The Best Ground Beef Recipes of 2022

Simple Taco Soup

We first sampled this chili-like taco soup recipe at a church dinner. What a warming dish for a cold day. And because it uses packaged seasonings with several cans of vegetables, it’s a snap to prepare. —Glenda Taylor, Sand Springs, Oklahoma

Go to Recipe

Porcupine Meatballs

These well-seasoned porcupine meatballs in a rich tomato sauce are one of my mom’s best ground beef recipes. I used to love this meal when I was growing up. I made it at home for our children, and now my daughters make it for their families. —Darlis Wilfer, West Bend, Wisconsin

Cheeseburger Soup

A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup. I liked it so much that I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American dish turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin

Favorite Baked Spaghetti

This baked spaghetti is my grandchildren’s most-loved dish. It feels like such a special dinner and is so cozy for winter. —Louise Miller, Westminster, Maryland

Easy Ground Beef Taco Salad

Every time I have to bring a dish to a party, friends ask for my taco salad. Even players on my son’s football team ask for it. —Lori Buntrock, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Southwestern Casserole

I’ve been making this mild family-pleasing southwest casserole recipe for years. It tastes wonderful, fits nicely into our budget and, best of all, makes a second one to freeze and enjoy later. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Favorite Hamburger Stew

I got this hamburger stew recipe from a woman at our church, Lois Henry, when I needed a way to use up our bounty of home-canned tomatoes. My husband loves it, and I like that it’s easy to warm up for a carefree dinner in the winter months. —Marcia Clay, Truman, Minnesota

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf

When my husband and I were first married, he refused to eat meat loaf because he said it was bland and dry. Then I prepared this version, and it became his favorite meal. —Suzanne Codner, Starbuck, Minnesota

Quick Tater Tots Bake

I like to make this Tater Tot casserole when time before supper is short. If we have unexpected company, I just double the ingredients and use a 13×9-in. pan. I call it my Please Stay Casserole! —Jean Ferguson, Elverta, California

Cowboy Calico Beans

This is a tradition at the table when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls’ weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin

Italian Pasta Bake

I love to make this pasta bake whenever I need to bring a dish to pass. Fresh tomatoes add a nice touch that’s missing from most other meat, pasta and tomato casseroles.—Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana

Burrito Bake

Back when I was in college, my roommate would frequently make this economical baked burrito casserole. It’s so easy to put together, and one serving goes a long way. —Cindee Ness, Horace, North Dakota

Ground Beef Hash Brown Casserole

Because this ground beef hash brown casserole is practically a meal in itself, I simply pair it with a salad and dessert. —Rochelle Boucher, Brooklyn, Wisconsin

Taco Salad for a Large Crowd

I made this huge taco salad to bring to a party and people were scrambling to figure out who made it. Needless to say I only brought home an empty bowl and the guests went home with a full stomach! Everyone loves this taco salad recipe. —Lisa Homer, Avon, New York

Mom’s Spanish Rice

My mom is famous for her Spanish rice recipe, the ultimate comfort food. When I want a taste of home, I whip up this dish. Punch up the flavor with a little lime and extra chili powder. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Meat-and-Potato Casserole

For variety, you can use another kind of cream soup (cream of mushroom, for instance). But try this meat and potato casserole this way first.—Marna Heitz, Farley, Iowa

Taco Noodle Casserole

I got creative while we were housebound during a snowstorm one winter and used ingredients I had on hand to come up with this hearty Taco Noodle Casserole. —Judy Munger, Warren, Minnesota

Korean Beef and Rice

A friend raved about Korean bulgogi, which is beef cooked in soy sauce and ginger, so I tried it. It’s delicious! You’ll dazzle the table with this tasty version of Korean beef and rice. —Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota

Cheeseburger Cups

The best recipe for moms with young kids and busy lives, this simple, inexpensive dish is made with handy ingredients and takes just a short time. Best of all, kids will go absolutely crazy for these darling dinner bites! —Jeri Millhouse, Ashland, Ohio

Contest-Winning Taco Casserole

My preschooler doesn’t eat ground beef unless it’s taco flavored, so I came up with this taco bake we all like. To make assembly easy, I prepare the taco meat and freeze several bags at a time. I also cook the noodles over the weekend for a timely supper later in the week. –Kathy Wilson, Romeoville, Illinois

Potato-Topped Ground Beef Skillet

Compared to other ground beef recipes, the depth of flavor in this recipe is the best, and I never have leftovers when I take it to potlucks. I love recipes that I can cook and serve in the same skillet. If your butcher has chili grind beef, which is coarsely ground, go for that; it lends an extra meaty texture. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas

Polpette di Mamma

When you think of Italian food, spaghetti with meatballs is probably one of the first dishes that comes to mind. Every Italian mother and grandmother has their signature polpette (meatball) recipe, and their children will always boast that their meatballs are the best. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Frito Pie

Frito pie is legendary in the Southwest for being spicy, salty and cheesy fabulous. Here’s my easy take on this crunchy classic. —Jan Moon, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Beef and Noodle Casserole

When I was working on the local election board in the ’50s, one of my co-workers gave me this ground beef casserole with noodles recipe, and it has been a family favorite ever since. It’s quick to make for unexpected company or easily doubled for a potluck. —Mary Hinman, Escondido, California

Barbecued Meatballs

Grape jelly and chili sauce are the secrets that make these meatballs so fantastic. If I’m serving them at a party, I prepare the meatballs and sauce in advance and reheat them right before guests arrive. —Irma Schnuelle, Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Mom's Meat Loaf

Mom made the best meatloaf recipe, and now I do, too. When I first met my husband, he didn’t care for homemade meatloaf, but this won him over. —Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas

Stuffed Pepper Soup

I was talking about stuffed peppers with the other cooks at the restaurant where I work. We decided to mix similar ingredients for a soup. Customer response was overwhelming! —Krista Muddiman, Meadville, Pennsylvania

Quick and Simple Meatballs

Keep a batch of these meatballs in your freezer for an easy weeknight meal. This simple ground beef recipe can be used for pizzas, sub sandwiches, in soups and more. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Taco Salad Casserole

This taco casserole recipe tastes like a taco salad and is a breeze to assemble. I crush tortilla chips to form a bottom layer, then spread on refried beans, a spicy meat mixture and cheese. —Rhonda McKee, Greensburg, Kansas

Three-Bean Baked Beans

With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I’m always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

My husband has a hearty appetite, our two kids never tire of pizza and I grow lots of zucchini, so this tasty tomato casserole is absolutely tops with us throughout the entire year. Once you’ve tried the recipe, you may even decide to grow more zucchini in your own garden next summer! —Lynn Bernstetter, White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Tasty Burritos

My cousin is of Mexican heritage, and I’ve watched her make this crunchy beef burrito recipe for years. The very first time I made them for my own family, they instantly became a favorite meal. They’re even better warmed up the next day in the microwave. —Debi Lane, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Easy Beef-Stuffed Shells

Here’s a rich and comforting dish that’s terrific right away or made ahead and baked the next day. Pesto makes a surprising filling for these stuffed shells with meat sauce. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia

Sloppy Joes Sandwiches

You’ll love this quick, easy and economical homemade sloppy joe recipe. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness, both for traditional sandwiches on buns or as a down-home topping for rice, biscuits or baked potatoes. —Laurie Hauser, Rochester, New York

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Rolls

It was an abundance of dill in my garden that led me to try this, and now it’s one of my best recipes. My family liked the taste so much that, from then on, I made my old-fashioned cabbage rolls recipe with dill. – Florence Krantz, Bismarck, North Dakota

Cowboy Beef Dip

In a foods class, a group of us developed this recipe for the North Dakota’s annual Beef Bash. We won the contest!—Jessica Klym, Killdeer, North Dakota

Taco Lasagna

If you like foods with southwestern flair, this just might become a new favorite. Loaded with cheese, meat and beans, the layered casserole comes together in a snap. There are never any leftovers when I take this dish to potlucks. —Terri Keena, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole

I received the recipe for this unstuffed cabbage casserole from a teacher at the preschool where I work. It’s a nutritious and economical meal for busy families. —Judy Thorn, Mars, Pennsylvania

Best Salisbury Steak

Finding the best Salisbury steak recipe is hard! I remember enjoying it often when I was growing up, but when I decided to add it to my recipe collection, I wasn’t able to find it in my modern cookbooks. I came up with these ingredients on my own and experimented until it tasted like the dish I remembered. —Faye Hintz, Springfield, Missouri

Homemade Pizza

This recipe is a hearty, zesty main dish with a crisp, golden crust. Feel free to add your favorite toppings. —Marianne Edwards, Lake Stevens, Washington

Best Lasagna

Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can’t go wrong with this deliciously rich ground beef lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois

Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Born out of a need to rid the fridge of extras, this Mexican ground beef casserole recipe is as great as it is flexible. Add more corn to make it sweeter, if you like. You can also spice it up as hot or mild as you want. —David Mills, Indianapolis, Indiana

Chili con Carne

At chili suppers, this chili con carne recipe always disappears first! It's nice at home, too, since the longer it sits in the refrigerator, the better the taste seems to get. —Janie Turner, Tuttle, Oklahoma

Salisbury Steak with Onion Gravy

This hearty main dish is a favorite at our house. It really warms you up. —Kim Kidd, New Freedom, Pennsylvania

Walking Tacos

These Walking Tacos are great for an on-the-go dinner, campfire meal or easy game night supper. The ingredients transform a bag of chips into a taco in a bag! —Beverly Matthews, Pasco, Washington

Firecracker Casserole

My husband and I love this southwestern-style firecracker casserole. The flavor reminds us of enchiladas, but the recipe doesn’t require the extra time to roll them up. —Teressa Eastman, El Dorado, Kansas

Traditional Lasagna

My family first tasted this rich, homemade lasagna recipe at a friend’s home on Christmas Eve. We were so impressed that it became our own holiday tradition as well. I also prepare it other times of the year. This classic lasagna recipe is requested often by my sister’s Italian in-laws—I consider that the highest compliment! —Lorri Foockle, Granville, Illinois

Enchilada Casserole

Every time I serve this ground beef recipe, I get satisfied reviews—even from my father, who is the pickiest eater. Plus, it smells delicious while baking! —Nancy VanderVeer, Knoxville, Iowa

Creamy Beef & Potatoes

One of my husband’s favorite childhood memories was eating his Grandma Barney’s Tater Tot Casserole. One day I prepared it using potatoes O’Brien instead. Now I always make it this way. — Heather Matthews, Keller, Texas

Lasagna Rolls

My Italian lasagna roll-ups are not complicated; they require only basic ingredients to assemble. Prepared spaghetti sauce helps me save time and get dinner on the table sooner. —Mary Lee Thomas, Logansport, Indiana