Five-Ingredient Ground Beef Dishes So Easy They Practically Make Themselves
As much as we love intricately layered gratins and time-intensive roasts, sometimes a quick, five-ingredient dinner sounds just about right. We're not Julia Child, after all. Pairing a quick-fix recipe with budget-friendly ground beef might not come off glamorous, but it's simple and easy enough to make us not care a single bit. Because when you have a pound of ground chuck in the fridge and a pantry full of staples, the possibilities are wonderfully endless.
Odds are, you'll also have at least a couple of the game-changing ingredients used in each of these easy ground beef dishes before even heading to the grocery. So, if you see an ingredient list that's slightly longer, don't fret. Staples like spaghetti noodles, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and other simple seasonings are no brainers. In case you're not already sold, check out these deliciously easy dinners with ground beef and just a handful of ingredients.
Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy
Recipe: Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy
This hamburger steak is a quick-fix Southern supper recipe we always keep on deck. Make some extra patties, which can be frozen for up to three months, so you'll have a backup plan on busy weeknights.
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Taco Dinner Mac and Cheese
Recipe: Taco Dinner Mac and Cheese
When the family is debating Mexican or macaroni and cheese, consider this dish the perfect compromise. Ground beef and taco seasoning give some major flavor to an already very simple, delicious macaroni and cheese recipe.
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Serrano Pepper Burgers
Recipe: Serrano Pepper Burgers
Skip the boring sliced tomatoes and iceberg lettuce this time. Grill-roasted peppers add spicy heat, as well as a touch of sweetness and smoke, to these juicy burgers.
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Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake
Recipe: Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake
Serve it up in individual ramekins, or spread it out in your trusty 9-by-13 baking dish. Either way, just make sure to whip up this tasty ground beef recipe that's ready in under an hour.
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Extra-Easy Lasagna
Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna
Lasagna is a forever family favorite, and this simple recipe might be our most-used. When we say extra easy, we mean it.
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Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes
Recipe: Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes
We know you have some Texas toast in the freezer, and luckily it makes the perfect vessel for these cheesy barbecue Sloppy Joes. This comforting dinner will definitely be a forever favorite among the kids.
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Swiss Burgers in Tomato Gravy
Recipe: Swiss Burgers in Tomato Gravy
This juicy, cheese-topped meal looks fancy and indulgent, but takes minimal effort and few ingredients outside the blend of amazing seasonings. (That's the trick to next-level burgers.) Quick tomato gravy will make you leave that ketchup in the kitchen.
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Spaghetti Casserole
Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole
This slow-cooker version of our crowd-favorite spaghetti casserole makes it even more simple to throw together for supper. The hearty sauce with ground beef will ensure no one leaves the table hungry.
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Super Quick Chili
Recipe: Super Quick Chili
We've never seen anything quite as cute as these quick chili bites. Served in hollowed-out dinner rolls, this chili makes plenty of appearances at our tailgates, barbecues, and family suppers.
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Bev's Famous Meatloaf
Recipe: Bev's Famous Meatloaf
Skip the breadcrumbs and put one of those sleeves of saltine crackers (that we know you have in the pantry) to work in this home-style meatloaf recipe. Just a few key ingredients, like onions, green bell pepper, and a sweet tomato topping go to work to make one simply satisfying main dish.
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Sloppy Joe Carolina-Style Burgers
Recipe: Sloppy Joe Carolina-Style Burgers
These over-the-top burgers might need a knife and fork—because we don't call them sloppy for nothing. A pile of cole slaw and a scoop of Sloppy Joe-style chili give amazing flavor and texture.
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Southwestern Meatloaf
Recipe: Southwestern Meatloaf
Get that Tex-Mex flair from using crushed whole grain tortilla chips instead of plain breadcrumbs to flavor this juicy meatloaf. Make with chipotle salsa for its spicy kick and smoky notes, then serve as a tasty meatloaf sandwich or alongside Tex-Mex sides.
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Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs
Recipe: Sloppy Cola Joe Dogs
Go ahead, and plan on a delicious mess with these Sloppy Joe-topped hotdogs. They're livened up with a splash of cola, which gives the ground beef a sweet boost. Top with sliced pepperoncini peppers and coleslaw if you want some heat and crunch.
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30-Minute Chili
Recipe: 30-Minute Chili
This deliciously easy chili comes with a short ingredient list, can be made in one pot, and is ready in 30 minutes. Simmering the ground beef might be the hardest part, which says it all. Once you've finished that, you just pour everything else in, and stir.
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Richard's Sloppy Joes
Recipe: Richard's Sloppy Joes
You just can't beat a homemade meal that's both incredibly simple and crowd-pleasing. The short ingredient list works hard to give a hearty dinner that adults and kids alike love.
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Pepper Relish Mini Meatloaves
Recipe: Pepper Relish Mini Meatloaves
Get dinner on the table even faster with these mini meatloaves. With fewer ingredients and a shorter cooking time, this recipe makes for a better weeknight supper.
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Lean Green Lettuce Tacos
Recipe: Lean Green Lettuce Tacos
Who needs taco shells? With some zucchini, yellow squash, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, you turn lettuce cups into a leveled-up taco.
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Red Bean Chili
Recipe: Red Bean Chili
Pull an onion, can of beans, tomato juice, and soup out of your pantry to make this simple—but delicious—chili on a busy evening.
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Chili in a Biscuit Bowl
Recipe: Chili in a Biscuit Bowl
If there's two things we love around here, it's biscuits and chili. Now, you can have both at the same time, and most of the ingredients are probably in your pantry right now.
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Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust
Recipe: Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust
This is a one-dish deal with a cheesy Polenta Crust. Sharp Cheddar, fresh veggies, and ground beef create a winning combination.
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Smothered Enchiladas
Recipe: Smothered Enchiladas
It doesn't take much to throw together these enchiladas, but the end result tastes like you spent all day making it.
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Chili-Topped Potatoes
Recipe: Chili-Topped Potatoes
Chili meets the baked potato in a divine mashup that calls for things you probably already have, like canned beans and tomatoes, taco seasoning, and onions. You'll only need to run out to stock up on garnishes like the green onions.
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Bacon, Peach, and Basil Burgers
Recipe: Bacon, Peach, and Basil Burgers
Summer called, and it needs these burgers. Sweet peach slices and peach chutney get a punch from the chopped pickled jalapeño peppers.
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Bacon Cheeseburger
Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger
The key to this burger? Smashing it on the grill for an irresistibly crispy edge. Add a little extra bacon and you won't have to ask us twice.
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Texas-Style Beef Enchilada Casserole
Recipe: Texas-Style Beef Enchilada Casserole
Enchilada, meet the easy everyday casserole bake. It's a Taco Tuesday replacement that'll garner no complaints—watch everyone come around for seconds.
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Easy Chili
Recipe: Easy Chili
There are a lot of chili recipes out there, but we think this one reigns supreme. It's not frilly, but that's part of the charm. With a handful of simple ingredients, you've got dinner or the perfect potluck dish.
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Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup
Recipe: Chunky Vegetable Beef Soup
Hearty, comforting, warm—what more could you want from a soup? Serve with a side of crunchy saltines for a cozy winter meal.
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Doritos Casserole
Recipe: Doritos Casserole
Up your casserole game with a sprinkling of Doritos—after all, it's an acceptable way to eat some chips for dinner. A can of chopped green chilies gives the whole dish a kick, and some cream of chicken adds a little richness.
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Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers
Recipe: Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers
Break out your trusty cast-iron skillet and prepare to be amazed by this one-dish wonder. With onions caramelized in bacon fat accompanied by juicy patties, these burgers are one for the books.