15 Ground Beef Dinners That Are Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

Ground beef is our hero, and these recipes prove why.

By
Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen headshot
Emma Christensen
Emma Christensen is the General Manager for Simply Recipes, the author of three books on home brewing and a graduate from The Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. 
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Updated April 24, 2025
Emma Christensen headshot
close-up: homemade hamburger helper in a skillet

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Like many home cooks, I'm guessing you probably have a pound of ground beef in the freezer right now. It's likely there because it was on sale, or you just like to have some on hand for burgers or spaghetti and meatballs.

Do you ever look at that ground beef and wish you had something different to do with it? Your wish has been granted. Here are 15 recipes that use a pound (or two) of ground beef. Best of all, each recipe is ready in just about 30 minutes!

  • Salisbury Ground Beef

    salisbury ground beef with a side of green beans on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    This riff on a classic is Salisbury steak taken up a notch—and it's easier to make than the original.

  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Using ground beef is easier on your budget than beef and broccoli made with steak but still provides all the flavor you love.

  • Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

    Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz says, "Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Everyone wants to have their own thing, and, with hummus and ground beef as a jumping-off point, this dish lets them do just that."

  • One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

    plate of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas with rice and greek yogurt

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight."

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • One-Pot Taco Pasta

    Two Bowls of One-Pot Taco Pasta Topped With Sour Cream, Sliced Scallions and a Lime Wedge, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With Lime Wedges, a Bowl With Sliced Green Onions, a Bowl With Sour Cream, Glasses With a Drink, and a Mustard Colored Table Napkin With a Pair of Silverware

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Make this large pot of slightly spicy, cheesy taco pasta and you'll feast on the leftovers at least one more night.

  • Easy Beef Krapow

    Beef Krapow in two bowls

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    Contributor Frank Tiu says, "This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available."

  • Baked Ground Beef Tacos

    Baked tacos on a platte surrounded by bowls of toppings (bowl of shredded iceberg lettuce, bowl of diced onions, bowl of tomatoes, bowl of salsa, and a bowl of sour cream)

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RD

    Contributor Sara Haas says, "If you have the time and a good collection of spices, feel free to make your own taco seasoning mix. Since you’ll want the mixture to be a little saucy, stir in 1 teaspoon cornstarch to the 2/3 cup water before adding to the ground beef mixture in the skillet."

  • Easy Taco Casserole

    easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, "It's important for this recipe to use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips."

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Hamburger Stroganoff

    A plate of noodles topped with creamy hamburger stroganoff
    Elise Bauer

    Swapping ground beef for steak makes this classic weeknight friendly and affordable!

  • Homemade Hamburger Helper

    close-up: homemade hamburger helper in a skillet

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Never buy the box mix again! This homemade version of the classic Hamburger Helper can be made with ingredients you likely have in your pantry already.

  • Creamed Tacos

    creamed tacos in bowl with chips, lettuce and tomatoes

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    This filling, super easy meal is sort of like serving personal bowls of chili con queso for dinner. You wouldn't do it every night, but once in a while, it's a real treat.

  • Garlicky Gingery Ground Beef

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    This easy skillet recipe is salty, sweet, and meaty, and with just five ingredients it proves that you don't need to be fussy to have a lot of flavor. 

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Burger Salad

    Bowl of Burger Salad Topped With a Hefty Drizzle of Dressing, Sitting on a Table Napkin

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    Burger salads are a no-fail favorite at recipe writer Coco Morante's house. This recipe pleases the grown-ups and the kid contingent alike!

  • Unstuffed Peppers

    spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Skip the hassle of stuffing individual peppers and make this crowd-friendly "unstuffed" version.

  • Hamburger and Macaroni

    Hamburger and Macaroni

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    You might call this hamburger hotdish, mulligan, or Johnny Marzetti. Whatever it's called, it's comforting and so simple!

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