Home » Simplify Homemaking » Recipes » 30 Cheap and Easy Family-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes
ByLauren Tingley - M.Ed./CFLE
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Need to stretch your food budget? Don’t we all? Today I am sharing a collection of cheap ground beef recipes that will feed your family and stretch your dollar.
Easy Ground Beef Recipes [Kid-Approved]
When you’re trying to feed an entire family, while sticking to a budget, and making sure everyone has enough to eat, ground beef can be your best friend.
It’s absolutely amazing when you think of all the dinner ideas that can come from just 1 pound of ground beef.
Plus it cooks quickly and can be used in a million different ways for an easy weeknight meal.
That’s what makes ground beef a weekly dinner staple in our house.
From hamburger helper to sloppy joe’s this list is full of simple ground beef recipes that picky eaters will love, and help you get a delicious dinner on the table fast.
Money Saving Tip:
You can stretch ground beef further and feed more hungry mouths by adding cooked oatmeal, quinoa, or lentils. Your kids will never know!
Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Recipes for Families
Feeding your family delicious food that they enjoy shouldn't have to break your budget.
Ground beef is an ingredient that is affordable and appeals to kids and grown ups alike.
These comforting recipes will help you feed your family and save some money! #win-win
1
Homemade Hamburger Helper: Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
Photo Credit:houseofnasheats.com
One of our go-to dinner recipes when we are in the throes of busy school schedules and extracurricular activities and I haven’t planned ahead is this easy Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet made with browned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, and cavatappi or macaroni noodles. It’s may not be fancy, but it’s always easy, satisfying, and a hit with my family!
2
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes
Photo Credit:easybudgetrecipes.com
Homemade Sloppy Joes is a classic dinner recipe that is easy to make and economical too! It takes less than 30 minutes to make and costs just $9.34 for a serving of 6!
3
Easy One-Skillet Lasagna
Photo Credit:www.ihearteating.com
This quick and easy one-skillet lasagna makes for a fast and delicious homecooked meal. Skip the hours in the oven and enjoy lasagna in have the time while only using one skillet.
4
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole with Ground Beef
This Zucchini Casserole with Ground Beef is a hearty, delicious, and nutritious one-dish meal that blends the flavors of tender zucchini, ground beef, and creamy, melted cheese, making it a perfect family-friendly dinner for any night of the week.
5
Ground Beef Stroganoff
Photo Credit:thetoastykitchen.com
Ground Beef Stroganoff is a hearty and comforting 30-minute skillet meal. Egg noodles, mushrooms, and ground beef are coated in a creamy sauce and made in a single pan.
6
Cheesy Taco Penne Ziti
Photo Credit:www.thisolemom.com
This Cheesy Taco Penne Ziti ground beef pasta recipe is simple, delicious, and quick. It’s the perfect pasta recipe to make for busy weeknights.
7
Yummy Tater Tot Casserole
Photo Credit:www.suburbansimplicity.com
The perfect budget-friendly comfort food – Tater Tot Casserole! This delicious recipe satisfies the entire family and is on the table in just over 30 minutes! An easy weeknight dinner.
8
Delicious Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap
Photo Credit:livingsweetmoments.com
Skip the drive-thru, and make your favorite fast food meal at home. This Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap recipe is simple to prepare, healthier, and ready in less than 30 minutes.
9
Homemade Beefaroni
Photo Credit:www.plattertalk.com
Homemade beefaroni is inexpensive, easy, and surprisingly very delicious! Just three ingredients can make a meal for 6 to 8 hearty appetites!
10
Busy Day Soup Recipe {So Easy}
Photo Credit:www.simplystacie.net
Busy Day Soup is ideal for those evenings when you just don't have the time to prepare anything elaborate. It's quick and easy to prepare. Who doesn't like simple meals? A flavorful broth, kid-friendly pasta, and plenty of ground beef in each bite.
11
The Best Salisbury Steak Recipe
Photo Credit:www.ourhomemadeeasy.com
Salisbury steak is a wonderful family dinner classic! This easy dish isn't time-consuming, just cook and wait for everyone to finish.
12
Tater Tot Enchilada Casserole
Photo Credit:myorganizedchaos.net
The Tater Tot Enchilada Casserole, which features ground beef and tasty crispy tater tots for a unique spin on Mexican Enchiladas, is a wonderful dish for the whole family. It's an easy taco bake that everyone loves.
13
Easy Homemade Spaghetti O's
Photo Credit:www.thebittersideofsweet.com
Easy Homemade Spaghetti O’s are a family favorite! Made with tomato sauce, spices and ground beef. Fun large ring pasta noodles completes this meal!
14
Easy Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese Bombs
TheseSloppy Joe Stuffed Biscuits are not only easy to make, but they're also delicious- making them the perfect weeknight dinner, appetizer, or school lunch idea.
15
Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet
Photo Credit:neighborfoodblog.com
This Ground Beef and Potatoes Skillet is a hearty one-pot meal for the whole family that includes plenty of veggies and melted cheese!
16
Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Photo Credit:plowingthroughlife.com
The sweet and garlic glaze on these Hawaiian Roll Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders are a family favorite! I love an easy ground beef recipe, and these delicious sliders take a basic burger from fine to fantastic!
17
Instant Pot Taco Pasta With Black Beans
Photo Credit:thebeanbites.com
his instant pot taco pasta recipe includes an added pack of protein with the addition of black beans. It’s a dish of warm comfort food that is both quick and easy and reminiscent of childhood.
18
Hashbrown Hamburger Casserole
Photo Credit:thriftyjinxy.com
This Hashbrown Hamburger Casserole with Veggies and Cheese Recipe makes an excellent all-in-one-dish dinner recipe.
19
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and Mashed Potatoes
Photo Credit:familyspice.com
Everything old is new again, so go retro for dinner with some not-a-tv-dinner Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes.
20
Cheesesteak Style Sloppy Joes
Photo Credit:thetoastykitchen.com
Cheesesteak Style Sloppy Joes are packed with flavors reminiscent of a cheesesteak sandwich. Made with ground beef, these quick and easy sloppy joes sandwiches are filled with bell pepper and onion, then topped with melty cheese.
21
The Best 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chili!
Photo Credit:temeculablogs.com
5 ingredient Instant Pot chili uses ground beef and is so simple to make and cook in just 10 minutes. Family favorite recipe served over rice or with cheese on top.
22
Mexican Rice Skillet
Photo Credit:bellyfull.net
his Mexican Rice Skillet is a delicious, easy, inexpensive weeknight meal all in one pan, featuring baked rice, ground beef, cheese, and Mexican flavors.
23
Easy Porcupine Meatballs
Photo Credit:thesuburbansoapbox.com
Move over spaghetti and meatballs, these Easy Porcupine Meatballs are a meal all by itself. Ground beef with white rice and seasoning are simmered in a sauce for a one pot dinner the whole family will be begging for more. Quick and EASY!
24
Baked Empanadas (Meat Pies)
Photo Credit:sundaysuppermovement.com
Your family will love these Puerto Rican empanadas. They make a great appetizer for a party or are perfect for a weeknight supper!
25
Baked Walking Taco Casserole
Photo Credit:biteswithbri.com
This Baked Walking Taco Casserole is a one-pot mexican dinner idea that's packed with flavor thanks to the taco seasoning, ground beef, and enchilada sauce. And it doesn't get much better than all of the fritos and gooey cheese on top.
26
Dinner Skillet Breakfast Scramble
Photo Credit:www.bucketlisttummy.com
This Skillet Breakfast Scramble is a tasty and nutritious one-pan meal that makes a great breakfast for dinner!. This healthy scramble is scramble full of protein, veggies and lots of flavor. Customize it with canned or frozen veggies as well.
27
Chow Mein Casserole - Food Meanderings
Photo Credit:foodmeanderings.com
Chow Mein Casserole, also known as Minnesota Hotdish, is classic midwestern casserole comfort! This ground beef and rice casserole with creamy soup and a crunchy chow mein noodle topping is super easy to throw together or can be made ahead and frozen!
28
Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
Photo Credit:theforkedspoon.com
The very BEST Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe! Made with simple ingredients including ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, ketchup, and tomato paste, these childhood favorite sloppy joes take just 30 minutes to make, freeze perfectly and are loved by all ages.
29
Trainwreck Crock Pot Taco Salad
Photo Credit:catzinthekitchen.com
Trainwreck” crock pot taco salad is simple, inexpensive, easily customizable, and incredibly tasty! It will please your family, or a crowd of almost any size!
30
Sloppy Joe Pockets
Photo Credit:swirlsofflavor.com
These Sloppy Joe Pockets are a delicious dinner idea that's perfect for families on the go. Fill tender biscuit dough with a hearty Sloppy Joe ground beef filling.
31
Weeknight Beef Chili Recipe
Photo Credit:www.mykitchenlove.com
Everyday Beef Chili recipe is a kid-approved, 30-minute meal that comes together using mostly pantry staples. This mild chili recipe has limited ingredients and is the best chili recipe for those crazy weekdays.
32
Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
Photo Credit:www.thisisnotdietfood.com
The Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is a simple supper dish made with ground beef, onions, and dill pickles, all seasoned in a replica of the classic Big Mac sauce, and then completed with cheddar cheese and tater tots.
There you have it mama! Tons of cheap ground beef recipes that your family will love!
- 30 Family-Friendly Freezer Meals for Busy Moms
- A Huge List of Quick and Easy Meal Ideas
- 14 Easy One Pot Meals for Families
Get your free guide!
Feeling stuck in a dinner rut?
Check out our 100 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas! We have everything you need to ensure your weeknight dinners are delicious – without all the stressful planning and prepping beforehand!
