes or less

These are the weeknight saves. Most use one pan and pantry staples. Cost and protein are per serving.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
1	Classic beef tacos	$1.90	22 g	20 min	Brown beef with chili powder and cumin, spoon into warm tortillas, top with cheese and salsa.
2	Korean-style beef bowls	$1.63	19 g	25 min	Brown beef with soy sauce, garlic and a spoon of brown sugar, serve over rice with green onion.
3	Beef and broccoli skillet	$1.90	21 g	25 min	Brown beef, stir-fry frozen broccoli in the same pan with a soy-garlic sauce, serve over rice.
4	Sloppy joes	$1.98	21 g	25 min	Brown beef with onion, simmer in tomato sauce and paste, pile onto toasted bread or buns.
5	Cheeseburger quesadillas	$1.51	19 g	20 min	Brown beef, layer with cheddar on tortillas, fold and crisp in a skillet, dip in ketchup and mustard.
6	Beef fried rice	$1.52	20 g	25 min	Brown beef, push aside, scramble eggs, add day-old rice, frozen veg and soy sauce.
7	Smash burgers	$1.70	22 g	15 min	Press thin patties in a hot skillet, flip once, melt cheddar, serve on toasted bread with onion.
8	Taco salad bowls	$2.31	24 g	20 min	Season and brown beef, pile over chopped lettuce with beans, cheese, salsa and crushed tortilla chips.
9	Beef nachos	$1.71	20 g	20 min	Spread tortilla chips on a sheet pan, top with beef, beans and cheddar, bake until melted, add salsa.
10	Ground beef and cabbage skillet	$1.66	20 g	25 min	Brown beef with onion, add shredded cabbage and a splash of stock, cover until tender.
11	Beef lettuce wraps	$1.92	20 g	20 min	Brown beef with soy, garlic and grated carrot, spoon into crisp lettuce cups.
12	Pizza burger skillets	$1.88	23 g	25 min	Brown beef, stir in marinara, top with mozzarella and cover until melted.
13	Homemade hamburger helper	$1.72	20 g	30 min	Brown beef with onion, add stock and pasta, simmer, stir in cheddar until creamy.
14	Taco pasta	$1.97	20 g	30 min	Brown beef with taco spices, add stock, salsa and pasta, simmer, finish with cheddar and beans.
15	Crunchy taco night	$2.11	22 g	25 min	Fill hard or soft tortillas with seasoned beef and a toppings bar so everyone builds their own.
16	Beef tortilla pizza	$1.37	14 g	20 min	Spread marinara on tortillas, top with cooked beef and mozzarella, bake until crisp.
17	Cheesy beef quesadillas	$1.65	20 g	20 min	Layer beef and cheddar between tortillas, crisp both sides, cut into wedges.
18	Breakfast-for-dinner beef hash	$1.74	23 g	30 min	Crisp diced potatoes, add beef, onion and pepper, make wells and crack in eggs to finish.
19	One-pot taco soup base	$1.64	17 g	30 min	Brown beef, add beans, corn, tomatoes and taco spices, simmer 15 minutes.
20	Beef and zucchini skillet	$2.52	22 g	30 min	Brown beef, add zucchini and tomatoes, simmer until soft, finish with mozzarella.
21	Beef egg-roll-in-a-bowl	$1.72	20 g	20 min	Brown beef, add coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage and carrot with soy sauce, cook until wilted.
22	Mini meatloaves	$1.57	21 g	35 min	Mix and press into a muffin tin, bake about 25 minutes to 160 F for faster weeknight meatloaf.

Ground beef pasta recipes

Pasta stretches a pound of beef. A pound of beef and a pound of pasta can feed five to six people. For sauce charts and shapes, see our pasta recipes guide.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
23	Spaghetti with meat sauce	$1.54	14 g	35 min	Brown beef with onion, simmer in marinara 15 minutes, toss with cooked spaghetti.
24	American goulash	$1.61	15 g	35 min	Brown beef, add tomatoes, broth and elbows, simmer until pasta is tender, finish with cheddar.
25	Baked ziti with beef	$1.73	17 g	45 min	Brown beef, mix with cooked ziti and marinara, top with mozzarella, bake at 375 F until bubbly.
26	Lasagna skillet	$1.67	16 g	40 min	Brown beef, break lasagna noodles into the sauce, simmer covered, top with mozzarella.
27	Beef stroganoff	$1.60	17 g	35 min	Brown beef with onion, simmer in stock, stir in sour cream off heat, serve over egg noodles.
28	Beef and spinach stuffed shells	$1.58	15 g	50 min	Mix browned beef with a little cheese, stuff into cooked shells, cover with marinara and bake.
29	Cheeseburger casserole	$1.45	17 g	45 min	Brown beef, mix with cooked pasta and cheddar, bake until bubbly, serve with pickles on the side.

Tacos, bowls and wraps with ground beef

Build-your-own nights help with picky eaters. Keep a toppings bar of lettuce, salsa, cheese and beans. A bowl of fresh homemade salsa makes the toppings bar taste brighter than a jar. Our taco seasoning mixes up in two minutes.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
30	Burrito bowls	$2.12	24 g	30 min	Season beef, serve over rice with warm beans, corn, salsa and a sprinkle of cheddar.
31	Beef enchiladas	$1.92	20 g	45 min	Fill tortillas with beef and onion, roll in a baking dish, cover with sauce and cheddar, bake.
32	Beef and bean burritos	$1.61	17 g	30 min	Mix beef with beans and rice, roll in tortillas, toast in a skillet, serve with salsa.
33	Taco-stuffed sweet potatoes	$1.73	19 g	45 min	Bake sweet potatoes, split and fill with taco beef, beans, cheese and salsa.
34	Greek-style beef pitas	$1.93	20 g	25 min	Season beef with oregano and garlic, tuck into warm flatbreads with lettuce, onion and yogurt sauce.
35	Beef fajita bowls	$2.14	20 g	30 min	Brown beef with sliced peppers and onions, serve over rice with salsa.
36	Taco casserole	$1.66	18 g	40 min	Layer crushed tortillas, beef, beans, salsa and cheddar, bake until hot and melted.
37	Taco soup	$1.38	15 g	35 min	Brown beef, add beans, corn, tomatoes and taco seasoning, simmer, top with cheese if you like.
38	Slow cooker beef burrito filling	$1.62	20 g	20 min	Brown beef, add to slow cooker with beans, salsa and onion, cook on low, spoon into tortillas over rice.

Skillet and one-pot ground beef recipes

Brown the beef, add the rest and let the pan do the work. Fewer dishes, same filling dinner.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
39	Beef and rice skillet	$1.65	17 g	35 min	Brown beef with onion, add rice, stock and frozen veg, cover until rice is tender.
40	Unstuffed pepper skillet	$1.86	18 g	35 min	Brown beef with diced peppers, add rice and tomatoes, simmer, top with cheddar.
41	Cheeseburger rice	$1.67	20 g	35 min	Brown beef, cook rice in the same pan with stock, stir in cheddar and a splash of mustard.
42	Picadillo with potatoes	$1.59	17 g	35 min	Brown beef with onion and diced potato, simmer in tomatoes until the potatoes are soft, serve with rice if you have it.
43	Shepherd's skillet (cottage pie pan)	$1.64	17 g	40 min	Brown beef with onion and veg, top with mashed potato in the skillet, broil until golden.

Ground beef casseroles and bakes

Casseroles reheat well and freeze well. Make two and stash one for next week. Full methods live in our meatloaf recipe and stuffed peppers when you want more detail.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
44	Shepherd's pie	$1.50	14 g	55 min	Brown beef with onion and veg, spread in a dish, top with mashed potato, bake at 400 F until browned.
45	Tater-style potato casserole	$1.51	16 g	50 min	Layer browned beef, mixed veg and sliced or shredded potato, top with cheddar, bake until tender.
46	Stuffed bell peppers	$2.72	21 g	55 min	Mix beef with cooked rice and tomatoes, stuff peppers, bake covered then uncovered with cheese.
47	Beef and potato bake	$1.39	16 g	55 min	Layer thin-sliced potatoes with browned beef and onion, add a little stock, top with cheddar, bake.
48	Meatloaf	$1.57	21 g	60 min	Mix beef with oats, egg and onion, shape into a loaf, glaze with tomato paste, bake to 160 F.

Soups, chili and slow cooker ground beef recipes

Soups and chili feed a crowd for very little money. Leftovers are often better the next day. Start with our chili recipe or taco soup when you want the full method.

#	Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time	How to make it
49	Beef and bean chili	$1.74	18 g	45 min	Brown beef with onion and chili powder, add beans and tomatoes, simmer at least 25 minutes.
50	Hamburger soup	$1.84	14 g	40 min	Brown beef, add stock, potatoes, carrots, veg and tomatoes, simmer until vegetables are soft.
51	Cabbage roll soup	$1.77	14 g	40 min	Brown beef with onion, add shredded cabbage, rice, tomatoes and stock, simmer until rice is done.
52	Slow cooker sloppy joe filling	$1.44	16 g	20 min	Brown beef, dump into a slow cooker with sauce ingredients, cook on low 4 to 6 hours, serve on bread.

Cheapest ground beef recipes under $1.70

When the grocery week is tight, start here. These lean on cabbage, beans, pasta and rice.

Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time
Beef tortilla pizza	$1.37	14 g	20 min
Taco soup	$1.38	15 g	35 min
Beef and potato bake	$1.39	16 g	55 min
Slow cooker sloppy joe filling	$1.44	16 g	20 min
Cheeseburger casserole	$1.45	17 g	45 min
Shepherd's pie	$1.50	14 g	55 min
Cheeseburger quesadillas	$1.51	19 g	20 min
Tater-style potato casserole	$1.51	16 g	50 min
Beef fried rice	$1.52	20 g	25 min
Spaghetti with meat sauce	$1.54	14 g	35 min

Healthy ground beef recipes

"Healthy" here means a vegetable-heavy plate and a sensible portion of beef. Use 90/10 or 93/7 when you can find it on sale, drain extra fat from 80/20, and keep cheese to a sprinkle. For more lighter dinners across proteins, see our healthy dinner ideas.

Recipe	Cost/serving	Protein	Time
Beef and broccoli skillet	$1.90	21 g	25 min
Taco salad bowls	$2.31	24 g	20 min
Ground beef and cabbage skillet	$1.66	20 g	25 min
Beef lettuce wraps	$1.92	20 g	20 min
Taco-stuffed sweet potatoes	$1.73	19 g	45 min
Greek-style beef pitas	$1.93	20 g	25 min
Beef fajita bowls	$2.14	20 g	30 min
Beef and zucchini skillet	$2.52	22 g	30 min
Beef egg-roll-in-a-bowl	$1.72	20 g	20 min
Stuffed bell peppers	$2.72	21 g	55 min
Cabbage roll soup	$1.77	14 g	40 min

How to stretch a pound of ground beef

One pound of ground beef is about four adult servings on its own. Add cheap bulk and you can feed five or six without anyone leaving hungry. That is the single biggest lever on cost per serving.

Dinner style	Servings from 1 lb	What to add	Approx. beef cost/serving at $5.29/lb
Burgers or meatloaf	4	Bun or oats binder only	$1.32
Tacos or burrito bowls	4 to 5	Beans, rice, lettuce, salsa	$1.06 to $1.32
Spaghetti meat sauce	5 to 6	Pasta, canned tomatoes	$0.88 to $1.06
Chili with beans	6 to 8	Two cans of beans, tomatoes	$0.66 to $0.88
Hamburger or cabbage soup	6 to 8	Potatoes, cabbage, stock	$0.66 to $0.88
Beef and rice skillet	5 to 6	Rice, frozen vegetables	$0.88 to $1.06

Stretch moves that work every time:

Beans or lentils: Stir one 15 oz can of drained beans into taco meat, chili or pasta sauce. You add fiber and about 15 g of protein to the pot.
Grains: Serve beef over rice, baked potatoes or pasta instead of making the meat the whole plate.
Vegetables: Shredded cabbage, frozen mixed vegetables, zucchini and mushrooms bulk a skillet for pennies.
Double the sauce, not the beef: A second can of tomatoes in chili or meat sauce adds volume without another pound of meat.

Money-saving tip: Brown two pounds at once. Season half for tacos and half for pasta sauce, then freeze flat. Future you gets a 10-minute dinner.

Freezer tips for ground beef recipes

Raw ground beef keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge at 40 F or below, and keeps its best quality about 3 to 4 months in the freezer, per the FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. Cooked leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat leftovers to 165 F.

What to freeze	How	Best quality window
Raw ground beef	Freeze in 1 lb flat bags the day you shop	About 4 months
Browned plain beef	Cool, freeze flat, label date	2 to 3 months
Taco meat or meat sauce	Freeze in meal-size bags	2 to 3 months
Chili and taco soup	Leave headspace in containers	2 to 3 months
Meatballs and meatloaf	Freeze cooked; thaw in fridge	2 to 3 months
Stuffed peppers / shepherd's pie	Wrap tightly after cooling	2 to 3 months

Skip freezing: taco salad with lettuce, smash burgers you want crispy, and anything with raw tomato salsa already mixed in (freeze the meat, add salsa fresh).

More make-ahead ideas live in our freezer meals and meal prep on a budget guides.

Safe cooking temperature for ground beef

Ground beef must reach 160 F inside, checked with a food thermometer. That is the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum internal temperature for ground meat. Color alone is not a reliable doneness test.

Item	Target	Tip
Crumbled beef for tacos or sauce	160 F	Check a thicker clump before you add sauce
Burgers	160 F	Insert the thermometer sideways into the patty
Meatballs and meatloaf	160 F	Check the center of the largest piece
Casseroles with beef	165 F	Casseroles follow the leftover and casserole rule
Reheated leftovers	165 F	Stir soups and chili so they heat evenly

Wash your hands, boards and pans after they touch raw beef. Keep raw packages on the bottom shelf of the fridge so they cannot drip on ready-to-eat food.

7-day budget ground beef meal plan

This plan feeds four people dinner for seven nights on 5 pounds of ground beef (with one double batch) plus beans, pasta, rice and vegetables. Day costs use the per-serving numbers above times four.

Day	Dinner	Beef used	Cost for 4	Protein each
Mon	Classic beef tacos (brown 2 lb; freeze half for Thu)	2 lb	$7.60	22 g
Tue	Spaghetti with meat sauce	1 lb	$6.16	14 g
Wed	Beef and broccoli skillet	1 lb	$7.60	21 g
Thu	Burrito bowls from Monday's extra taco meat	0 lb	$8.48	24 g
Fri	Homemade hamburger helper	1 lb	$6.88	20 g
Sat	Beef and bean chili	1 lb	$6.96	18 g
Sun	Chili leftovers with baked potatoes, or shepherd's pie	0 to 1 lb	$6.00	14 g

Dinner total for four across seven nights (counting a full shepherd's pie on Sunday): about $49.68, or roughly $7.10 a night. Use chili leftovers on Sunday instead and you drop about $6.00 plus a pound of beef.

Shopping shortlist for the week: 5 to 6 lb ground beef, 2 boxes pasta, 2 lb rice, 4 cans beans, 4 cans tomatoes or marinara, 2 bags frozen vegetables, 1 bag shredded cheddar, 2 packs tortillas, onions, broccoli or cabbage, potatoes.

Put the plan on paper with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99), and keep your grocery cap honest with our meal planning on a budget guide. For a sense of the full cart, see average grocery cost per month.

Which ground beef blend to buy

Blend	Best for	Notes
80/20	Burgers, meatballs, meatloaf	Juicy; drain if the pan pools fat
85/15	Tacos, skillets, casseroles	Good middle ground for most recipes on this page
90/10 or 93/7	Sauces, healthy bowls, lettuce wraps	Leaner; add a spoon of oil so it does not taste dry

At November 2026 ALDI prices, 80/20 was $5.29/lb and 85/15 was $5.99/lb. Leaner beef costs more per pound, so the "healthy" upgrade only pays off when you also add vegetables and keep portions steady.

Ground beef vs ground turkey

Ground turkey swaps cup-for-cup in almost every recipe here. The two rules that change: cook turkey to 165 F, and season it a little more because it is milder. Price can favor turkey when beef spikes. Full turkey-specific dinners are on our ground turkey recipes page.

Plan your ground beef week

A look inside the HomeBase Meal Planner & Grocery List, with sample pages shown

A list of 52 recipes only helps if you decide which ones to cook. The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) has a weekly meal planner, a monthly menu, a meal prep checklist, an aisle-sorted grocery list, and pantry and freezer inventories. Write in the recipe numbers from this page and your grocery list is half done. It is one of our Printables.

Keep the beef dinners your family asks for again in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99). It has section dividers, four recipe page layouts, 4x6 and 3x5 recipe cards and a conversion chart.

Need both, plus a kids chore chart, newborn tracker and pet records? The Family Life Admin Bundle is $15.99 (~~$23.95~~ bought separately) in our Bundles.

For more easy weeknights across proteins, browse easy dinner ideas and how to meal plan for a family. Fold seasoned beef into a dinner burrito when you want a handheld plate.

Bake night idea: taco casserole. Pasta classic: spaghetti and meatballs.

Potato-topped beef bake: cottage pie.

Make it easier

Tools for this

HomeBase Meal Planner & Grocery List cover, a printable PDF you download instantly

Starter pick

Printables

Meal Planner & Grocery List

Weekly meals, a grocery list sorted by aisle, and pantry and freezer inventories so you shop once and waste less.

$3.99Buy

Printables

Family Recipe Binder

Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.

$6.99Buy

Save 33%

Bundles

Family Life Admin Bundle

Baby logs, chore charts, pet records, meal plans and family recipes in one tidy set.

$15.99 ~~$23.95~~Buy

Frequently asked questions

What are the best ground beef recipes? The best ground beef recipes for most families are tacos, spaghetti with meat sauce, chili, burrito bowls, sloppy joes, shepherd's pie, stuffed peppers and a beef and rice skillet. They use one pound of beef, pantry staples and finish in about 30 to 45 minutes. Each one on this page lists cost, protein and time so you can pick by budget.

What can I make with ground beef for dinner? For dinner tonight, brown a pound of ground beef and turn it into tacos, Korean-style beef bowls, homemade hamburger helper, taco salad or a cabbage skillet. Most of those take 30 minutes or less. If you want a longer list of night-by-night ideas without the cost math, see our ground beef dinner ideas page.

How do I make cheap ground beef recipes? Buy 80/20 ground beef on sale, stretch each pound with beans, rice, pasta, potatoes or cabbage, and cook sauces and chili in bigger batches. At ALDI's November 2026 price of $5.29 a pound, a four-serving taco night lands around $1.90 a serving with tortillas and toppings. Our stretch-a-pound section below shows the exact swaps.

What temperature should ground beef be cooked to? Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum internal temperature chart. Use a food thermometer in the thickest part of meatloaf or meatballs, and insert it sideways into thin burger patties.

How much protein is in ground beef? Raw 80 percent lean ground beef has about 17 grams of protein per 100 grams, per USDA FoodData Central. One pound yields about 78 grams of protein in total, or about 19 grams per serving when you divide it four ways. Leaner blends have a little more protein per gram.

How do I stretch one pound of ground beef? Add a can of drained beans or a cup of cooked lentils to tacos, chili or meat sauce, serve the beef over rice or potatoes, and stir in frozen vegetables or shredded cabbage. Dishes like spaghetti with meat sauce, chili and hamburger soup can feed six people from one pound. The stretch chart below lists servings per pound for common dinners.

What are healthy ground beef recipes? Healthy ground beef recipes pair a leaner blend (90/10 or 93/7) with lots of vegetables: lettuce wraps, cabbage skillet, zucchini skillet, stuffed peppers, taco salad and fajita bowls. Keep cheese and creamy sauces light, and fill half the plate with vegetables or a salad.

How long does raw ground beef last in the fridge? Raw ground beef keeps 1 to 2 days in a refrigerator set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, according to the FoodSafety.gov cold food storage chart. If you will not cook it by then, freeze it in its package or a freezer bag the day you bring it home.

Can you freeze cooked ground beef? Yes, you can freeze cooked ground beef. Cool cooked ground beef quickly, pack it flat in labeled freezer bags with the air pressed out, and use it within 2 to 6 months for best quality based on the FoodSafety.gov chart for cooked meat leftovers. Chili, meat sauce, taco meat and meatballs freeze especially well.

Which ground beef blend should I buy? Use 80/20 for burgers and meatballs that need to stay juicy. Use 85/15 or 90/10 for tacos, sauces, casseroles and bowls, where extra fat would pool in the pan. Compare the price per pound on the shelf tag, since leaner blends usually cost more.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef? Yes, you can use ground turkey instead of ground beef. Ground turkey swaps one-for-one in tacos, chili, pasta sauce and casseroles. Cook ground turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the 160 degrees used for ground beef, and add a little extra seasoning. Our ground turkey recipes page has 44 turkey-specific dinners.

What ground beef recipes are good for meal prep? Chili, meat sauce, taco meat, burrito bowls, shepherd's pie and stuffed peppers all reheat well. Brown several pounds of beef on Sunday, season in different directions, and build lunches and dinners through Thursday. Our meal prep on a budget guide has more batch-cooking plans.

What planner helps me plan ground beef dinners? The Meal Planner and Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. is a printable with a weekly meal planner, a monthly menu, a meal prep checklist, an aisle-sorted grocery list and pantry and freezer inventories, so the beef you buy already has a job.

Where can I keep my family's favorite ground beef recipes? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. is a printable with section dividers, four recipe page layouts, 4x6 and 3x5 recipe cards and a conversion chart. Write down the seasoning amounts that worked so anyone in the house can cook them.

Save the family favorites: get the free recipe book pages

Printable recipe pages and a recipe request card to send to relatives, so the dishes everyone loves end up in one book. You'll also get our weekly HomeBase email with easy meal planning ideas and family recipe tips.

Sources

FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperature chart foodsafety.gov
FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage chart foodsafety.gov
USDA FoodData Central fdc.nal.usda.gov
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Average price data, ground beef, 100% beef, per lb data.bls.gov

52 easy and cheap ground beef recipes with cost per serving

Jump to a recipe type

How we priced these ground beef recipes

52 cheap ground beef recipes