If you are looking for ground beef dinner ideas, or anything quick and easy during busy weeknights, Feastful Fork has fast easy ground beef recipes for you in this post. Most of them are a complete meal by themselves and some can be served over rice, or with salad accompaniments. They mostly offer simple ingredients as well.
Ground or minced beef must be one meat ingredient that you can perennially stock a lot of in your refrigerator and you are never wrong. The recipes abound and from different cuisines as well. The recipes in this post are Chinese, Filipino, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern’s.
How to Buy Good Ground Beef
You can tell when the ground beef you are paying for has more than the recommended amount of fat from the fat’s whitish look against the reddish meaty portion.
One good practice, if you would like to make sure you get the best ground beef, is to ask for the piece or cut that you prefer, and then ask them to ground it for you. You would then be going home happier with your purchase. Although that may become a bit pricey.
This article from Weber has good tips and techniques for buying ground beef.
Ground meat and your health
Yes, ground meat might become a health concern because it belongs to the red meat category and we are advised to take caution in our intake of red meat. But they are high in protein necessary for muscle-building and, therefore can still be a part of a healthy diet. It has iron and a good amount of vitamin B-12, which are necessary for the production of new red blood cells. One way to curb red meat intake, and still enjoy the taste of it is ground beef and vegetables. Another way is to go for the leaner cuts of meat. The best to keep in mind when deciding about your health is to choose “lean.”
How much red meat you can take depends on how many calories you take a day. For example, if you take a total of 2,000 calories a day, you’re recommended to take about 4 ounces of red meat/day. You would have other sources of protein for your diet, though.
How to Cook Ground Beef
Cooking ground beef takes a lot less time than its chunk counterpart. What could take an hour or more for beef cuts is only between 10-15 minutes with the ground version. Below are a few of why the ground version of beef is a convenient choice:
- It would be faster to brown ground beef if they are first pat-dried with a paper towel.
- It is wise to use less oil when sauteeing ground beef, as the meat will provide enough oil in the cooking process.
- Using a wooden ladle or silicone spatula is best for turning ground beef while cooking; they are also good for scraping the meat and its ingredients from the side of the pan.
- Non-tick pans are similarly best for the same reason.
- Pyrex dishes provide a good presentation and are hygienic.
How to Get the Best from Ground Beef Recipes
- Thaw until completely defrosted; beef is best cooked while already at room temperature;
- Pat with a paper towel to rid of oil and fats. It is good to know that the leaner the meat is, the less oil it would produce in the saucepan or casserole. So, if you find that your meat has produced oil, you’re the paper towel becomes your immediate best friend.
- If you are making meatballs or burger patties, dipping your hand in cold water would help in preventing the meat sticking to your hands.
- Make sure the pan or cooking casserole is already heated before putting the meat onto it, however, do not let the pan overheat as the meat might become rubbery. As the meat is already ground, do not overcook. It should take less cooking time than beef chunks and steak cuts.
Use spices appropriately. Some are basic, and a few are special depending on the type of recipe.
- Onion and Garlic. Sauteeing ground beef with garlic and onion brings out the best in the meat. Cut these spices complementing the grainy size of the meat for tastier dishes.
- Black Pepper. Depending on the dish, the use of black pepper requires either whole or ground. An example is the Filipino beef nilaga which asks for whole black peppercorns, and for some reason, the ground black pepper does not work the same way in the recipe.
- Rosemary. This spice brings out the taste of beef especially when the recipe has lemon or vinegar in it, like beef humba or Arabian ground beef with vegetables (recipe below).
- Thyme. Thyme is a good replacement for rosemary as it reacts and functions almost similarly.
- Basil. This is perfect with pasta recipes that have ground beef in them.
- Other spices that are equally good are sage, marjoram, and oregano.
How to Store Ground Beef
Divide into considerable portions and keep them in plastic bags in the freezer. They can keep for 3-4 months. Thaw them before cooking, which is a healthier choice than defrosting them in the microwave oven. When they are thawed, it is advisable to cook them within the next two hours, otherwise, it could invite the growth of bacteria and could then become a cause for health concern.
Fast Easy Ground Beef Recipes from Feastful Fork
Most of the recipes below are perfect for weeknight dinners, packed lunches, or quick bites. One or more of them can easily become a family favorite.
Sauteed Ground Beef with Cauliflower, Carrots, and Broccoli
The mixture of beef and vegetables in this recipe always makes a family-pleasing dinner. You can easily turn this into a comforting soup by adding water or broth to the recipe and then serving it with French bread or crescent rolls.
Ground Beef with Oyster Sauce
I use frozen veggies when I want to cook this recipe. Otherwise, I dice carrots, cut green beans, slice mushrooms, and corn kernels. I sometimes opt for sweet potatoes and zucchini as well. You’ll never go wrong with this one with plenty of veggies you can use as a replacement or addition to the vegetable lineup. Another idea, especially for leftovers, is to top it on pizza crust and, bake over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes and watch how the entire family loves it.
Arabian Ground Beef with Vegetables
This ground beef with vegetable recipe is almost similar, but it has the distinct taste of the Middle Eastern local mixed spices and the teasing taste of turmeric. Extra vegetables in this recipe can make this more interesting. This is one of the best beef over rice recipe.
Filipino Spaghetti
I know Filipino spaghetti has hotdogs (frankfurter) in its meat sauce, but ground beef is its perennial partner. Its parmesan or cheddar cheese toppings enhances the taste of this pasta recipe. Filipinos serve them full on a baking dish and make their portions as they go.
Lasagna 21
Proudly, this is the healthiest pasta dish Feastful Fork has come up as most of its ingredients are fresh. This one is for your picky eaters – at home and during potluck lunches.
Beef and Mushroom Lasagna
Feastful Fork’s other version of lasagna that is simpler than Lasagna 21. A classic recipe with simpler touches, it is, of course, not behind. Using lots of cheese in combination with mozzarella cheese makes this lasagna’s classic flavors extra delightful.
Lumpiang Shanghai
Lumpiang Shanghai is definitely ground beef. Although there are many variations in cooking fried spring rolls, lumpiang Shanghai is mostly meat versus its vegetable or ground chicken roll counterparts.
Meatballs and Mixed Vegetable Casserole
Easy-to-make hearty casserole made with homemade meatballs and cooked with a choice of vegetables already in your kitchen will make this recipe delicious with tomato sauce. This one can be a one-dish meal on its own. It is like having Swedish meatballs with mixed veggies in a single pot.
Homemade Beef Burger Recipe
This is an easy and fast dinner recipe. This simple recipe is one of the perfect solutions for packed lunch ideas for yourself and your family. Make your best beef patty with your minced beef and enjoy a homemade version of the best burger you know.
Enjoy!
