Oh, Mongolian beef—it’s like a flavor explosion that dances on your taste buds! Imagine tender slices of beef mingling with a sweet and savory sauce, almost like a catchy tune you can’t get out of your head. This dish, with its bold, rich flavors, has been my go-to comfort meal lately, especially after those seemingly endless Zoom meetings that could have been emails.
Steps
- Hamburger and Macaroni
- Begin by browning the ground beef in a pan until fully cooked. Add macaroni and your choice of tomato sauce or diced tomatoes. Simmer until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally, and serve hot.
- Easy Hamburger Soup
- In a large pot, cook ground beef until browned and drain excess fat. Add vegetables, broth, and seasonings, then simmer until the vegetables are tender. Serve with rolls or crackers for a comforting meal.
- Stovetop Taco Soup
- Brown ground beef in a pot, then add canned beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Stir in taco seasoning and water, letting it simmer until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese for garnish.
- Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Hollow out bell peppers and fill them with a mixture of cooked ground beef, rice, and seasonings. Top with ketchup or tomato sauce and bake until the peppers are tender. Serve warm.
- Easy Shepherd’s Pie
- Cook ground beef with onions and carrots until the beef is browned. Spread the mixture in a baking dish, top with mashed potatoes, and bake until the top is golden. Serve hot and enjoy.
- Chili Mac and Cheese
- Cook ground beef with chili spices in a skillet, then stir in cooked pasta and cheese. Top with buttered breadcrumbs and bake until crispy and bubbly. Serve immediately.
- Salisbury Ground Beef
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, then add mushrooms and cook until tender. Stir in gravy and simmer until heated through, then serve over mashed potatoes or rice.
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Cook ground beef in a pan until browned, then add broccoli and a soy-based sauce. Stir-fry until the broccoli is tender and serve with rice.
- Penne Pasta With Meat Sauce
- Sauté ground beef with garlic and onions, then add jarred pasta sauce and Italian herbs. Simmer while the pasta cooks, then combine and serve.
- Chili Beans With Rice
- Brown ground beef in a pan, then add canned beans and chili spices. Simmer to combine flavors, then serve over cooked rice.
- Hamburger Stroganoff
- Cook ground beef with mushrooms, then add a splash of sherry and sour cream. Serve the creamy mixture over egg noodles.
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- Cook ground beef with onions and peppers, then melt in cheese. Serve the mixture on rolls for a quick and tasty meal.
- Crispy Ground Beef Tacos
- Brown ground beef and fill taco shells with the meat and your choice of toppings. Serve immediately for a fun family meal.
- Cheeseburger Soup
- Cook ground beef with onions, then add broth, milk, and potatoes. Stir in cheese and cream cheese until melted, and serve hot.
- Albondigas Soup
- Make meatballs with ground beef and mint, then add to a tomato-based broth with vegetables. Simmer until the meatballs are cooked through and serve.
- Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs
- Combine ground beef with rice and form into meatballs. Cook in an Instant Pot with tomato sauce until the rice is tender, then serve.
Ingredients
- Ground beef, 1 pound
- Macaroni pasta
- Bell peppers
- Ketchup
- Potatoes
- Chili-spiced buttered breadcrumbs
- Mushrooms
- Broccoli
- Penne pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Fresh herbs
- Garlic
- Onion
- Italian seasoning
- Canned pinto beans
- Rice
- Sour cream
- Sherry or white wine (or water)
- Cheese (cheddar)
- Bacon
- Milk
- Cream cheese
- Russet potatoes
- Meatballs
- Tomatoes
- Fresh mint
- Instant rice
FAQ
- Can I substitute ground beef with other proteins in these recipes?
- Yes, you can easily swap ground beef for ground turkey or meatless alternatives in these recipes. Ground beef is versatile enough to allow for such substitutions without compromising flavor.
- Are these recipes budget-friendly?
- Despite the recent rise in beef prices, ground beef remains a more economical option compared to other cuts of meat. Additionally, many of these recipes can be stretched further by incorporating pantry staples like pasta, potatoes, and rice.
- How long do these ground beef recipes typically take to prepare?
- Most of these recipes are designed to be quick and convenient, often taking around 30 minutes to prepare, making them ideal for busy weeknight dinners.
- Can these recipes be made ahead of time or are they good as leftovers?
- Absolutely, dishes like Hamburger and Macaroni or Easy Shepherd’s Pie make excellent leftovers and can be prepared ahead of time, providing delicious meals for the next day.
- Are these recipes suitable for family gatherings or potlucks?
- Yes, many of these recipes, such as Easy Hamburger Soup and Dad’s Stuffed Bell Peppers, are crowd-pleasers and perfect for family gatherings or potlucks, offering both comfort and satisfaction.
Tips
- To make your ground beef meals more budget-friendly, consider bulking them up with staples like pasta, potatoes, or rice.
- When preparing recipes like stuffed peppers, personalize them by trying different toppings or fillings, such as adding a ketchup topping for a twist on traditional flavors.
- For a smooth cooking process, use the same skillet for both the chili and pasta bake in recipes like Chili Mac and Cheese, which saves on cleanup time and enhances flavor.
- When making dishes like Hamburger Stroganoff, experiment with adding a splash of sherry or white wine to elevate the taste, or use plain water as a simple alternative.
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Stovetop Pressure Cooker – Required for making Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs.
- Skillet with Oven-Safe Handle – Needed for recipes like Chili Mac and Cheese that involve both stovetop and oven cooking.
- Mandoline or Vegetable Slicer – Useful for uniformly slicing vegetables, especially for recipes like Stuffed Bell Peppers.
- Immersion Blender – Could be handy for soups that need to be pureed or for blending sauces smoothly.
- Dutch Oven or Large Soup Pot – Necessary for preparing large batches of soups like Easy Hamburger Soup or Albondigas Soup.
