When it goes on sale, stocking up on ground beef is a fantastic idea. It freezes well, it's versatile, and when you're feeding many people, you can stretch your proteins far. With a decently sized stock of this staple ingredient in your freezer, dinnertime is quick and easy. The real trick is figuring out what to make with ground beef beyond your typical homemade burger recipes. 

If you came here looking for creative ideas of what else you can cook up with ground beef, you're in the right place. We've rounded up four popular ground beef dishes to help you with your dinner ideas.

Top four best and fun ground beef recipes

Potatoes and beef

If you're looking for a recipe with ground beef and potatoes, look no further.

Servings: fourPrep time: 15 minutesCook time: 35 minutes

FomaA - stock.adobe.com

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons canola oil

• 1 pound potatoes, diced into 1/4-inch cubes

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 2 teaspoons paprika 

• 1 teaspoon oregano

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce

• 2 green onions, sliced

Directions

1. Prep the ingredients.

2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and add the potatoes.

3. Cook them for about six minutes, until they turn golden brown and start to soften.

4. Add the beef, bell pepper, and yellow onion. Break the meat apart as you cook.

5. Add the seasonings and sauces.

6. Entirely cook the beef and once vegetables are tender, about six to eight minutes, stir in the green onions. 

7. Before plating, taste and add extra salt or hot sauce as desired.

Nutrition value 

• Per serving

• Calories: 387

• Carbohydrates: 28 grams

• Protein: 26 grams

• Fat: 19 grams

• Saturated fat: 5 grams

• Cholesterol: 74 milligrams

• Fiber: 5 grams

• Sugar: 5 grams

Original recipe: Well Plated

Swedish meatballs

Brent Hofacker - stock.adobe.com

If you're looking for a ground beef recipe without pasta, you can easily make meatballs the star of the show.

Servings: sixPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

2 tablespoons olive oil

Meatballs:

• 2 pounds ground beef

• 1 cup onion, finely chopped

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce:

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1/4 cup flour

• 3 cups beef stock

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions 

1. Preheat the oven to 350℉.

2. In a large bowl, combine the ingredients for the meatballs, creating one-inch balls from the mixture.

3. In a large skillet over high heat, heat the oil and sauté the balls until lightly browned. It could take a couple of minutes per side.

4. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

5. As they bake, melt the butter in the skillet and whisk in the flour, cooking the mixture until it's a slight golden color.

6. Gradually whisk in the beef stock and cook for six to eight minutes until it starts to thicken.

7. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until combined.

8. Place the meatballs in the skillet and coat them with the sauce.

9. These make a wonderful dish alone or served atop egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Nutrition values

Per serving

• Calories: 659

• Total fat: 44 grams 

• Saturated fat: 18 grams 

• Trans fat: 2 grams

• Unsaturated fat: 20 grams

• Cholesterol: 197 milligrams

• Sodium: 1,297 milligrams

• Carbohydrates: 17 grams

• Fiber: 1 gram

• Sugar: 4 grams

• Protein: 47 grams

Original recipe: Dinners, dishes and desserts

Quick and easy spaghetti bolognese

Oran Tantapakul - stock.adobe.com

A classic ground beef meal, this spaghetti bolognese is sure to be a crowd-pleaser without the fuss.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• 1 pound ground beef 

• 1 tablespoon dried oregano

• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1/2 pound of spaghetti

• Grated parmesan for serving, optional

Directions

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.

2. Sauté the onions until slightly golden, about two to three minutes, and add the garlic, cooking for one minute.

3. Stir in the ground beef and fry until fully cooked for about eight minutes.

4. Mix in the tomato paste and oregano, add the rest of the ingredients, and bring to a boil.

5. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook for at least 15 minutes. Cooking longer will result in a deeper flavor.

6. As the sauce is simmering, cook your pasta.

7. Drain and serve the pasta with bolognese sauce on top.

Nutritional values

• Calories: 487

• Carbohydrates: 46 grams

• Protein: 30 grams

• Fat: 19 grams

• Saturated fat: 5 grams

• Cholesterol: 73 milligrams

• Sodium: 80 milligrams

• Potassium: 539 milligrams

• Fiber: 2 milligrams

• Sugar: 2 milligrams

Easy shepherd's pie

uckyo - stock.adobe.com

If you're looking for a semi-healthy ground beef recipe, this classic comfort food contains 346 calories per serving without gravy or other toppings.

Serves: eightPrep time: 20 minutesCook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds potatoes, peeled, washed, and cut into chunks

• 8 tablespoons of butter, divided

• 3/4 cup whole milk or heavy cream

• 1 onion, diced

• 1.5-2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey

• 3 cups frozen mixed, chopped vegetables like peas, carrots, corn, and green beans

• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Prep the ingredients.

2. Preheat the oven to 425℉.

3. In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water and bring them to a boil.

4. Cook for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender but still firm.

5. As the potatoes are cooking, melt two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the onion. Soften them for about two minutes.

6. Add the beef to the skillet and sauté until cooked. It could take five to seven minutes, possibly longer. Make sure it's thoroughly cooked, but avoid overdoing it.

7. Once the potatoes are ready, drain the water and mix them with four tablespoons of butter and milk. Mash them up and season with salt and pepper.

8. Set out a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and fill the bottom with the beef mixture. Next, layer the vegetables over top and spoon on the mashed potatoes. 

9. Before adding it to the oven, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and sprinkle it evenly over the top.

10. Bake for 30 minutes. For extra crispy potatoes, bake for 25 minutes and then broil for the final five minutes.

Nutritional values per serving

• Calories: 346

• Fat: 17 grams

• Saturated fat: 10 grams

• Cholesterol: 85 milligrams

• Sodium: 210 milligrams

• Potassium: 958 milligrams

• Carbohydrates: 26 grams

• Fiber: 6 grams

• Sugar: 2 grams

• Protein: 24 grams

Original recipe: Bowl of delicious

Beef up your dinner time

In addition to the recipes listed here, many recipes are available around the internet and in cookbooks to help you figure out what meals to eat with ground beef. Truth be told, ground beef recipes fill entire cookbooks that will help you go far beyond the burger. Thanks to its versatility and budget-friendliness, keeping some frozen ground beef in your freezer will no doubt come in handy, especially when hunger strikes and you haven’t had time to go grocery shopping.

For more mealtime inspiration, check out this list of meal prep ideas and these 32 grill ideas. If you find you’re missing an ingredient, you can order them in seconds, and they’re at your door in a matter of minutes with Gopuff.