Dinner Ideas With Ground Beef

Beef is a great source of protein and iron but if cholesterol is a concern, one may use lean or extra lean beef. The beauty of ground beef is that it can be used in a wide variety of dinner delicacies and can change form to suit the need. It can be transformed into hamburgers, roast beef, grilled steak and stew. It is a good idea to supplement any beef dinner with salads and other side dishes that ensure that the meal is nutritionally balanced. Some easy dinner ideas with ground beef are:

• Ground Beef MeatBalls: Mix the ground beef with an egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, chopped onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Shape into balls and fry in skillet. Read more on Swedish meatballs.
• Ground Beef Stir fry: Combine the ground beef with frozen stir fry veggies and some soy sauce. Stir fry and serve with rice
• Ground Beef Shepards Pie: Mix the ground beef with bell peppers, peas and white sauce or cream of soup. Top it with a layer of mashed potatoes and bake.
• Ground Beef "Stroganoff": Add a can of cream of soup, one packet dry brown gravy mix, onions or mushrooms to the ground beef and cook. Serve it over noodles or rice.
• Ground Beef Tacos/Burritos: Mix the ground beef with a ready spice mix and according to your preference, serve in taco shells or on burrito wraps, along with the regular accompaniments.
• Ground Beef Spaghetti: Add spaghetti sauce from can and cook. Serve over noodles
• Ground Beef Soup: Start by using either tomato juice or broth as a base, to which you add the ground beef, veggies and penne (optional).
• Ground Beef Curry: This is an acquired taste. Add frozen or leftover veggies to the ground beef, along with instant curry cubes. Serve with rice
• Ground Beef Sloppy Joes: Use a recipe you like or mix together the ground beef, ketchup, BBQ, sauce, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Cook and serve in a bun.
• Ground Beef Gravy: This dinner must be accompanied by biscuits, rice or bread. You could make a milk gravy or an easier option would be to use a ready country/brown mix.
• Ground Beef Casserole: Mix the ground beef with noodles or penne, white sauce/cream of soup, corn and peas, salt and pepper. Read more on Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
• Ground Beef Chili Mac: Combine the ground beef with spaghetti sauce, cooked elbow noodles, chili powder, onion, beans and green pepper. Bake and serve.
• Ground Beef Mac 'n Cheese: Add the ground beef to your regular Mac 'n Cheese recipe. Read more on Easy Recipes for Ground Beef

As I don't want to leave you with just ground beef dinner ideas but no ground beef dinner recipes to try, here is one of my favorites:

Ground Beef Meatballs

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pound(s) ground beef
• ¼ cup(s) coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup(s) chicken broth
• ¾ cup(s) plain, dried bread crumbs
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 3 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1 chipotle chile in adobo
• 1 can(s) (28-ounce) tomatoes

Directions
Combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, pepper, a third of the minced garlic, 1 tsp salt and ¼ cup water in a large mixing bowl. Coat your hands with a little oil and form the meat mixture into ¾'' meatballs. For the sauce, put the tomatoes along with their juice and chipotle chile and blend on low speed until smooth. Heat the vegetable oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven/skillet, over medium heat. Carefully add the onion and cook until tender (for about 5 minutes). Next, add the cumin and remaining garlic. After about a minute, pour in the tomato mixture, chicken broth and ¼'' teaspoon salt. Bring to boil and then add in the raw meatballs. Bring the heat down to low and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Transfer to serving dish and add a sprinkling of cilantro.

This scrumptious meatball recipe is sure to be among the ranks of your family's favorite meals. Try out one of these dinner ideas with ground beef every time you have ground beef in the freezer and need to prepare a quick nutritious meal.