15 Comforting Dinners That Start with Ground Beef

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Ground beef is basically dinner’s best friend—always there when you need it, endlessly versatile, and never complains when you forget to defrost it. Want something saucy and over-the-top? Sloppy Joe Pizza is calling your name. Craving a classic with a little extra flair? Meatloaf With Creamy Onion Gravy will treat you right. If you’re in a “throw it all in a pot and hope for the best” mood, Cabbage Roll Soup and Beef Lentil Soup have your back. And for the folks who believe cheese makes everything better (correct answer), Dutch Oven Lasagna and Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole won’t disappoint. Basically, if you’ve got ground beef, you’ve got dinner—now let’s get cooking!

Sloppy Joe Pizza

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Sloppy Joe Pizza on a plate.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Sloppy Joe Pizza is what happens when saucy ground beef meets garlic-butter French bread and a blanket of melted cheddar. Fast, messy, and downright delicious—weeknight dinner doesn’t get easier than this.
Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joe Pizza

Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy

A meatloaf topped with gravy, garnished with fresh rosemary, accompanied by mashed potatoes on a patterned plate.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Homemade Meatloaf With Creamy Onion Gravy isn’t here to play—it’s baked with an apple butter glaze that means business. And that rich, silky onion gravy? Let’s just say canned gravy should be embarrassed.
Get the Recipe: Meatloaf with Creamy Onion Gravy

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls in a decorative bowl, surrounded by a textured red candle and autumn decor, with a fork on the side.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls are packed with ground beef, rice, and onion, then baked in a sauce that puts every last bit of cabbage to good use. The not-so-traditional but totally delicious kicker? A dash of Heinz chili sauce to keep things interesting.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

A close-up of baked pasta with melted cheese and ground meat in a white casserole dish.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

There’s just something about Sour Cream Noodle Bake—maybe it’s the perfectly al dente egg noodles, or the creamy, cozy sauce. Or maybe it’s the way ground beef and sausage bake right in, making dinner basically take care of itself.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

The Best Wagyu Meatloaf

A wagyu meatloaf with a brown sugar tomato sauce topping in a copper baker.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Best Wagyu Meatloaf isn’t messing around—this is meatloaf leveled up with rich, juicy American Wagyu beef. A handful of seasonings let the beef shine, whether you’re slicing into it fresh from the oven or swiping a cold piece for a next-day sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Wagyu Meatloaf

Cabbage Roll Soup

A close-up of a bowl of hearty soup with chunks of tomatoes, minced meat, rice, and herbs. A spoon rests inside the bowl. The soup is vibrant red, steaming hot, and garnished with fresh parsley. The bowl sits on a marble surface.
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

Cabbage Roll Soup gives you all the tender cabbage, juicy beef, and rice you love—without the whole rolling and stuffing situation. Just a hearty bowl of comfort, no assembly required.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Roll Soup

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Salisbury steak meatballs in slow cooker.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Salisbury Meatballs are perfect for when you can’t decide if you want a snack or a full meal—so why not have both? Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting while these meatballs become a saucy sensation.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs

Beef Lentil Soup

A bowl of hearty vegetable beef soup with carrots, peas, and chunks of beef in a rich, dark broth. It's garnished with fresh parsley and a swirl of cream. A spoon rests inside the bowl, ready to serve.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Beef Lentil Soup is your ticket to a cozy culinary adventure! With tender beef, hearty lentils, and a rainbow of veggies, it’s a bowl of comfort that fills you up and warms you right through.
Get the Recipe: Beef Lentil Soup

Dutch Oven Lasagna

A round red pot filled with cheesy lasagna topped with melted cheese and chopped fresh herbs. The lasagna has a golden-brown crust and sits on a wooden board, with a cork and striped napkin nearby on a dark surface.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Dutch Oven Lasagna will rock your world—one pot, stovetop magic, and a whole lot of melty cheese. It’s everything you love about lasagna, minus the fuss.
Get the Recipe: Dutch Oven Lasagna

Homemade Italian Wedding Soup

A bowl of Italian wedding soup, featuring meatballs, small pasta, spinach, carrots, celery, and grated cheese in a clear broth. The bowl is on a gray countertop with a striped napkin and spoon nearby.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

Italian Wedding Soup is like a hug in a bowl—homemade meatballs, acini de pepe pasta, and veggies all swimming in a savory broth, topped with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. Perfect for cozying up any day of the week!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Italian Wedding Soup

Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe

close-up of a white bowl with slow cooker beef taco soup recipe topped with lime, avocado, and sour cream
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

Crockpot Taco Soup is the definition of easy—just throw everything in the pot and let the magic happen. Customize it with your favorite toppings and you’ve got a crowd-pleaser that practically makes itself.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe

Shepherd’s Pie

A close-up of a dish featuring a savory stew with peas, carrots, and mushrooms, topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. A sprig of thyme garnishes the dish, and a spoon rests on the side.
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

Try the Best Shepherd’s Pie—it’s all about tender beef, a mountain of veggies, creamy mashed potatoes, and a rich, herb-packed sauce that makes every bite irresistible. It’s comfort food at its finest.
Get the Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie

Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

A white plate with cheesy beef enchiladas topped with melted cheese and chopped green onions. A side of shredded lettuce and a fork are also on the plate.
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

These Enchiladas are the ultimate make-ahead meal—slow-cooked beef and roasted butternut squash tucked in tortillas, ready to rock when you need it. Prep ahead, bake, and dinner is served in no time.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

Salisbury Steak Recipe

A plate of food with mashed potatoes topped with sauce and mushrooms, a piece of meat with mushroom sauce, and green beans. Garnished with herbs. A fork is on the plate. A glass of red wine is next to the plate on a light surface.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

I’ve got all the tips you need to make your Salisbury Steak a smashing success. It’s the comfort food classic you know and love, but with upgraded ingredients and way more flavor.
Get the Recipe: Salisbury Steak Recipe

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

A close-up of a plate of spaghetti with a rich meat sauce. The dish features intertwined pasta coated in a hearty, textured Bolognese sauce, garnished lightly with grated cheese.
Photo credit: Spend with Pennies

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese delivers a rich, velvety sauce with melt-in-your-mouth tender meat—all while the crockpot handles the heavy lifting. You just sit back and get ready to twirl.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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