10+ Hamburger Meat Recipes for Easy and Delicious Meals
Hamburger meat is one of the most versatile ingredients you can keep in your kitchen. Whether you want something quick and simple or a dish that feels more special, hamburger meat can be the base for many tasty meals.
You can easily make a variety of satisfying dishes using just one pound of hamburger meat. This makes it a great option for busy weeknights or anytime you want something filling without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger meat
- Salt
- Pepper
Cooking Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium heat (about 350°F or 175°C).
- Add hamburger meat and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Drain any excess fat before using in your recipe.
1) Classic Hamburger and Macaroni
This recipe is a simple, comforting meal you can make any night. Ground beef cooks with onions, tomato sauce, and macaroni for an easy dinner.
It’s sometimes called American chop suey or goulash. You can use basic kitchen ingredients you likely have on hand.
It comes together quickly and fills your kitchen with a tasty smell. To get started, cook the beef and onions first.
Then add tomato sauce and macaroni. Simmer everything until the pasta is tender and the flavors mix well.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 cups water or beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat.
- Drain any fat from the pan.
- Add tomato sauce, water or broth, and uncooked macaroni.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until macaroni is tender.
- Season with salt and pepper before serving.
For more details, see the recipe for Hamburger and Macaroni.
2) Easy Hamburger Soup
You can make a warm and filling hamburger soup quickly. It uses ground beef and fresh vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions.
The broth is simple and tomato-based, which gives the soup a nice, comforting flavor. You can also make it ahead and freeze leftovers for later.
It usually takes about 30 minutes to cook. A mix of vegetables and ground beef makes it a complete meal.
Adding garlic and celery gives the soup more depth in taste without much effort.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 4 cups beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onions and garlic, cook until soft.
- Stir in potatoes, carrots, and celery.
- Pour in the beef broth and tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper before serving.
3) Stovetop Taco Soup
Taco soup is an easy and tasty way to use hamburger meat. You start by browning the ground beef in a large pot until it’s fully cooked.
Then, add chopped onions and garlic for extra flavor. Next, mix in diced tomatoes, beans, corn, and taco seasoning.
You can use beef broth to give the soup a rich taste. Let everything simmer together for about 20 minutes so the flavors blend well.
This soup is perfect for a quick dinner. You can swap ground beef for chicken or turkey if you want a lighter option.
Serve it with tortilla chips, cheese, or sour cream.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans diced tomatoes (15 oz each)
- 1 can kidney beans (15 oz), drained
- 1 can corn (15 oz), drained
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups beef broth
Cooking Instructions:
- Brown ground beef in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic; cook 3 minutes until soft.
- Stir in tomatoes, beans, corn, taco seasoning, and beef broth.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
More details available at stovetop taco soup recipe.
4) Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers
Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers are a simple and comforting meal you can make with hamburger meat. You stuff whole bell peppers with a mix of ground beef, rice, onions, tomatoes, and a few spices.
There’s no need to cook the filling ahead; just stuff the peppers and bake. The stuffed peppers are like a meatloaf inside a colorful vegetable cup.
Baking them brings out a great mix of flavors and keeps the peppers tender but not soggy. This recipe works well for any bell pepper color you like.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 to 6 bell peppers (any color)
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove seeds.
- In a bowl, mix ground beef, cooked rice, chopped onion, tomatoes, and spices.
- Stuff each bell pepper with the beef mixture.
- Place peppers upright in a baking dish.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until peppers are soft and meat is cooked through.
You can find more on this dish at Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers.
5) Easy Shepherd’s Pie
You can make shepherd’s pie quickly using ground hamburger meat. Start by cooking the beef with onions and garlic until browned.
Add some frozen mixed vegetables for color and nutrition. Next, mix in a bit of flour and tomato paste to thicken the filling.
Spread the meat and veggie mix into a baking dish. Top it with mashed potatoes for a cozy finish.
Bake the dish until the potatoes turn golden and the filling bubbles.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 cups mashed potatoes
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brown ground beef with onions and garlic in a pan.
- Stir in flour and tomato paste, cook 2 minutes.
- Add mixed vegetables, cook until heated.
- Spread meat mix in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes.
- Bake 20-25 minutes until potatoes are golden.
6) Chili Mac and Cheese
Chili Mac and Cheese is a tasty way to use hamburger meat. You cook ground beef with onions and garlic, then add pasta and chili seasoning.
This dish mixes the spicy flavor of chili with the creamy texture of mac and cheese. You can make it all in one pot, which saves time and cleanup.
It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. The cheese melts right into the sauce, making every bite comforting and flavorful.
You can adjust the spice level with chili powder or add beans if you like.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3 cups beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic in a skillet.
- Add chili powder and stir for 1 minute.
- Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil.
- Add macaroni and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in shredded cheese until melted.
- Season with salt and pepper, then serve warm.
7) BBQ Beef and Beans
BBQ Beef and Beans is a tasty and simple dish you can make for dinner. It combines ground beef with baked beans and a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce.
You can add onions and bacon for extra flavor. Serve it with rice or cheese for a filling meal the whole family will enjoy.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights or easy get-togethers. This recipe uses common ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 2 cups baked beans
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped onions
- 2 slices bacon, chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Cook bacon in a pan until crispy, then remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, cook onions until soft.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in baked beans, BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Mix in bacon if using.
- Simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm with rice or cheese.
8) Korean Beef Bowls
Korean beef bowls are a quick and tasty way to enjoy hamburger meat. You cook ground beef with simple sauces like soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and ginger.
This mix gives the beef a sweet and savory flavor. You can serve the beef over rice and top it with green onions or sesame seeds.
It’s a great weeknight meal that takes about 15 minutes to make. The recipe is easy to customize.
Add some veggies like carrots or spinach to make it healthier and more colorful.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Green onions and sesame seeds for topping
- Cooked rice
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook ground beef until browned.
- Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
- Pour sauce over beef and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Serve beef over rice.
- Top with green onions and sesame seeds.
9) Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps
These Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps are perfect if you want something fresh and spicy. Cook ground beef with garlic, fish sauce, and Sriracha sauce for a bold kick.
Spoon the flavorful beef into crisp lettuce leaves. Add chopped green onions or cilantro for extra taste.
The lettuce keeps the dish light and makes it a low-carb option. You can prepare this recipe quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tsp cooking oil
- 1-2 tbsp Sriracha sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
- 2 small heads of iceberg lettuce, separated into leaves
Cooking Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through.
- Stir in fish sauce and Sriracha sauce. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and mix in green onions and cilantro if using.
- Spoon the beef mixture into lettuce leaves. Serve immediately.
For variations, you can check this recipe.
10) Ground Beef and Gravy
Ground beef and gravy is an easy, comforting meal you can make in about 20 minutes. It uses simple pantry staples.
Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles. The gravy is smooth and flavorful.
The beef is cooked until tender. This dish is filling and quick to prepare.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil or butter
Cooking Instructions
-
Heat oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat.
-
Add chopped onion. Cook until the onion softens.
-
Add ground beef. Break it apart and brown it until fully cooked.
-
Sprinkle flour over the beef. Stir well to combine.
-
Slowly pour in beef broth and milk. Stir constantly to avoid lumps.
-
Simmer the gravy until it thickens. This takes about 5-7 minutes.
-
Season with salt and pepper. Serve over your favorite side.
For more details on this dish, you can check a quick ground beef and gravy recipe.