Ground Beef!

Here are some cost friendly recipes using ground beef (one of the cheapest meats you can buy). These recipes are easy, fast and tasty!

Southwestern Beef Tacos

8 flour 6 inch tortillas
1 medium avocado (optional)
2 TBL vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
2/3 cup prepared salsa plus 1/2 cup, divided
1/2 cup sour cream
Favorite cheese for topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wrap tortillas in foil. Place in oven to warm for 5 minutes. Peel avocado and cut into wedges. Place wedges on a small plate; cover tightly with plastic wrap.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; sauté for 1 minutes. Add beef. Cook until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes; drain fat. Add onion and bell pepper.
3. Stir-fry beef mixture for 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add 2/3 cup salsa to skillet. Stir-fry for 1 minute longer.
4. Divide beef mixture evenly among tortillas. Fold each tortilla over and place on serving platter. Top with some avocado, sour cream, cheese, and remaining salsa.

Cheesy Mac

1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 (14.5 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (4.5 oz) can chopped green chilies
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1. Heat large skillet over medium heat; add beef. Cook, stirring, until brown and crumbly about 5 minutes; drain. Add onion. Cook, stirring continually, until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes, green chilies and garlic powder to skillet; mix well. Bring beef mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook macaroni according to package directions; rinse and drain. Add macaroni to skillet; mix gently. Reduce heat to low. Stir in 1 cup of cheese.
4. Simmer beef mixture just until heated through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese just before serving.


Meat Loaf (this meat loaf is a combination of 3 different recipes. I took my favorite parts of each and then combined them into one recipe).

1 envelope onion soup mix
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs (or plain)
3/4cup water
3 TBL honey
2 lbs ground beef
2 eggs
1/3 cup ketchup, plus 9 TBL
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine soup mix, ground beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, water, and 1/3 cup ketchup.
2. In 13x9 baking dish, shape into loaf. In a small bowl, combine 9TBL ketchup, honey and Worcestershire sauce. Spread evenly over top of meatloaf.
3. Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes before eating.

Onion and Cheddar Burgers

2 lbs ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1 TBL Worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup ketchup
1 cup chopped onions (1 medium onion)
Lettuce and Tomatoes for toppings
6 hamburger buns

1. Combine beef, egg, salt, pepper, oregano, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl; mix well. Add onion; mix well.
2. Add cheddar cheese to bowl; mix well but do not over mix. Cheese should retain its shape. Shape beef mixture into 6 patties. Preheat broiler.
3. Place hamburgers on broiler pan. Broil, turning once, until cooked through (about 5 minutes per side), Toast cut sides of buns under broiler. Place patties on buns with lettuce tomatoes.

Mexican Lasagna (thank you Ann)

1 lb ground beef
1 TBL chili powder
¼ tsp red pepper (Cheyenne)
1 tsp black pepper
10-12 CORN tortillas
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1 can (16 oz) tomatoes, chopped
2 cups small curd cottage cheese, drained
1 egg
1 cup grated Monterey jack cheese with peppers or just cheddar cheese
½ cup cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded lettuce
½ cup fresh tomatoes, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
¼ cup sliced black olives.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef; drain thoroughly. Add cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, red pepper, salt, pepper and can of tomatoes; heat through.
2. Cover bottom and sides of 13x9 baking dish with tortillas. Pour beef mixture over tortillas; place a layer of tortillas over meat mixture and set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Monterey jack cheese and egg. Pour mixture over second layer of tortillas. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
4. Remove from oven; sprinkle rows of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, and olives diagonally across center of casserole.

Salisbury Steak (thank you Grandma Jorgensen)

1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ lb ground beef
¼ cup finely chopped onion
Dash of black pepper
2 TBL chopped parsley
2 tsp mustard
1 tsp horseradish
1 egg, slightly beaten
½ tsp salt
½ cup water
½ cup breadcrumbs

1. Blend soup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish. Combine beef, ¼ cup of the soup mixture, egg, bread crumbs, onions, salt and pepper.
2. Shape into 6 patties. IN skillet, brown patties. Pour off fat. Add remaining soup mixture, water and parsley.
3. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice.

Spicy Shepherd’s pie

1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 chile pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp paprika
1 TBL all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups beef broth
1 cup shredded carrots
¾ tsp salt, divided
¼ tsp black pepper
1 ½ lb potatoes, peeled
½ cup milk
2 TBL butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat a large saucepan and add the ground beef and onion. Cook, stirring, until the meat has browned, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the chile pepper, cumin and paprika. Continue to cook for 1 minute.
2. Mix the flour, then pour in the broth and stir. Add shredded carrots. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Season with ½ tsp salt and the black pepper.
3. Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into even-size pieces. Place in a large saucepan and add enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Drain well and return the potatoes to the pot. Add the milk, butter, and the remaining salt. Mash until smooth.
4. Spoon the meat mixture into a large casserole dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with mashed potatoes and fluff up using a fork. Bake until golden brown 25-30 minutes. Serve hot.