15 Ground Beef Dinners That Are Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
Ground beef is one of our hero ingredients for quick, easy weeknight dinners. Here are 15 delicious recipes, all ready in 30 minutes or less.


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

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

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

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

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."
One-Pot Taco Pasta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
Burger Salad

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

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

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