Budget-Friendly Ground Beef Dinners That Are Family Favorites

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When you’re looking for budget-friendly, family-approved meals that save you time and hassle, ground beef is always a winner. Dishes like Meatloaf Recipe and The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe are classics your family will love, while Goulash (American Style) Recipe and Easy Creamy Ground Beef Pasta deliver hearty, satisfying flavors in no time. Need something easy but impressive? Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake) and Beef Stroganoff {One Pot Recipe} offer a bit of comfort with minimal effort. For those busy nights, Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans and Instant Pot Chili Mac Recipe make sure dinner is ready with little hands-on work. From Air Fryer Meatballs to Cheesy Baked Meatball Skillet, these recipes keep things easy, delicious, and always affordable. Whatever you need, these ground beef dinners bring big flavor without the stress.

Meatloaf Recipe

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overhead view of 3 slices of meatloaf on a white plate with buttered mashed potatoes and green beans.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This meatloaf recipe is the definition of comfort food! A juicy, seasoned ground beef mixture is baked to perfection and brushed with a sweet glaze, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s freezer-friendly for easy meal prepping.
Get the Recipe: Meatloaf Recipe

Recipe for Homemade Hot Dog Chili Sauce

hot dog with chili on top on red and white checkered paper
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

This hot dog chili recipe is perfect for your next cookout. This chili is made in the slow cooker, so it’s easy to make and full of flavor. Top your favorite hot dogs with this chili for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Recipe for Homemade Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Homemade Meatballs

meatballs over pasta in a pan.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These Homemade Meatballs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! This family recipe is easy to follow and perfect for a quick dinner, appetizer, or freezer meal. Serve them with your favorite pasta and marinara sauce for a comforting Italian dish.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Meatballs

Goulash (American Style) Recipe

cheesy goulash in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This American-style goulash is a comforting and easy one-pot meal. It combines ground beef, macaroni, and a flavorful tomato sauce for a hearty dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Top with cheddar cheese and parsley for the perfect finish.
Get the Recipe: Goulash (American Style) Recipe

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Bowl of cowboy beans in front of a crockpot.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are a hearty and flavorful side dish that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. This recipe combines lean ground beef, pork n’ beans, and a blend of seasonings, all simmered in your slow cooker for an easy and delicious meal. Just set it and forget it!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Air Fryer Meatballs

air fryer meatball.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

These air fryer meatballs are the perfect easy dinner! They’re super juicy, moist, and tender, and they cook up in just 10 minutes. Enjoy them in your favorite pasta dish or on their own as a tasty appetizer.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Meatballs

Easy Creamy Ground Beef Pasta

a bowl with creamy ground beef pasta and a fork
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

This creamy ground beef pasta tastes like it’s been simmering all day, but it’s quick enough for a weeknight meal! Made with simple ingredients like ground beef, diced tomatoes, and a touch of cream, it’s comfort food that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a satisfying dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Creamy Ground Beef Pasta

Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake)

skillet with pastitsio (baked Greek pasta with lamb), spoon dipping into skillet to show pasta and lamb bolognese underneath.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Craving a taste of Greece? This Pastitsio recipe features a flavorful cinnamon-infused tomato sauce with lamb (or beef), layered with pasta and a rich Greek béchamel. It’s the ultimate comforting baked pasta dish perfect for dinner or entertaining!
Get the Recipe: Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake)

Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili

Chili on spaghetti on a white plate.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

Craving a bowl of Cincinnati Chili? This slow-cooker recipe is packed with warm spices like cinnamon, cumin, and allspice, creating a uniquely flavorful chili. Serve it the traditional way over spaghetti or hot dogs with your favorite toppings.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cincinnati Chili

The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

ground beef barbecue sandwich on a golden brown bun
Photo credit: Sugar Spun Run

Craving a quick and easy dinner? This sloppy joe recipe is ready in just 25 minutes! This recipe is made completely from scratch, and is ketchup-free, offering a new take on a classic comfort food.
Get the Recipe: The Best Sloppy Joe Recipe

Beef Stroganoff {One Pot Recipe}

A plate of creamy beef stroganoff with egg noodles, mushrooms, and garnished with parsley. A fork rests on the side.
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

This Beef Stroganoff by Cooking Classy is a comforting and flavorful one-pot meal featuring browned ground beef and caramelized mushrooms. It’s a hearty dish that’s easy to make and satisfying for the whole family.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stroganoff {One Pot Recipe}

Instant Pot Chili Mac Recipe (Pressure Cooker Chili)

instant pot chili mac in bowls
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This Instant Pot Chili Mac is the ultimate comfort food! Loaded with beef, cheese, beans, and tomatoes, this recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Your family will love this cheesy and flavorful dish!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chili Mac Recipe (Pressure Cooker Chili)

Cheesy Baked Meatball Skillet

cheesy baked meatballs in a cast iron skillet
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

This Cheesy Baked Meatball Skillet is comfort food at its finest! Flavorful meatballs are baked in a rich tomato sauce and topped with plenty of melted mozzarella cheese. Serve it with pasta or crusty bread for a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Baked Meatball Skillet

Beef Burgers with Bacon, Horseradish Mayo & Fried Onions

close-up of a beef burger with bacon, horseradish mayo, and fried onions
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

These beef burgers are seriously delicious and easy to make, perfect for a weeknight meal or a weekend BBQ. The combination of bacon, horseradish mayo, and fried onions creates a flavor explosion that will leave you wanting more! Get ready to grill up a batch of these amazing burgers.
Get the Recipe: Beef Burgers with Bacon, Horseradish Mayo & Fried Onions

VELVEETA Cheesy Fiesta Skillet!

a serving of cheesy fiesta skillet with velvet, garnished with tomatoes and cilantro, with a skillet in the background
Photo credit: Spend with Pennies

This Velveeta Cheesy Fiesta Skillet is a quick and easy meal that’s ready in under 20 minutes! This colorful dish combines ground beef, pasta, and a medley of veggies for a Tex-Mex twist that the whole family will love. Top it with your favorites like sour cream or salsa for an extra burst of flavor.
Get the Recipe: VELVEETA Cheesy Fiesta Skillet!

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Chili

Bowl of 15 bean chili with a wooden spoon in it.
Photo credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

This Slow Cooker 15 Bean Chili is a hearty and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cozy night in or a crowd-pleasing game day meal. Made with Hurst’s Bean Soup, ground beef, and a blend of seasonings, this chili is both easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying. Let your slow cooker do the work, and enjoy a comforting bowl of chili that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker 15 Bean Chili

Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

close-up of beef and cabbage stir fry with rice in a white bowl
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

This quick and easy Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry is ready in just 30 minutes! It’s an inexpensive Asian-inspired dish featuring a flavorful homemade hoisin, ginger, and peanut sauce. Perfect for a light yet satisfying main course!
Get the Recipe: Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Lasagna Soup

Two individual servings of lasagna soup.
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

This Lasagna Soup recipe brings all the comforting flavors of lasagna into a warm and inviting soup. It combines ground beef, Italian herbs, and a rich tomato base, topped with mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta. It’s a family favorite that simplifies a classic dish into an easy-to-make meal.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Navajo Tacos (Indian Fry Bread)

An image of Indian Tacos made with Indian fry bread, then topped with taco meat, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, olives, and sour cream.
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

These Navajo Tacos start with perfectly crisp and chewy Indian Fry Bread, made from scratch! Then, they’re piled high with taco-seasoned ground beef, beans, and your favorite toppings like sour cream, cheese, and fresh veggies. It’s a fun and flavorful meal that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Navajo Tacos (Indian Fry Bread)

Dinner is for Kids: Spaghetti Tacos Recipe

Spaghetti Tacos Inspired by iCarly from FoodieCrush
Photo credit: Foodie Crush

This fun and family-friendly recipe puts a twist on a classic Italian dish by serving spaghetti and meat sauce in taco shells. It’s a great way to get kids excited about dinner and enjoy a unique mealtime experience. Feel free to customize the toppings with cheese and veggies to make it your own!
Get the Recipe: Dinner is for Kids: Spaghetti Tacos Recipe

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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