5 Weeknight Ground Beef Recipes for Busy Families

Ground beef is the most practical cut you can buy. It cooks fast, works in dozens of dishes, and everyone in the family will eat it. When you're standing in the kitchen at 5:30 PM wondering what's for dinner, ground beef is the answer.

Here are five recipes that actually take 30 minutes or less. No complicated ingredients. No lengthy prep work. Just straightforward dinners that get food on the table.

1. Simple Beef Tacos

Time: 20 minutes

The foundation of weeknight cooking. Season the meat, warm the shells, add toppings. Done.

What you need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or make your own: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, salt and pepper)
• ½ cup water
• Taco shells or tortillas
• Toppings: shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa

How to make it: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles. Takes about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Add taco seasoning and water. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes until the liquid reduces. Serve in shells with whatever toppings you have.

Grass-fed note: Don't overcook the meat. Pull it off heat when there's just a hint of pink left. It will finish cooking in the residual heat and stay tender.

2. One-Skillet Beef and Rice

Time: 25 minutes

Everything cooks in one pan. The rice absorbs the beef flavor. Minimal cleanup.

What you need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup instant rice
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

How to make it: Brown the beef in a large skillet with a lid. Drain fat. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in rice, tomatoes (with juice), and beef broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender. Remove from heat, sprinkle cheese on top, cover for 2 minutes to melt. Serve.

Variation: Add frozen vegetables when you add the rice. Corn, peas, or green beans all work.

3. Quick Beef Stroganoff

Time: 25 minutes

Comfort food without the wait. Serve over egg noodles or rice.

What you need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced (optional but recommended)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Egg noodles

How to make it: Start boiling water for noodles. Brown beef and onion in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and garlic, cook 3 minutes. Sprinkle flour over meat, stir to coat. Add broth and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked noodles.

Tip: Add the sour cream after removing from heat. High heat can make it separate.

4. Beef Quesadillas

Time: 20 minutes

Kids love these. Adults do too. Easy to customize with whatever you have.

What you need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 8 flour tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, whatever)
• Butter for cooking
• Optional: diced onions, peppers, black beans

How to make it: Brown the beef, add taco seasoning and ¼ cup water. Simmer until liquid reduces. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Butter one side of a tortilla, place butter-side down in pan. Sprinkle cheese on half the tortilla, add beef, more cheese. Fold tortilla in half. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden and cheese melts. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Make ahead: Cook and season the beef earlier in the day. Assembly takes 10 minutes when dinner time hits.

5. Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Time: 25 minutes

Fast, flexible, and gets vegetables into the meal without complaints.

What you need:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 cups mixed vegetables (fresh or frozen: broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, carrots)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil (optional)
• Cooked rice

How to make it: Start rice cooking. Brown ground beef in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Remove beef, set aside. In same pan, add vegetables and 2 tbsp water. Cover and cook 5 minutes until tender-crisp. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds. Return beef to pan. Mix soy sauce and brown sugar, pour over beef and vegetables. Stir for 2 minutes. Drizzle with sesame oil if using. Serve over rice.

Vegetable flexibility: Use whatever vegetables you have. This works with frozen stir-fry mixes straight from the bag.

Ground Beef Basics

Buy ground beef in bulk when possible. Freeze in 1-pound portions in freezer bags. Label with the date. Thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours before cooking.

If you're in a rush, defrost in a sealed bag submerged in cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Takes about an hour for a pound.

These recipes work with any ground beef, but grass-fed cooks faster and stays leaner. Watch the heat, use a meat thermometer if you're unsure, and don't press down on the meat while it's cooking. Let it develop a good brown crust before breaking it apart.

Questions about our ground beef or want to place an order? Call Colby at 334-208-7244 or email beef@culbertsoncattleco.com. We'll let you know what's available and help you stock your freezer.