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If you’ve got ground beef in your fridge or freezer and are unsure how to use it, try any of these 25 healthy ground beef recipes. These easy ground beef ideas are delicious and wholesome, using simple ingredients.
Family-friendly and easy ground beef recipes.
We probably cook ground beef more in my house than any other protein. That’s because not only is it affordable and easy to find, but it’s relatively foolproof and versatile. It absorbs whatever flavors it’s cooked with and takes well to various cooking methods.
Lean ground beef is low-calorie, high-protein, and packed with heart-healthy vitamins. Below, you’ll find my top healthy ground beef recipes that everyone will adore. Whether you are looking for new ways to use ground beef or want to change up your weeknight dinner routine, I hope you find something you’ll love.
One-pot recipes with ground beef
One-pot ground beef recipes are a savior, especially for busy families or when you want to prep meals in advance. The leftovers taste even better the next day.
This chili was a childhood staple for me, as I did not like beans or legumes. These days, it’s still one of my favorite meals to prep. It’s great over an air fryer baked potato or loaded with sour cream and shredded cheese.
If you’ve tried my healthy stuffed peppers, you’ll love this stuffed pepper soup. It’s hearty and filling and requires very little prep.
Aka Mexican meatball soup. The broth is well seasoned, and the meatballs are flavorful, juicy, and tender.
This soup was a savior during my low-carb days. It combines your favorite taco flavors and transforms them into a steaming bowl of intensely flavorful soup. A little cream cheese goes a long way to make this soup creamy and rich.
Ready in just 10 minutes, it’s perfect over rice, noodles, or anything that can soak up the incredible sauce. It’s also my signature protein in my Korean beef bowls.
Freezer-friendly dinners
As a kid, my mom would always have frozen meals on hand for busy weeknights, and nine times out of ten, they contained ground beef. Each of these dinners freeze really well, so make a double batch and keep one away for emergencies.
I sometimes struggle to get many veggies in my family meals, and this eggplant lasagna ticks all the boxes. Instead of lasagna noodles, we layer eggplant between a meat sauce, spinach, and plenty of cheese. Bonus? It’s super freezer-friendly. If you don’t like eggplant, try my zucchini lasagna instead.
Another freezer-friendly meal! Swap out the ricotta cheese for cottage cheese and have the creamiest, protein-packed lasagna. It may seem like a significant change, but trust me, no one you share it with will be any the wiser.
High protein pasta baked in meat sauce and covered in a creamy cottage cheese and Greek yogurt sauce. It’s decadent, deceptively healthy, and packs over 35 grams of protein per serving.
Yes, you can make stuffed peppers in the air fryer. It takes a fraction of the time, and they hold up well. I prefer air fried stuffed peppers, as the bell peppers are much more tender and crisp.
If you grew up eating meatloaf, you will love this recipe. It has all the same classic flavors but is made with wholesome, good-for-you ingredients you can share with your family. Want this quicker? Try air fryer meatloaf.
Under 30-minute recipes
We can always count on ground beef to make quick and easy meals. Each of these recipes take less than thirty minutes to make a healthy and flavor-packed dinner.
When I’m in a rush, I always turn to air fryer recipes, and my air fryer meatballs are such a winner. The meatballs are tender, juicy, and versatile. I typically serve them with gravy over cauliflower mashed potatoes or simmer them in Pomodoro sauce or sugo and serve over pasta. The options are endless.
Living a healthier lifestyle doesn’t mean you must give up giant, juicy hamburgers. My simple patty mix keeps them juicy without excess oil or frying. If you want to try them another way, try air fryer hamburgers.
Also known as the best sandwich ever. It is a NYC classic that features seasoned ground beef, cheese, and salad in a hoagie roll. It looks impressive, but it takes just ten minutes.
Also known as rolled tacos, these are an excellent alternative to Tacos on Tuesday. The tortillas are crispy, and the filling is cheesy and meaty.
Juicy ground beef patties with the most incredible mushroom sauce. I make this most weeks or when I have guests over. It’s always a classic.
This is probably my #1 most-made ground beef recipe because it’s so darn easy and versatile. It’s a tried-and-true classic that is perfect over baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or in taco bowls.
Frequently asked questions
Lean ground beef in low in saturated fat, high in protein, and one of the most affordable animal proteins out there. I like to use ground beef in many of my healthy recipes, and it provides tons of other benefits like iron and zinc (source).
While most grocery stores include a best-by date, I suggest keeping uncooked ground beef in the fridge for three days. The same goes for any of the above recipes once cooked.
Yes, you can. I often do this when ground beef is on special, or when I want to have some as a backup for last-minute meals. Frozen ground beef will keep fresh for at least 3 months. I recommend thawing it overnight in the fridge before using it.
More favorite healthy recipes
- Healthy chicken breast recipes
- Healthy chicken thigh recipes
- Healthy dinner ideas
- Healthy lunch ideas
Healthy Ground Beef Recipes: Classic Sicilian Meatballs
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, egg, salt, pepper, and milk.
- Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and place over medium heat. Once hot, add the meatballs and brown on all sides. Reduce the heat to low and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160F.
- Toss them through your favorite marinara sauce.
Notes
- Check the fat-to-lean ratio. All the recipes in this post work best with 90/10 (90% lean, 10% fat) or 93/7 (93% lean, 7% fat).
- Choose the freshest beef. The raw ground beef should be bright red in color (almost cherry red). Avoid anything faint or brown.
- Packaging tips. Avoid meat NOT chilled and/or has excess liquid in the packaging.
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