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Easy, Healthy Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Want to Make Every Week

Easy, Healthy Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Want to Make Every Week

By Karla Walsh

Updated June 05, 2020

Blaine Moats

These healthy ground beef recipes requiring 40 minutes or less of prep time are destined to become family favorites at first bite! The versatile, affordable meat is so easy to cook with, and if you use these healthy dinners with ground beef, they’ll be good for you too.

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Eggplant-Beef Pasta Bake

Jason Donnelly

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Pasta night, done right! (And pumped up with 19 grams of protein and plenty of veggies.) This make-ahead healthy ground beef casserole recipe is full of tomatoes and eggplant, and topped with lots of gooey cheese. Best of all, you can freeze this dish up to 4 months for a last-minute dinner.

Related: 12 Fast and Healthy Pasta Dinners

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Greek Meatballs with Squash “Noodles” and Tomatoes

Jacob Fox

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Thanks to this healthy dinner with ground beef, you can now cure your craving for spaghetti and meatballs with just 301 calories in a fully-loaded bowl. Spiralized zucchini noodles make a light yet satisfying substitute for the spaghetti, while Greek yogurt bumps up the protein and the moistness of the lean beef meatballs. Perk up the final product with a squeeze of lemon and some fresh oregano.

3 of 20

Beef Taco Pie

Andy Lyons

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This easy Mexican casserole is just like eating a taco only you don't have to worry about the filling falling out! It’s made almost entirely with freezer and pantry staples too. Inspired by healthy tacos with ground beef, this nine-ingredient dinner is spiced up with an intriguing combo of chili powder and cinnamon. Trust us … that duo works surprisingly well to accentuate the savory beef.

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Beef and Biscuit Vegetable Bake

Blaine Moats

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Think of this healthy ground beef casserole recipe like a twist on chicken pot pie. (Yes, please!) Packed with Brussels sprouts, carrots, and extra-lean ground beef and topped with warm biscuits, this dish will make Mom proud, and your stomach happy. We call for refrigerated biscuits as a shortcut, but feel free to top with DIY biscuits if you’re feeling ambitious and have the time.

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Chili Pasta Skillet

Jason Donnelly

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Grab your skillet! This uber-easy, healthy dinner idea with ground beef is going to be requested often. Ground beef, macaroni, tomato sauce, and red kidney beans are the perfect combination, especially when topped with a bit of bubbly cheese.

Buy It: Threshold Round Pan, $60, Target

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Best Meat Loaf

Blaine Moats

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A cozy meat loaf is comfort food at its finest. For a healthy meal with ground beef, incorporate fresh vegetables, a blend of sweet and savory sauces, and high-quality lean beef. (We opted for a mixture of ground chuck and sirloin to make this high-protein meal.)

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Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps

Andy Lyons

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These lettuce wraps are (pleasantly) hot. Ground beef is seasoned with soy sauce, sriracha, and sesame oil for a spicy filling to tuck inside butter lettuce cups in this easy, healthy ground beef recipe. If that's not enough spice for you, drizzle more sriracha on top along with red bell peppers and peanuts.

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Pesto Burgers with Spaghetti Squash

Jason Donnelly

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Get your burger fix minus the wheat in this gluten-free and healthy dinner with ground beef. Grilled pesto burgers rest on a bed of spaghetti squash (instead of bread) for a meal that’s lower in calories and carbs. Grilled bell peppers and onions give this dish more vitamins and a burst of smoky flavor.

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Easy Cheeseburger Soup

Jason Donnelly

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It's hard to resist your favorite melty cheeseburger turned into a warming soup, especially when it's good for you! Extra-lean ground beef keeps this creamy soup lower in fat and calories, and a few big handfuls of spinach boost the vitamin A content. Top the healthy ground beef recipe with whole grain croutons to give a nod to the hamburger bun.

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Gnocchi and Meatball Bake

Jason Donnelly

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Forget spaghetti and meatballs. Dig into gnocchi and meatballs instead! Potato gnocchi (or trade in cauliflower gnocchi to cut a few more calories) provide a hearty base, while mouthwatering homemade meatballs add protein to this healthy ground beef casserole recipe.

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Spicy Sloppy Joes

Blaine Moats

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Kid-friendly fare gets a nutritious makeover in this slow cooker supper. It's actually quite easy to make sloppy joes a healthy dinner with ground beef. Start with lean ground beef, then add flavor and nutrients with fresh veggies, including mushrooms, carrots, and bell peppers. Using salsa for the sauce slims down the calories and turns up the heat.

Related: 31 Healthy Sandwich Recipes for a New Lunch Every Day of the Month

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Beef and Black Bean Chili

Andy Lyons

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This all-star chili contains a smoky secret: Cocoa powder adds richness and complements spicier flavors like cumin and paprika. A wholesome base of black beans and lean ground beef makes this chili recipe a guaranteed win at the dinner table. Instead of corn bread, consider pairing this healthy meal with ground beef with a side of tortilla chips for dunking and scooping.

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13 of 20

Greek Feta Burgers

Jason Donnelly

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Lean ground beef and fresh vegetables will have you feeling good about indulging in a juicy burger. Filled with feta cheese and smeared with a fresh cucumber sauce, this healthy ground beef recipe will be the star of your next cookout. It’s like a gyro and a burger all in one 292-calorie package.

Related: 29 Tasty Beef Burger Ideas

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Spicy Buffalo Tacos

Jason Donnelly

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Look no further: we’ve found your new go-to taco recipe! Ground beef, kidney beans, and black beans ensure this entrée is full of protein, while fresh poblano chile peppers add heat. These healthy tacos with ground beef are a cinch to make on a weeknight, too, since they practically prep themselves in your slow cooker.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Slow Cooker, $35, Bed Bath & Beyond

15 of 20

Grilled Herb Burgers

Blaine Moats

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If half of your family is on Team Turkey Burger and the other half is firmly on Team Beef Burger, this healthy ground beef recipe should be on your menu. To make 8 lean and juicy patties, mix 1 pound ground beef with 1 pound ground turkey. A blend of freshly snipped herbs and garlic puts a fresh spin on this classic grilled hamburger recipe.

Related: 20 Beef Burger Alternatives

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Gluten-Free Spaghetti Squash with Chili

Scott Little

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Want to beef up the portion size of your chili entrée? Serve the stew over roasted spaghetti squash for a healthy dish with ground beef that even the veggie-averse will gobble up.

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Taco-Stuffed Peppers

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Beef, beans, corn, and more team up for a flavor fiesta. These healthy stuffed bell peppers with ground beef make a lovely low-carb, gluten-free option for taco night. Top with tomato, avocado, and sour cream after baking for the complete restaurant-like experience.

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Beef and Cabbage Wraps

Andy Lyons

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Longing for the smoky flavors of a summer barbecue but don’t have time (or the nice weather) to fire up your grill? Try this easy, healthy ground beef recipe instead. Sweet corn, tangy ground beef, and crunchy coleslaw combine for a lighter take on cookout cuisine.

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Kansas City Steak Soup

Kritsada Panichgul

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Devour a steak dinner for a fraction of the price (and the calories) with this healthy dinner idea with ground beef. We used ground sirloin, then blended Worcestershire and steak sauces into the broth to give this soup recipe the essence of a steakhouse entrée. Frozen veggies add lots of nutrients and make it a snap to prepare.

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Zucchini Noodle Lasagna

Andy Lyons

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Say hello to layers of cheese and zucchini, aka your new favorite casserole. Our veggie-packed version of classic lasagna layers ground beef and melty mozzarella with portobellos and fennel for a crazy-low-cal entrée. Since it’s so light, we recommend pairing this healthy ground beef and mushroom recipe with your favorite homemade bread.

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