40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

Table of Contents
40+ Easy, Healthy Ground Beef Recipes How to Quickly Thaw Ground Beef Can You Cook Frozen Ground Beef? How Long Does Ground Beef Last in The Fridge? Where to Buy The BEST Ground Beef Ground Beef Casserole Recipes 1. Spicy Southwest Butternut Squash Casserole 2. Keto Ground Beef Casserole 3. Zucchini Lasagna with Bolognese sauce 4. Easy Layered Enchilada Casserole 5. Keto Ground Beef Casserole Healthy Pasta With Ground Beef 6. The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe 7. Mac and Cheese Stuffed Acorn Squash 8. Creamy Mushroom Rigatoni 9. Cheesy Taco Pasta 10. Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe Healthy Ground Beef Burgers 11. 12. Beef Curry Rice Burger Bowls 13. Caramelized Onion Burgers with Arugula 14. Frikadellen (German meat patties) 15. Healthy Burgers Healthy Tacos With Ground Beef 16. Healthy Taco Meat Recipe 17. Taco Stuffed Peppers 18. Beef Tacos with Refried Beans 19. Healthier Taco Meat (American style tacos) 20. Ground Beef Tacos with Tomato Avocado Salsa Salads With Ground Beef 21. Easy Healthy Taco Salad 22. Burger Salad with Special Sauce Dressing 23. Burger in a Bowl 24. Spicy Beef Soba Noodle Salad 25. Thai Salad with Ginger Ground Beef and Peanut Dressing 26. Asian Beef and Cabbage Salad Ground Beef Soup Recipes 27. Keto Cabbage Soup 28. Homemade Stuffed Peppers Soup 29. Sopa de Albondigas – Healthy Meatball Soup 30. Stuffed Cabbage Soup 31. Beef & Lentil Soup Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes 32. Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Chili 33. Slow Cooker Taco Meat 34. Crock Pot Picadillo 35. Greek Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Low Carb Ground Beef Recipes 36. Spicy Southwest Whole30 Stuffed Peppers 37. Paleo Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls 38. Inside Out Eggroll 39. Greek Keto Moussaka With Eggplant & Yellow Squash 40. Keto Stuffed Peppers 41. Healthy Swedish Meatballs 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes Ingredients Instructions Nutrition FAQs References

Need some dinner inspiration? This list of 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes is the perfect way to use the ground beef in your refrigerator or freezer. Be sure to save this list of healthy ground beef recipes over onPinterestor bookmark this link to keep it on hand for whenever you’re needing a last-minute recipe!

40+ Easy, Healthy Ground Beef Recipes

These recipes are easy, quick, healthy, and delicious. Here’s what you’ll find in this post:

  • Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
  • Healthy Pasta With Ground Beef
  • Healthy Ground Beef Burgers
  • Healthy Tacos With Ground Beef
  • Salads With Ground Beef
  • Ground Beef Soup Recipes
  • Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes
  • Low Carb Ground Beef Recipes

Note: Some of these recipes are made with ground turkey, but can easily be swapped out for ground beef!

40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (1)

How to Quickly Thaw Ground Beef

The best way to thaw ground beef is in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. However, you can quickly thaw ground beef by placing it (packaged or in a sealed bag) in cold water for 2-3 hours, changing the water every 30 minutes. For an even quicker thaw, place the ground beef on a microwave safe plate or bowl, then microwave at 50% power for about 2-3 minutes!

Can You Cook Frozen Ground Beef?

While it’s best to thaw frozen ground beef before cooking into a recipe, it is definitely possible to cook ground beef from frozen! Simply cook it on the skillet, rotating it often and ensuring that it cooks evenly. This method may take a bit longer than cooking with thawed meat, but it’s perfectly safe!

How Long Does Ground Beef Last in The Fridge?

Raw ground beef lasts about 1-2 days in the refrigerator. Once cooked, ground beef can last in the fridge for about 3-4 days in an airtight container!

Where to Buy The BEST Ground Beef

I love to purchase ground beef from Butcher Box for the best, highest quality meat at a great price! It’s easy to use, 100% grass-fed beef, pasture-raised, and delivered right to your doorstep. If you are looking for the best ground beef, be sure to try out Butcher Box!

RELATED: My Honest Butcher Box Review

Ground Beef Casserole Recipes

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (2)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (3)

1. Spicy Southwest Butternut Squash Casserole

ThisSpicy Southwest Butternut Squash Casseroleis savory, spicy, wholesome, and perfect for a quick and easy dinner! Made with simple ingredients, this make-ahead meal can be made entirely in a casserole dish and is bursting with flavor. This ishealthy comfort foodthat the entire family will love!

2. Keto Ground Beef Casserole

Thisketo ground beef casserolerecipe is an easy and tasty one pan dinner the whole family will love. Savory ground beef, marinara and different cheeses make for a tasty low carb dinner with just 3.2g net carbs. Freeze leftovers of this hamburger casserole for a quick keto lunch!

3. Zucchini Lasagna with Bolognese sauce

A bold meaty zucchini lasagna made with thin slices of zucchini instead of pasta. This zucchinilasagna recipe is a lower carb version of a classic!

4. Easy Layered Enchilada Casserole

Enchilada casserole is a quick and easy dish that skips the rolling of the tortillas. Layers ground meat, cheese and mild green enchilada sauce make this a family favorite.

5. Keto Ground Beef Casserole

ThisKeto Ground Beef Casseroleis the perfect hearty comfort dish. Easy to make and hearty, you’ll love every single bite.

Healthy Pasta With Ground Beef

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (4)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (5)

6. The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe

The cheesiest, gooiest, creamiest, Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe for dinner tonight. All of the goodness of classic lasagna, but lightened up and loaded with healthyingredients for a wholesome version of the original. This is one of the BEST healthy ground beef recipes around!

7. Mac and Cheese Stuffed Acorn Squash

This comforting Mac and Cheese Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe is perfect as a festive autumn inspired main or side dish that everyone will love. Rich, creamy, and delicious! Simply swap the ground turkey for ground beef and you’ve got yourself a next-level meal!

8. Creamy Mushroom Rigatoni

Creamy Mushroom Rigatoni that’s perfect for a quick and easy dinner! Comforting, hearty, lightened-up, and delicious. Change out the sausage for ground beef and this is a recipe the entire family will love!

9. Cheesy Taco Pasta

Pasta, black beans, ground beef, tomatoes, homemade taco seasoning and cheddar cheese make the ultimate one pot dinner! This is one dish you will not get tired of!

10. Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe

This Spaghetti Bolognese recipe is a quick and easy weeknight version of the traditional, slow-simmered Italian meal. It’s a homemade pasta dish with herbs, spices, and seasonings that is both filling and comforting.

Healthy Ground Beef Burgers

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (6)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (7)

11.

Savory, smoky, and lightly spicy. Thesewholesome Red Pepper & Kale Beef Burgers w/ Grilled Onions & Goat Cheese are so full of delicious flavor!

12. Beef Curry Rice Burger Bowls

This easy, one-pan Beef Curry Rice Burger Bowls recipe is loaded with flavor! Delicious curry rice, chickpeas, fresh red peppers, and chili burger patties over a little bit of peppery kale. Perfect for a delicious, healthy weeknight dinner that the entire family will love!

13. Caramelized Onion Burgers with Arugula

This perfectly grilled beef burger is juicy, flavorful and everything you’re looking for! It is topped with melty muenster cheese, heaps of caramelized onions and fresh, peppery arugula. Give it a try – I promise it’ll become your new favorite!

14. Frikadellen (German meat patties)

A flavorful meat patty that is a cross between a meatball and a burger. This family favorite is so good and super versatile! A mixture of seasoned ground meat with sautéed onions and a softened bun (for the authentic tender texture) is shaped into large flattened meatballs. Pan-fried until browned on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside.

15. Healthy Burgers

TheseHealthy Burgersare plenty juicy, super flavorful and so easy to make on the grill or stovetop. Plus, they’re lightened up, so you can enjoy them on repeat all summer long.

Healthy Tacos With Ground Beef

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (8)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (9)

16. Healthy Taco Meat Recipe

Super easy, quick and flavorful! You only need a handful of simple ingredients, your favorite taco toppings, and the options are endless with this delicious taco meat. Use it to create taco salads, enchiladas, burritos, or your favorite taco variations. These tacos make for an easy dinner that the whole family will enjoy, even your pickiest eaters!

17. Taco Stuffed Peppers

Taco seasoned meat, black beans and a healthy dose of veggies. These taco stuffed peppers are a lighter approach to taco night and best of all take just over 30 minutes from start to finish!

18. Beef Tacos with Refried Beans

These classic tacos are the perfect weeknight meal for the entire family! Make your own beef taco meat with homemade taco seasoning and refried black beans. Delicious, nutritious and easy to make!

19. Healthier Taco Meat (American style tacos)

A lightened up version of everyone’s favorite classic taco! Packed with hidden veggies. You’ll love this healthier version of American style tacos!

20. Ground Beef Tacos with Tomato Avocado Salsa

This Ground Beef Taco recipe with Tomato and Avocado Salsa will be a new favorite! Perfect for any weeknight meal!

Salads With Ground Beef

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (10)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (11)

21. Easy Healthy Taco Salad

Spicy, sour, creamy, savory. This Easy Healthy Taco Salad can easily be made with ground beef instead of ground turkey and is perfect for a quick, wholesome dinner recipe!

22. Burger Salad with Special Sauce Dressing

The ultimate Burger Salad with Special Sauce Dressing! Made with mustard flavored ground beef, all your favorite burger toppings, and then topped with a delicious homemade special sauce.

23. Burger in a Bowl

This burger in a bowl recipe includes a homemade special burger sauce. It’s got all the toppings and flavors of your favorite fast food burger with a healthier spin and served with romaine lettuce!

24. Spicy Beef Soba Noodle Salad

This Spicy Beef Soba Noodle Salad is not only easy to make but also healthy and filling. It features beef, soba noodle, lots of fresh and crisp vegetables and a spicy dressing inspired by Korean flavors.

25. Thai Salad with Ginger Ground Beef and Peanut Dressing

This crisp, crunchy Thai chopped salad with ginger ground beef and Thai peanut dressing is a delicious, healthy ground beef dinner that’s heavy on vegetables and flavor! (dairy-free, gluten-free option)

26. Asian Beef and Cabbage Salad

Made with ready-made slaw mix, sweet red peppers, pea pods, onion, and ground beef, you’ll love this healthy, lean salad.

Ground Beef Soup Recipes

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (12)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (13)

27. Keto Cabbage Soup

Keto Cabbage Soup Recipe – very quick and easy to make, nutritious and delicious soup made with cabbage, ground beef and tomatoes! This meal is one of our favorite healthy ground beef recipes.

28. Homemade Stuffed Peppers Soup

Thisstuffed peppers soup recipeis made with a variety of fresh ingredients including ground beef, fresh vegetables, and rice. Make this tonight for a comfort food version of the classic dish!

29. Sopa de Albondigas – Healthy Meatball Soup

This delicious sopa de albondigas (meatball soup) is a traditional Guatemalan dish that’s easy to make and low in carbs. Serve it with rice, avocado and homemade corn tortillas for a meal the whole family will love.

30. Stuffed Cabbage Soup

This Stuffed Cabbage Soup recipe tastes just like stuffed cabbage rolls, but without the hassle. It is a heartwarming and comforting soup that simmers on the stovetop and is ready in less than 45 minutes! This one-pot soup recipe is freezer-friendly, customizable, and easily feeds a crowd!

31. Beef & Lentil Soup

Healthy, hearty, economical – it’s a complete dinner made in one pot. 100% perfect for freezing, use any veg you want and switch up the spicing to your taste!

Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (14)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (15)

32. Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Chili

Savory, easy-to-make Veggie-Loaded Slow Cooker Chili that’s perfect for a healthy and gluten free weeknight dinner. Make a big batch of this recipe and have it throughout the week!

33. Slow Cooker Taco Meat

The most tender and flavorful slow cooker beef tacos. Simmering all day gives this taco meat an incredible texture. This is a super simple and utterly delicious meal, a real crowd pleaser!

34. Crock Pot Picadillo

Crock Pot Picadillo is a flavorful Cuban dish made with ground beef and a sauce made from simmering tomatoes, green olives, bell peppers, cumin, and spices.So easy and so delicious!

35. Greek Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Homemade Crock Pot Sloppy Joes with Ground Turkey, Chickpeas, and Feta. An easy, healthy, and kid-friendly recipe your whole family will love!

Low Carb Ground Beef Recipes

  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (16)
  • 40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (17)

36. Spicy Southwest Whole30 Stuffed Peppers

Spicy Southwest Whole30 Stuffed Peppers loaded with savory ground beef, wholesome spinach, and sweet pine nuts. This recipe is easy to make and perfect to take on-the-go!

37. Paleo Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls

Delicious, savory, and perfect for lunch or dinner on-the-go. These Paleo Meatballs Meal Prep Bowls can be made with either ground turkey or ground beef for a healthy recipe you’ll love!

38. Inside Out Eggroll

This low carb inside out egg roll recipe is keto and low carb friendly. Make this quick dinner in only 20 minutes and serve with a simple Asian-inspired stir-fry sauce.

39. Greek Keto Moussaka With Eggplant & Yellow Squash

This delicious Greek keto moussakahas sliced eggplants and yellow squash, a hearty ground beef ragù sauce, and a rich cheese sauce. Tweaked to be very low carb, it has all the flavor of the traditional, famous Greek casserole and will leave you satisfied wanting more!

40. Keto Stuffed Peppers

These Keto Stuffed Peppers are made the classic way with ground beef, tomato, garlic, onion and spices topped with melty cheese. They’re perfect for any low-carb diet!

41. Healthy Swedish Meatballs

Need a comforting, lightened-up recipe for dinner tonight? These Healthy Swedish Meatballs are savory, delicious, and easy to make. Served in a creamy sauce that’s heavenly, the entire family will love this meal!

Did you make any of these recipes? Be sure to let us know what you think and tag your photos@jar.of.lemons!

40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (18)

40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (19)40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (20)40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (21)40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (22)40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (23)

4.72 from 69 votes

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40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes

Classic, easy ground beef recipe that's perfect for adding to tacos, casseroles, soups, and any healthy meal!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 105 kcal

Author: Christine McMichael

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp avocado oil
  • 1 lb ground beef (90/10 or 93/7)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Heat up the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

  • Add in the ground beef and break into small pieces with a spatula.

  • Let the ground beef cook for 4-5 minutes.

  • Add the salt and pepper.

  • Mix and sauté the ground beef occasionally for another 5-7 minutes (or until evenly browned and fully cooked).

  • Set aside for a recipe or refrigerate for later!

Nutrition

Calories: 105 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 11 g | Fat: 6 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 37 mg | Sodium: 328 mg | Potassium: 184 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 1 IU | Calcium: 8 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @jar.of.lemons or tag #JarOfLemons!

40+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make ground beef healthier? ›

There's a simple and, in my opinion, quite profound way to reduce the fat content in ground beef by 50 percent! Just rinse the fat off. The other awesome thing — rinsing and draining ground beef washes away the fat without decreasing the vitamins and minerals or messing up the flavor.

What is the healthiest ground beef? ›

The leanest type of ground beef is called ground sirloin, with a lean point of 90% lean and 10% fat (90/10). Some ground beef blends can be as lean as 96% lean with 4% fat (96/4). If you are looking for an alternative to ground beef, some types of game meat like ground bison are also very lean.

Is ground beef healthy to lose weight? ›

Losing Weight

To be fair, though, there is some saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in even lean ground beef, whether you're cooking with 80/20, 85/15, or even a lean 90/10. Nevertheless, the high amount of protein that ground beef offers still makes it ideal for your meal plan, even if your goal is to lose weight.

How do you reduce the fat in ground beef? ›

Nutrition researchers found that a simple rinsing process reduced the fat content of cooked ground beef crumbles by as much as 50 percent. Blotting of cooked burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf also helps reduce the fat. advantage of lower priced higher fat ground beef and still enjoy less fat.

What does adding milk to ground beef do? ›

The calcium-rich properties of milk react with enzymes in the meat to gently soften the proteins. Whole milk (not reduced fat), buttermilk, and yogurt all get the job done – with a special nod to buttermilk and yogurt for their optimal tenderizing acidity levels.

Is there a healthy ground beef? ›

Purchasing lean or extra lean ground beef is a fantastic way to add protein to your meals while skipping unnecessary fat. Whether you use it as a stuffing for tacos, peppers or baked potatoes, lean ground beef is an easy ingredient to keep in your freezer and pull out when needed.

What is the best ground meat for a diet? ›

Lean ground beef, with 95 percent protein and 5 percent fat, contains the most nutrients and the least saturated fat. From a nutritional perspective, this is definitely the best type of ground beef available.

Is 100% ground beef healthy? ›

Beef is a good source of protein and other nutrients but is also high in cholesterol and saturated fats that can cause fatty deposits to build up in your blood. Beef can be part of a healthy diet but should be eaten in moderation.

What is the healthiest meat option? ›

But to break it down in terms of meats only, and which is the healthiest, here's our list featuring the best:
  • Top overall: Lean cuts. ...
  • Lean cuts of Pork: ...
  • Healthiest: Skinless Turkey Meat. ...
  • Healthiest: Skinless Chicken Breast. ...
  • Healthiest: Flank, strip steak, and 95% lean ground beef. ...
  • Sources:

What meat helps lose belly fat? ›

Lean meats include skinless chicken breast, the white meat part of the turkey, and lean cuts of beef. Leafy greens, green tea, and bright vegetables can help reduce swelling and turn off fat-storage genes. Bright, colorful vegetables also add color and crunch to the meal plan.

Can I eat ground beef every day? ›

Also, if you want to enjoy red meat, official guidelines recommend a "relatively lower consumption" of red and processed meats. While there is no specific number dedicated to red meat, the overall recommendation for animal protein sources (meats, poultry and eggs) for a 2,000-calorie diet is 26 ounces per week.

Does boiling ground beef reduce fat? ›

Boiling ground beef actually reduces the fat in the meat. You're left with leaner meat to use in your favorite recipes or to put in the freezer for a quick meal later on. Most of the fat is left in the water after cooking, so boiled ground beef is much healthier than frying.

Does rinsing cooked ground beef make it leaner? ›

PEGGY: In a word, yes. Research from at Iowa State University in 2002 found that 4 ounces of 80% lean ground beef that was pan-fried, drained, blotted with paper towels and rinsed with hot water contained 121 calories and 5 grams of fat—roughly the equivalent of 95% lean beef, undrained.

Does grilling ground beef reduce fat? ›

Cooking ground beef to a safe internal temperature may also lower the fat content. Because of its ground and 'open' structure, ground beef can lose much of its fat during cooking. It is not unusual for 50% or more of the original fat in ground beef to be lost in preparation (Table 2).

Can I cook the fat out of ground beef? ›

Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high and continue to boil, breaking up the beef as it cooks. That there at the top – that's the fat that has rendered out of the ground beef during the boiling process. When all the beef is browned and thoroughly cooked, drain it in a colander over the sink.

Can I make ground beef leaner? ›

Draining meat can lower the fat content, but you're better off buying lean meat from the start, Krieger says. "Once you drain it, you can remove much of the fat from the fattier ground beef, but you can't remove it all, and since you are paying by the pound, you are essentially throwing away more money."

How can you make meat healthier? ›

Cut down on fat when cooking meat

Cut off any visible fat and skin before cooking – crackling and poultry skin are much higher in fat than the meat itself. Here are some other ways to reduce fat when cooking meat: grill meat, rather than frying. avoid adding extra fat or oil when cooking meat.

What can I add to ground beef to make it taste better? ›

11 Seasonings That Work Well With Ground Beef
  1. Always include salt and pepper. ...
  2. Add a bit of smoked paprika. ...
  3. Choose from different types of onion powder. ...
  4. Give it a noticeable garlic flavor. ...
  5. Complete with Italian herbs. ...
  6. Consider a curry blend. ...
  7. Spice it up with cayenne pepper. ...
  8. Mustard powder adds a unique tang.
Jan 21, 2023

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