Ground beef is a versatile and affordable ingredient that can be used in a variety of healthy and delicious recipes. Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight meal or a comforting dish to share with family and friends, ground beef is a great option.
Why Choose Grass-Fed Beef?
When selecting ground beef, consider opting for grass-fed beef. Grass-fed beef has a different nutritional profile than conventionally raised beef, with studies showing that the nutrients in beef can vary depending on what the cows eat. Grass-fed beef is higher in omega-3 fatty acids, containing as much as five times the amount found in conventionally raised beef. It also contains almost twice as much CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fatty acid associated with numerous health benefits.
Furthermore, grass-fed cows are more likely to spend time outdoors and are less likely to be given antibiotics. Conventional cows, often raised in crowded and unsanitary feedlots, are typically fed corn and grains, which their digestive systems are not designed to process, making them more susceptible to illness. Consequently, sustainably raised grass-fed beef is less likely to harbor harmful bacteria such as E. coli.
Quick and Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Ground beef is ideal for quick and easy skillet dinners. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Korean Ground Beef
This flavorful Korean ground beef is ready in just 20 minutes. It's a great option when you want to make something extra flavorful.
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Ingredients:
- Lean ground beef (85% lean and 15% fat)
- Garlic, freshly minced
- Ginger, grated
- Soy sauce
- Honey
- Cornstarch
- Red pepper flakes
- Sesame oil
- Green onions, sliced
- Avocado oil
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as you cook. Drain the beef and return it to the skillet.
- Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Stir the sauce into the beef. Cook for 2 more minutes, until heated through and the sauce thickens.
- Off heat, drizzle with sesame oil, sprinkle with sliced green onions, and serve.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve over cauliflower rice or regular rice. You can also add a fried egg and kimchi for a trendy bowl.
Ground Beef and Broccoli
This Ground Beef and Broccoli recipe is a flavorful, easy, and healthy meal that comes together in just 15 minutes in one pan.
Ingredients:
- Lean ground beef
- Broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- Garlic cloves
- Fresh ginger
- Low-sodium beef broth
- Low-sodium soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Honey
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic powder
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Cornstarch
- Cool water
- Sesame oil
Instructions:
- Set a large skillet, sauté pan, or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks.
- While the beef is cooking, combine the beef broth, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a bowl or large measuring cup; set aside.
- After the beef is cooked, push it to the edges of the pan, add the garlic and ginger in the center, and stir for a minute or two until fragrant. Drain the grease from the pan.
- Add the sauce and the broccoli to the pan; stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cook for several minutes (using the cooking time on the package as a guide, if using frozen broccoli) and stir occasionally until the broccoli is cooked to your desired tenderness.
- In a small bowl, use a fork to whisk the cornstarch into the water until dissolved. Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the pan while stirring the beef and broccoli. Bring to a boil and cook for a minute or two, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened.
- Remove from heat and drizzle with sesame oil.
Tips and Variations:
- Swap out the broccoli for other vegetables like snow peas, carrots, baby corn, or bell peppers.
- If you don't have oyster sauce, increase the soy sauce to 3 ½ tablespoons and the honey to 1 ½ tablespoons.
Ground Beef Stir Fry
This Ground Beef Stir Fry recipe is packed with protein and veggies, making it a complete and satisfying meal.
Ingredients:
- Lean ground beef (90-93% lean)
- Baby Bella mushrooms
- White onion
- Red bell pepper
- Sugar snap peas
- Coconut aminos
- Fresh ginger
- Toasted sesame oil
- Avocado oil
- Salt and pepper
- Cooked white rice
- Sesame seeds
- Green onion
- Chili crisp oil (optional)
For the Stir Fry Sauce:
- Combine coconut aminos, fresh ginger, and toasted sesame oil.
Instructions:
- Make the stir fry sauce: Add all of the stir fry sauce ingredients to a small mixing bowl or mason jar. Whisk or shake the ingredients until well combined.
- Prep your veggies: Make sure that all of your veggies are sliced and ready to use.
- Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add avocado oil and then add the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper and brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Sauté the veggies: Keeping the skillet over medium-high heat, add a bit more avocado oil and then add the mushrooms. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until the mushrooms are browned and tender.
- Finish the stir fry: Add the ground beef back to the pan and stir until combined with the veggies. Next, add the stir fry sauce. Lower the heat to low and toss everything together.
- Serve the stir fry over cooked white rice and garnished with sesame seeds, green onion, and chili crisp/oil if desired.
Healthy Ground Beef Tacos
Elevate taco night with these healthy ground beef tacos made with wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Lean ground beef
- Onion
- Tomato paste
- Taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
- Chicken broth
- Whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas
- Greek yogurt
- Superfood veggies slaw (or any veggies you desire)
- Cheese
- Jalapeños
- Cilantro
- Olive oil
Instructions:
- Chop up half an onion. Heat a large skillet with olive oil. Add the onion and a heavy pinch of salt and cook until translucent.
- Next, add the ground beef, break into chunks, and cook until starts to brown on the outside and no longer pink in the middle.
- Add the tomatoes paste and cook until it turns a rusty red color and coats the meat.
- Add the taco seasoning and cook until the spices are fragrant and coat the meat.
- Finally, add chicken broth and cook until it’s reduced and makes the meat juicy.
- Next, fill the tortillas with a generous portion of the ground beef.
- Finally, add your toppings. Recommended fixings are Greek yogurt, superfood veggies slaw (or any veggies you desire), cheese, jalapeños, and cilantro.
More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes
Here are some additional ground beef recipes to explore:
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- Burgers: Load a grass-fed beef burger with flavor and serve on warm naan bread with creamy feta sauce and pickles.
- Meatballs: Combine beef with finely chopped wild mushrooms for an out-of-this-world meatball experience.
- Chili: Try a quick and easy kale and grass-fed beef chili.
- Skillet Dinner: Combine cubed sweet potato, bell peppers, and southwestern spices in one pan with grass-fed ground beef.
- Stuffed Peppers: Stuff sweet red bell peppers with grass-fed ground beef, onions, garlic, and shawarma spice blend, then bake and top with tahini sauce.
- Stuffed Sweet Potato: Top a stuffed sweet potato with a sloppy joe mixture.
- Meatloaf: Enjoy a family favorite meatloaf recipe.
- Enchiladas: Pair lean ground beef with fiber-rich beans and whole wheat tortillas.
- Mini Meatball Sliders: Seasoned lean ground beef mimics the flavors of traditional sausage in these sliders.
- Tacos: Season lean ground beef with heart-healthy herbs and spices for a quick and delicious taco option.
- Mini Burgers: Use lean ground beef and serve on whole wheat buns.
- Chili: Make a comforting bowl of chili with lean ground meat, beans, and a medley of vegetables.
- Better-for-You Burger: Use lean ground beef and whole wheat buns.
- Taco Bowl: Combine ground beef with rice, beans, and your favorite taco toppings for a customizable meal.
- Burger Bowls: Enjoy everything you love about a classic burger without the bun.
- Veggie-Packed Soup: Load up on veggies with a hearty and flavorful soup featuring ground beef.
- Pumpkin Chili: Add canned pumpkin to chili for a touch of sweetness, fiber, and vitamin A.
- Lasagna Soup: Converge two comfort foods to create a warm and cozy soup with big lasagna flavors.
- Cheeseburger Soup: Enjoy the rich flavor of a perfect cheeseburger with the comfort and creaminess of a perfect soup.
- Taco Soup: Level up Taco Tuesday with this veggie-loaded, wholesome, hearty, and full-flavor soup.
- Sweet Potato Chili: Combine high-quality protein and vitamin-loaded sweet potatoes in this flavorful chili.
- Tater Tot Casserole: Upgrade classic tater tot casserole with simple, real foods and lots of veggies.
- Taco Hot Dish: Combine lean ground beef, plenty of veggies, tender rice, taco seasonings, and black beans.
- Skillet Pasta: Enjoy a classic Italian meal with just a handful of ingredients.
- Philly Cheesesteak Skillet: Enjoy the rich, savory flavor of classic Philly cheesesteak sandwiches in an easy-to-make, low-carb skillet.
- Zucchini Lasagna: Use zucchini instead of noodles for a noodle-free, healthy ground beef recipe.
- Beef Stroganoff: Make a budget-friendly and quick beef stroganoff with ground beef instead of tenderloin or ribeye.
- Beef Skillet Enchiladas: Enjoy the savory, cheesy flavor of classic enchiladas in half the time with this skillet recipe.
- Zucchini Skillet: Combine ground beef and zucchini in a single skillet for a quick and easy meal.
- Skillet Lasagna: Skip the layering and enjoy jumbled-up layers of lean ground beef, lasagna noodles, vegetables, and cheese in a single skillet.
- Sloppy Joes: Make a stovetop, veggie-filled Sloppy Joe mix with lean ground beef, bell pepper, and onion.
- Baked Tacos: Prepare a large batch of sheet pan baked tacos and serve them alongside a topping bar.
- Stuffed Peppers: Use a southwest-style filling for a yummy, gluten-free, and veg-filled meal.
- Stuffed Zucchini: Use up a bumper crop of zucchini with this recipe.
- Mini Meatloaves: Shape barbecue sauce-infused ground beef into mini meatloaves for a faster cooking time.
- Meatball Muffins: These adorable meatloaf muffins are almost too cute to eat!
- Meatballs: Enjoy bold, herbaceous flavors in a high-protein meatball recipe.
- Teriyaki Meatballs: Make super flavorful homemade teriyaki meatballs with fewer than ten ingredients.
- Shepherd's Pie: Update traditional shepherd's pie with ground beef, sneaky veggies, dried herbs, and a touch of chili powder, topped with creamy, mashed sweet potatoes.
- Pizza Burger: Combine a pizza and a burger into one kid-friendly meal.
- Cabbage Roll Stir Fry: This one-dish meal fits in almost any dietary plan and is a fresh, nutrient-dense meal.
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans: Add a Southwestern twist to traditional baked beans and make them in the slow cooker.
- Taco Pasta Skillet: Make good use of leftover taco meat in an easy, one-skillet recipe.
- Italian Wedding Soup: Make comfort foods a little more nutritious with this Italian-inspired meal.
Tips for Using Ground Beef
- Choose lean ground beef: Look for ground beef with a lean-to-fat ratio of 90/10 or higher.
- Add moisture to lean ground beef: Since lean ground beef contains less fat, it needs more moisture to prevent it from drying out. Use chicken broth or tomato paste to add moisture and flavor.
- Make your own taco seasoning: Avoid store-bought taco seasoning packets, which often contain preservatives and other unwanted additives.
- Read ingredient lists carefully: When buying tortillas, check the ingredient list to ensure they are made with real ingredients and not full of preservatives.
- Thaw ground beef safely: Thaw ground beef overnight in the refrigerator or use the cold water or microwave method for faster thawing.
Is Ground Beef Healthy?
Lean ground beef is a healthy, low-cost, and high-quality protein food. It's an excellent source of iron to help prevent anemia, rich in zinc for immunity, and high in protein. Choose leaner cuts of ground beef to balance red meat consumption with leaner choices.
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