16 Healthy Ground Beef Recipes You'll Want to Make Every Week
These healthy ground beef recipes require only 40 minutes or less of prep time and are destined—from the first bite—to become family favorites. The versatile, affordable meat is so easy to cook with, and if you use these recipes, it'll be good for you, too.
Eggplant-Beef Pasta Bake
For pasta night, done right—and pumped up with 19 grams of protein and plenty of vegetables—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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Beef Taco Pie
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. Inspired by healthy tacos with ground beef, this nine-ingredient dinner is spiced up with an intriguing combination 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
Think of this healthy ground beef recipe as a twist on chicken pot pie. Packed with Brussels sprouts, carrots, and extra-lean ground beef, and topped with warm biscuits, this casserole 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
Grab your skillet—this uber easy, healthy dinner idea 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, Target
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Best Meat Loaf
A cozy meat loaf is comfort food at its finest. For a healthy meal, 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
These lettuce wraps are (pleasantly) hot and quite easy to make. Ground beef is seasoned with soy sauce, sriracha, and sesame oil for a spicy filling to tuck inside butter lettuce cups. If that's not enough spice for you, drizzle in more sriracha along with red bell peppers and peanuts.
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Easy Cheeseburger Soup
It's hard to resist your favorite melty cheeseburger transformed 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 soup with whole grain croutons for a nod to the hamburger bun.
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Gnocchi and Meatball Bake
Forget spaghetti and meatballs—dig into gnocchi and meatballs instead. Potato gnocchi (or substitute cauliflower gnocchi to cut even more calories) provides a hearty base, while homemade meatballs add protein to this healthy casserole.
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Beef and Black Bean Chili
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 a side of tortilla chips for dunking and scooping.
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Greek Feta Burgers
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 recipe will be the star of your next cookout. It's like combining a gyro and a burger, all in one 292-calorie package.
Related: 29 Tasty Beef Burger Ideas
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Spicy Buffalo Tacos
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 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
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Gluten-Free Spaghetti Squash with Chili
Want to beef up the portion size of your chili entrée? Serve the stew over roasted spaghetti squash for a healthy dish that even the vegetable-averse will love.
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Taco-Stuffed Peppers
Ground beef, beans, corn, and more team up for a flavor fiesta. These healthy stuffed bell peppers make a lovely low-carbohydrate, gluten-free option for taco night. Top them with tomato, avocado, and sour cream.
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Beef and Cabbage Wraps
Longing for the smoky flavors of a summer barbecue, but you don't have time, or the warm weather, to fire up your grill? Try this easy, healthy 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
Devour a steak dinner for a fraction of the price—and the calories—with this healthy recipe. We used ground sirloin, then blended Worcestershire and steak sauces into the broth to give this soup the essence of a steakhouse entrée. Frozen vegetables add lots of nutrients and make it a snap to prepare.
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Zucchini Noodle Lasagna
Layers of cheese and zucchini make this your new favorite casserole. Our vegetable-packed version of zucchini layers, ground beef, melted mozzarella, portobellos and fennel unite in a crazy low-calorie entrée. Since it's so light, we recommend pairing this healthy recipe with your favorite homemade bread.