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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    23 Grandma Approved Ground Beef Dinners for Busy Weeknights

    Published: Jun 11, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Ground beef is a go-to ingredient for quick and satisfying meals, especially on busy weeknights. With these 22 grandma-approved recipes, you can whip up hearty dinners that the whole family will enjoy. From classic casseroles to simple skillet dishes, these meals are sure to bring comfort and flavor to your table.

    Cottage Cheese Lasagna

    Cottage Cheese Lasagna.
    Photo Credit: Ambitious Foodie.

    Cottage cheese lasagna is a classic comfort food that's simple to prepare. You can make it up to five days ahead, so you can enjoy a hearty, home-cooked meal whenever it suits you.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Spiral Pasta

    Cheesy Spiral Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Add Salt & Serve.

    This easy spiral pasta dish is packed with cheese, tomatoes, and beef, making it a hearty meal. It's simple to prepare and yields two pans, so you can enjoy one for dinner and save the other for later.

    Get the Recipe

    Homemade Hamburgers

    An air fryer burger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is easy to make and great for busy nights. It comes together quickly and keeps things organized.

    Get the recipe

    Enchilada Meatball Casserole

    7 Ingredient Enchilada Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Zona's Lazy Recipes.

    This casserole is simple to prepare and features gooey cheese with a bit of spice. It's a satisfying dish that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Sopa De Fideo Con Carne

    Sopa De Fideo Con Carne Mexican Noodles.
    Photo Credit: 24 Bite.

    Sopa De Fideo Con Carne is a classic Mexican dish featuring toasted noodles simmered in a rich tomato sauce. It's a comforting meal that brings back memories of childhood in Mexico.

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    30-Minute Beef & Noodles

    Beef and Noodles.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This creamy beef and noodles dish is quick to prepare and perfect for a cozy weeknight meal. It takes about 30 minutes to make and is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.

    Get the recipe

    Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake

    Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake.
    Photo Credit: Much Butter.

    Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake brings together the classic taste of Swedish meatballs and pasta, all baked together for a comforting meal. This dish is full of flavor and texture, making it a great choice for family dinners.

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    Texas Hash

    Texas Hash.
    Photo Credit: Ground Beef Recipes.

    Texas Hash is an easy Tex-Mex dish that combines ground beef and rice in one pot. It can be served on its own, dressed up with your favorite toppings, or used as a tasty filling for tacos.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole

    Enchilada casserole.
    Photo Credit: Retro Recipe Box.

    Enjoy enchiladas in a simpler way without the rolling. This dish uses ground beef or turkey for a quick and satisfying meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Hamburger Stew with Rice

    Hamburger Stew with Rice.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    Hamburger Stew with Rice is a simple and budget-friendly dinner that uses everyday ingredients. It's a hearty meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple ingredients from your pantry, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal in no time.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Nacho Soup

    Slow Cooker Nacho Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Nacho Soup is a tasty twist on your favorite nachos, packed with ground beef, Rotel, black beans, corn, and taco seasoning. This dish simmers in a crock pot, bringing all the flavors together for a comforting meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Eggplant Moussaka

    Eggplant moussaka.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Eggplant Moussaka is a simple dinner packed with vegetables and ground beef, all topped with plenty of cheese. This version skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead for a healthy and tasty Mediterranean meal.

    Get the recipe

    Italian Beef Cannelloni

    Italian Beef Cannelloni.
    Photo Credit: Craving Some Creativity.

    Italian Beef Cannelloni is a hearty dish topped with a rich red sauce and plenty of melted Mozzarella. It's simple to prepare, perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, and can be made ahead and frozen for later.

    Get the Recipe

    Instant Pot Taco Soup

    Taco soup.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This taco soup offers all the great flavors of tacos without the mess, making it a perfect choice for a cozy meal. With a mix of V8 and broth, it creates a thick and hearty soup packed with hidden veggies.

    Get the recipe

    Meatloaf

    Meatloaf.
    Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This lighter version of meatloaf skips the breadcrumbs and is easy to put together. With just a handful of ingredients, it's a quick bake that everyone in the family will love for dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Spaghetti Pie

    Spaghetti Pie.
    Photo credit: A Cedar Spoon.

    Spaghetti Pie is a great meal for busy weeknights, easy to prepare and sure to satisfy everyone at the table. It's loaded with protein and will keep you feeling full.

    Get the recipe

    Cheeseburger Macaroni

    Dutch oven with Cheeseburger Macaroni.
    Photo Credit: Homemade Hooplah.

    This cheeseburger macaroni is a simple and satisfying dinner option. It features tender pasta and seasoned ground beef, all topped with melted cheese, and can be prepared in just one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Baked Ziti

    CREAMY BAKED ZITI.
    Photo credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    Enjoy the ultimate comfort food with this perfect blend of tender noodles, rich, creamy sauce, and gooey cheese. It's an easy, family-friendly meal that brings classic Italian flavors to your table in a casserole-style dish everyone will love!

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers without Rice
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Stuffed peppers can be ready in just 45 minutes with this simple recipe. Packed with tex-mex flavors and topped with cheese, they're great on their own or alongside some tortilla chips.

    Get the recipe

    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking Taco Casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos into a simple one-dish meal. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Potato Ground Beef Casserole

    Ground Beef Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Honour System.

    This ground beef casserole is a family favorite that's easy to prepare. It features browned beef in a tasty tomato sauce, layered with filling potatoes and topped with cheese.

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    Perfect Patty Melts

    Perfect Patty Melts.
    Photo Credit: The View from Great Island.

    Patty melts are a delicious sandwich featuring juicy burgers topped with melted cheese and sweet caramelized onions, all grilled between crispy sourdough bread. This hearty meal is perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.

    Get the Recipe

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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