16 Budget Friendly and Tasty Ground Beef Dinners

Jenny deRemer

Mar 31, 2025

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Get ready to beef up your dinner game with these ground beef recipes that pack a punch! From the nostalgic The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper to the indulgent Loaded Taco Fries, these dishes are guaranteed to satisfy every craving. Meanwhile, the BBQ Bourbon Burger brings smoky, boozy goodness to the table, and the Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy are comfort food perfection. For those who love a little flair, Korean Barbecue Meatballs and Greek Meatballs deliver bold, international flavors, while the One Pot Cheesy Beef and Shells keeps it simple yet oh-so-satisfying. And let’s not forget the classic Sloppy Joes—messy, delicious, and worth every napkin! These recipes are anything but the same old grind—prepare to dig in and drool!

Table of Contents

The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper

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A creamy pasta dish with ground beef topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh parsley in a large skillet.
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

Homemade Hamburger Helper features cheesy pasta and rich tomato sauce, ready in just 30 minutes—so delicious, you’ll never miss the boxed stuff!
Get the Recipe: The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

A plate of meatloaf topped with ketchup, surrounded by roasted potatoes with cheese and onions, garnished with green herbs.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker blends the best of meatloaf and potatoes in one easy, flavorful pot—perfect for a no-fuss, tasty meal!
Get the Recipe: Hobo Dinner in the Slow Cooker

Cheeseburger Soup

Creamy potato soup garnished with crispy bacon, green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese in a white bowl.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Cheeseburger Soup is the ultimate comfort food—loaded with ground beef, bacon, Velveeta, potatoes, and more for a rich, hearty bowl of goodness!
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Soup

Korean Barbecue Meatballs

A bowl of rice topped with glazed meatballs, cucumber slices, green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro, with chopsticks beside it.
Photo credit: Culinary Hill

Korean Barbecue Meatballs are a deliciously versatile dish—perfect as a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a satisfying meal prep option!
Get the Recipe: Korean Barbecue Meatballs

Greek Meatballs

A plate featuring meatballs, lemon wedges, mint leaves, cucumber slices, and rice.
Photo credit: Gimme Some Oven

Greek Meatballs by Gimme Some Oven are easy to make, incredibly moist, and packed with vibrant garlic-herb flavors—absolutely delicious in every bite!
Get the Recipe: Greek Meatballs

Goulash

A close-up of a hearty pasta dish with macaroni, ground meat, bell peppers, and fresh parsley in a rich tomato sauce.
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Classic Homemade Goulash is a comforting, hearty dish made with tender beef, macaroni pasta, veggies, and a rich tomato-based sauce—easy and delicious!
Get the Recipe: Goulash

Loaded Taco Fries

A plate of loaded sweet potato fries topped with ground beef, melted cheese, avocado slices, and fresh cilantro.
Photo credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Loaded Taco Fries are a fun and tasty twist—crispy sweet potato fries piled high with seasoned taco meat and all your favorite toppings!
Get the Recipe: Loaded Taco Fries

BBQ Bourbon Burger

Juicy beef burger stacked with crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a toasted bun, with whiskey in the background.
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

BBQ Bourbon Burger takes bourbon from the glass to the grill—because why just drink it when you can savor it in a smoky, juicy burger?
Get the Recipe: BBQ Bourbon Burger

Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet

A close-up of a cheesy casserole with rice, black beans, corn, and topped with avocado slices and fresh cilantro.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella

Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet serves up bold Tex-Mex flavors with every bite—ground beef, rice, tomatoes, beans, and spices like garlic, cumin, and paprika, all topped with melty cheese!

To learn more: Cowboy Beef and Rice Skillet

Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy

Delicious meatballs coated in creamy gravy, garnished with green herbs, served with a side of pasta.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy combine tender beef and pork in a rich, flavorful sauce that’s practically begging to be served over mashed potatoes!

To learn more: Amazing Swedish Meatballs in Creamy Gravy

Smothered Beef Burritos

Close-up of a cheesy burrito filled with savory meat and sauce, topped with sour cream and fresh herbs, served on a bed of rice.
Image Credit: The Country Cook

Smothered Beef Burritos are cheesy, beefy, and drenched in a delicious white sauce—an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner the whole family will love!

To learn more: Smothered Beef Burritos

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A bowl of spaghetti topped with meatballs, rich marinara sauce, and sprinkled with crumbled cheese and fresh herbs.
Image Credit: Two Peas and Their Pod

Spaghetti and Meatballs is the ultimate comfort food—tender, juicy meatballs served over a bed of spaghetti with rich, hearty marinara sauce make this classic a family favorite!

To learn more: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Taco Casserole

A close-up of a spoonful of layered taco casserole with ground beef, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings like tomatoes and green onions.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

Taco Casserole packs all your favorite taco flavors into one easy, crowd-pleasing dish—perfect for a fun and tasty meal!

To learn more: Taco Casserole

One Pot Cheesy Beef and Shells

Creamy pasta with shell-shaped noodles, ground beef, and garnished with fresh parsley, creating a rich, comforting dish.
Image Credit: Averie Cooks

One Pot Cheesy Beef and Shells is a quick and comforting meal—tender pasta shells, savory beef, and plenty of cheese all in one skillet, ready in just 30 minutes!

To learn more: One Pot Cheesy Beef and Shells

Sloppy Joes

A messy sloppy joe sandwich on a plate, accompanied by a fresh garden salad, pickle slices, and crispy potato chips.
Image Credit: Cooking Classy

Homemade Sloppy Joes are packed with hearty browned beef, plenty of veggies, and a rich, slightly sweet and smoky tomato-based sauce—comfort food perfection!

To learn more: Sloppy Joes

Hamburger Steak and Gravy

Tender beef patties in rich onion gravy, garnished with fresh parsley, served in a rustic cast iron pot.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella

Hamburger Steak and Gravy is pure comfort food—juicy hamburger steaks smothered in sweet, rich brown gravy with onions, perfect over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or fluffy rice!

To learn more: Hamburger Steak and Gravy

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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!

Read More About Me

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