16 Ground Beef Recipes That Will Rock Your Weeknight Routine

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Busy nights call for recipes you can count on, and ground beef is the everyday superstar that never disappoints. This roundup of 16 recipes turns humble ground beef into dinners packed with flavor and comfort. Whether you’re craving the gooey goodness of Hamburger Helper, the irresistible seasoning of Swedish Meatballs, or the one-pot magic of Goulash, there’s something here to satisfy every craving. Grab your apron—it’s time to make meal prep easier (and tastier) than ever!

Ground Beef Lo Mein

This delicious lo mein recipe is packed with juicy, budget-friendly ground beef, crisp-tender veggies, and a mouthwatering sweet and savory sauce that’ll have you coming back for seconds! The best part? No wok needed to bring this takeout classic to your table.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Lo Mein

Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

This Instant Pot sloppy joes recipe takes the hassle out of cooking and delivers a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal in no time! With minimal effort and maximum flavor, these sloppy joes are a guaranteed hit the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Sloppy Joes

Ultimate Cottage Pie

A spoon serving cottage pie stopped with cheesy potatoes. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe is a game-changer. The thick, rich gravy is absolutely delicious, and the topping will blow you away!

Get The Recipe: Ultimate Cottage Pie

Crockpot Goulash

american goulash in crockpot — Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crockpot Goulash is the ultimate comfort food—rich, beefy, and loaded with cheesy goodness! This slow cooker recipe is effortless to make and packed with flavor, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Treat your family to this warm, hearty dish tonight—they’ll be asking for seconds (and thirds)!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Goulash

Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

A sliced meatloaf on a serving dish. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Traditional Homemade Meatloaf recipe is moist, tender, and flavorful. Once you try it, you’ll cherish this recipe forever!

Get The Recipe: Traditional Homemade Meatloaf

Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew

a bowl of stew in front of a slow cooker. — Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Warm up with our Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew, a hearty and flavorful mix of sausage, beef, potatoes, carrots, and more! Packed with delicious ingredients, it’s the ultimate comfort food for chilly days.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Witches Brew Stew

Oven Baked Meatballs

A pot of meatballs covered in rich tomato sauce, garnished with chopped herbs. A wooden spoon is stirring the dish, which is steaming hot and ready to serve. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

These flavorful meatballs are your weeknight hero! Packed with herbs and Parmesan cheese, they’re perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch, dinner, or even an appetizer. Enjoy them on their own, or toss them in your favorite tomato sauce for a complete and delicious meal.

Get The Recipe: Oven Baked Meatballs

EASIEST Hamburger Helper

Overhead Image of easy Hamburger Helper in a Pot – one-pot comfort food — Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Get ready to wow your taste buds with this quick, extra cheesy homemade Hamburger Helper! It’s the ultimate comfort food you can whip up in just 30 minutes using only one pot—easy, delicious, and guaranteed to impress!
Get the Recipe: EASIEST Hamburger Helper

Italian Meatloaf

Close-up of a sliced meatloaf made with ground beef, topped with melted cheese and tomato sauce, garnished with herbs in a white dish. Perfect for hearty recipes! — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Italian Meatloaf is like a cozy dinner party wrapped in a loaf! It mixes the heartwarming vibes of meatballs with a beefy embrace, Parmesan’s charm, and a splash of marinara sauce, before inviting melty mozzarella to crash the party. It’s so savory and cheesy, you might just find yourself in a food coma worthy of a snooze!

Get The Recipe: Italian Meatloaf

Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

A close-up of spaghetti with a rich, savory meat sauce, featuring ground beef, tomatoes, and herbs. The pasta is evenly coated with the sauce, creating a hearty and appetizing classic dish. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Whip up this speedy Spaghetti Bolognese that’s so full of Italian flavor, it should wear a beret! Ready in just 30 minutes—perfect for when you’re hungry and don’t want to wait!

Get The Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Slow Cooker Ground Beef

Cooked ground beef in a crockpot. — Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

This Slow Cooker Ground Beef is a total gamechanger! It’s the ultimate low-effort way to prepare flavorful, versatile beef that’s ready to elevate any recipe you’re cooking up.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ground Beef

One Pot Hamburger Stroganoff

A skillet filled with beef stroganoff features wide egg noodles, ground beef, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce—a true comfort food recipe. Chopped parsley is sprinkled on top, with a wooden spoon resting in the dish, inviting you to dive into its soothing flavors. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This super easy one-skillet ground beef stroganoff is creamy, tasty, and just right for those busy weeknights. Whip it up in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients!

Get The Recipe: One Pot Hamburger Stroganoff

Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash

Scoop of hamburger hash on a wooden spoon coming from a slow cooker. — Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

Crockpot hamburger hash is the ultimate comfort food! Picture tender potatoes, savory beef, and sweet corn all simmered in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce, then finished off with a gooey layer of melted cheese. Yum!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Hamburger Hash

Pasta e Fagioli Soup {Olive Garden Copycat Recipe}

Pasta e Fagioli Soup in a large white pot. — Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Pasta e Fagioli – hands down one of my all-time favorite soups and a fan favorite for a reason! It’s the ultimate comfort food—hearty, flavorful, and downright irresistible. You’ll want to make this again and again!
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli Soup {Olive Garden Copycat Recipe}

Swedish Meatballs (CRAZY JUICY!)

Top view of Swedish Meatballs in skillet with easy creamy gravy — Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

Juicy Swedish Meatballs so tender they’ll leave you speechless! Smothered in a rich, creamy gravy that beats the Ikea version, this recipe includes tips, tricks, freezing hacks, and even a crockpot option to create the ultimate comfort food!
Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs (CRAZY JUICY!)

Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Quick, delicious, and packed with flavor—this classic spaghetti with meat sauce might just become your family’s new go-to dinner! Made effortlessly in your Instant Pot, it’s perfect for busy nights, and cleanup is a breeze. Get ready to wow everyone with this comforting, no-fuss dish!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

Traditional Cottage Pie

Close-up of a shepherd's pie featuring a golden-brown mashed potato topping. Below, there's a mixture of cooked ground meat, peas, carrots, and other vegetables, all in a brown gravy, served on a white plate. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

A comfort food classic, this cottage pie is pure coziness. Savory ground beef, carrots, onions, and peas simmer in rich gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes baked to golden perfection. Hearty, delicious, and soul-warming, it’s the ultimate craving-satisfier.

Get The Recipe: Traditional Cottage Pie