18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (2024)

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They're as versatile as they are global.

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Mimi Young

18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (1)

Mimi Young

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Mimi Young is an editor and chef.

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Published January 09, 2024

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18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (2)

Even as a culinary professional, I get stumped sometimes staring at the ground beef in the butcher's case. Sure, it's on special, but what the heck do I want to do with it? Do I go with the tried and true burger or meatloaf? Maybe something I've never tried making at home before, like Jamaican beef patties? I know I'm not alone in my quandary.

We've delved into our vast Serious Eats library to come up with a collection of recipes to inspire you to rethink how to cook your favorites or try cooking something new—such as Cincinnati chili, grilled Korean-style bulgogi burgers, skillet tamale pie, seekh kebabs, and Cuban picadillo. Whatever the mood or occasion, there is a perfect ground beef recipe for you.

  • Pressure Cooker Ground Beef and Bean Chili

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (3)

    Classic beef-and-bean chili done right normally requires plenty of time to simmer to fully tenderize the meat—not ideal for the impatient cook. But Daniel's pressure cooker method reduces the cooking time considerably without compromising on flavor, and is bolstered with a little coffee, dark chocolate, and fish sauce to add subtle toasty and savory notes.

    Pressure Cooker Ground Beef and Bean Chili

  • Cincinnati Chili

    Cincinnati chili may seem idiosyncratic in the pantheon of American chilis, but there is much to love about this dish of spiced meaty chili piled on a bed of tender spaghetti and topped with diced onion and a mound of shredded cheddar. Jed's version includes a little dry active yeast to replicate the famed Skyline Chili signature seasoning.

    Cincinnati Chili

  • Classic Meatloaf (The Food Lab)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (5)

    Leave it to Kenji to improve on an American classic, coming up with a version that's deeply moist and meaty with a firm tender texture that holds its shape so each slice stays intact. It's perfect as is served up with a side of ultra-fluffy mashed potatoes, or layered in a sandwich.

    Classic Meatloaf (The Food Lab)

  • Grilled Korean-Style Bulgogi Burgers With Kimchi Mayo and Pickled Daikon

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (6)

    Bold flavors of Korean bulgogi married with proper burger grilling technique equals the best kind of fusion cooking. Layering in colorful crunchy vegetables and piquant kimchi mayo turns this burger into a visual feast.

    Grilled Korean-Style Bulgogi Burgers With Kimchi Mayo and Pickled

    Continue to 5 of 18 below.

  • Curried Jamaican Beef Patties

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (7)

    These brightly hued flaky pastries—loaded with deeply seasoned ground beef, onions, garlic, and Scotch bonnet peppers—are ubiquitous throughout Jamaica. They're found in ramshackle roadside stands, neighborhood restaurants, and even resorts. One bite can magically transport you to a warm sunny beach!

    Curried Jamaican Beef Patties

  • Cuban Picadillo

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (8)

    This easy-to-make Cuban comfort food classic is deceptively simple but big on flavor. The layers of flavor begin with a sofrito and finish with briny green olives, capers, and raisins that add brightness and texture. Serve it with white rice and black beans.

    Cuban Picadillo

  • Easy Skillet Tamale Pie With Cornbread Crust

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (9)

    Although it's hard to say whether this savory skillet pie of beef chili topped with a buttery, tender, crisp-edged cornbread crust was actually inspired by the Mexican tamale, it's definitely part of the great lexicon of Americanized dishes. Browned butter gives the cornbread a rich, nutty aroma.

    Easy Skillet Tamale Pie With Cornbread Crust

  • Salisbury Steak With Mushroom Brown Gravy

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (10)

    Like Daniel, Salisbury steak was one of my favorite TV dinners as a kid (and the only school cafeteria offering I actually wanted to eat). His rendition features a juicy and tender steak-like patty smothered in a rich mushroom gravy accentuated with sweet, complex onion flavor.

    Salisbury Steak With Mushroom Brown Gravy

    Continue to 9 of 18 below.

  • American Chop Suey (Macaroni, Beef, and Cheese Skillet Casserole)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (11)

    Despite its origins, calling this "choy suey" is perhaps a bit of a misnomer. Nevertheless, you can't argue that the combination of tender macaroni, tomato sauce, and ground beef (seasoned with Worcestershire sauce) baked with lots of melty pockets of mozzarella cheese isn't deeply satisfying. This one-skillet wonder is almost as easy as cracking open a box of Beefaroni mix.

    American Chop Suey (Macaroni, Beef, and Cheese Skillet Casserole)

  • Tater Tot Casserole (Hotdish)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (12)

    Ever-present throughout the Midwest, "hotdish" is an entire meal baked in a casserole—consisting of meat, vegetables, a starch, and sauce. Golden, crispy tater tots reign supreme as the preferred starch, while ground beef is the traditional meat of choice. Sohla swaps out condensed canned soup in favor of a creamy from-scratch sauce made with roasted mushrooms.

    Tater Tot Casserole (Hotdish)

  • Classic, Savory Shepherd's Pie

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (13)

    Daniel's take on the British shepherd's pie starts with a glorious layer of ultra-rich mashed potatoes loaded with butter blanketing a savory, meaty ragù-like sauce studded with peas and carrots. While it's traditionally made with ground lamb, ground beef is a popular substitute—particularly for those who don't like the flavor of lamb.

    Classic, Savory Shepherd's Pie

  • Kotlet (Persian Ground Meat and Potato Patties)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (14)

    Popular throughout Iran and the Persian diaspora, these ground meat and potato patties are incredibly versatile and easy to make. Serve them hot or cold, as a main dish, side, snack, or even a sandwich filling.

    Kotlet (Persian Ground Meat and Potato Patties)

    Continue to 13 of 18 below.

  • Seekh Kebabs (Pakistani Spicy Grilled Ground Meat Skewers)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (15)

    Getting the right flavor profile is certainly key to making what Kenji calls the "meat-on-a-stick of your dreams." The other is properly salting, chilling, and grilling the meat to achieve seekh kebab nirvana.

    Seekh Kebabs (Pakistani Spicy Grilled Ground Meat Skewers)

  • Hoisin-Glazed co*cktail Meatballs

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (16)

    These sticky, tangy bite-sized morsels are much cooler than the toothpick-skewered co*cktail meatballs they served in the 60's. Paired with an irresistible dipping sauce, they're the ideal snack to munch on while sipping an ice-cold martini...shaken or stirred.

    Hoisin-Glazed co*cktail Meatballs

  • Moroccan Kefta and Bell Pepper Briouats (Ground Meat and Bell Pepper Pastries)

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (17)

    These triangular-shaped pastries filled with ground beef, caramelized onion, and bell pepper and flavored with garlic, sweet paprika, cumin, and coriander make for an excellent finger food or starter. Although they're traditionally made with a Moroccan pastry called warqua, the more readily available phyllo is a fine substitute.

    Moroccan Kefta and Bell Pepper Briouats (Ground Meat and Bell Pepper Pastries)

  • Cheesy Stuffed Mexican Peppers With Red Chile Sauce

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (18)

    These Tex-Mex-style stuffed peppers are filled with a creamy mixture of ground beef and rice bound in two kinds of cheese and sour cream, and spiked with chile powder and cumin. It's topped with a luscious sauce flavored with ancho chile, unsweetened cocoa, cumin, and Mexican oregano.

    Cheesy Stuffed Mexican Peppers With Red Chile Sauce

    Continue to 17 of 18 below.

  • Brown Rice Congee With Beef, Shiitake, and Garlic Chips

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (19)

    Rice porridge is a classic breakfast staple throughout Asia, and brown rice turns this "blank canvas" into a heartier, healthier base for a variety of accompaniments—such as marinated ground beef, dried shiitake mushrooms, and garlic chips. Reducing the water-to-rice ratio ensures that the brown rice congee will be just as creamy and silky as the white rice version.

    Brown Rice Congee With Beef, Shiitake, and Garlic Chips

  • Basic Ragù Bolognese

    18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (20)

    Ragù bologneseis a foundational component for several classic pasta dishes, including lasagna alla bolognese. We suggest making a batch and stashing it in your freezer.

    Basic Ragù Bolognese

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18 Ground Beef Recipes That Are Anything But Ordinary (2024)

FAQs

What 2 cuts can ground beef be made from? ›

Although any cut of beef can be used to produce ground beef, chuck steak is a popular choice because of its rich flavor and meat-to-fat ratio. Round steak is also often used. In the United States, ground beef is usually categorized based on the cut and fat percentage: Chuck: 78–84% lean.

Can you still cook GREY ground beef? ›

If only the interior is gray, you can bet that oxygen hasn't touched it to turn it red. This means ground beef with a gray interior is safe to eat. On the other hand, meat that looks gray or brown all over (on the inside as well as the top layer) has likely begun to spoil and is not safe to eat.

What can I add to hamburger meat for flavor? ›

Use a marinade: Marinate the ground beef in a flavorful liquid such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or red wine before cooking. Add a flavorful liquid: Add a small amount of beef broth, tomato sauce, or red wine to the ground beef while it cooks to add extra flavor.

Why does baking soda make ground beef taste better? ›

Baking soda helps prevent ground beef from drying out, allowing those burger patties to keep their moisture and brown quicker for the most flavorful cookout. Not to mention, baking soda is the ideal ingredient for getting the most out of your Thanksgiving bird.

What is Gordon Ramsay's best burger meat blend? ›

Gordon Ramsay hamburger recipe blend of brisket, chuck sirloin, and short rib ground beef with our exclusive chef's secret recipe, featuring a perfect meat blend and expert grill techniques.

What is the best meat for grinding hamburgers? ›

Chuck steak.

Marbled throughout and well-balanced in flavor with a decent lean-to-fat ratio, chuck steak is generally the primary cut used in burger blends and is supplemented with one or two other cuts of meat.

What's the difference between ground beef and hamburger meat? ›

The method of adding beef fat to hamburger is the primary difference between ground beef and hamburger. Ground beef can only be made using the fat that is a component of meat trimmings. If a processor makes ground beef containing 30 percent fat, the processor must use meat trim that contains about 30 percent fat.

Should ground beef be rinsed after cooking? ›

Rinsing raw ground beef could pose a health risk by splashing bacteria-filled juices all over your kitchen's surfaces. After the beef has been cooked, you're just rinsing away good flavor. If you want to get rid of some of the grease, drain the beef, but don't rinse it. It's just not necessary.

Do you drain the fat after cooking ground beef? ›

Draining the grease from ground beef will make a dish healthier and is usually recommended. Brown the meat first to extract the fat. Then, you can spoon the grease out of the pan or use a colander to drain the grease. It is important you do not discard the hot grease down a drain as it can cause damage to the drain.

When should you not eat ground beef? ›

Nevertheless, you should throw away ground beef if it has turned either brown or gray on the outside, as this indicates that it's beginning to rot. Additionally, mold can spoil cooked ground beef, so you should toss your leftovers if you notice any fuzzy blue, grey, or green spots.

Is it OK if ground beef smells a little sour? ›

It will take on a slight odor if it's been in the package for a while and is close to reaching its expiration date. But, if the smell is strong enough to make you wrinkle your nose, you know it's time to toss it. Be on the lookout for ground beef that smells rotten or sour. When in doubt, it's best to throw it out.

Why did my frozen hamburger turn white? ›

Freezer burn is a term for the moisture lost from frozen food. It's what happens when meat left in your freezer for a long time loses moisture and begins to look discolored or shriveled. The surface may be covered in ice crystals. When you thaw foods that look like this, you'll notice that their texture appears tough.

Why is my frozen ground beef turning brown? ›

Color changes can occur in frozen foods but the foods remain safe to eat. The bright red color of meat as purchased usually turns dark or pale brown depending on its variety. This may be due to lack of oxygen, freezer burn or abnormally long storage. Freezing doesn't usually cause color changes in poultry.

Why does cheap ground beef taste different? ›

Diet is one of the most influential factors that impacts beef flavor and aroma. This is because the dietary nutrients cattle consume directly impact the fatty acid profile and nutrient profile of their fat. One of the most-common mantras in the meat industry is that fat is flavor.

What seasonings go well with beef? ›

Spices like onion and garlic, with their inherent pungency, are some of the first that come to mind when it's time to season beef. They are savory and strong, and also easy to come by! Black Pepper goes wonderfully with beef, with its slightly hot bite and the piney aroma. Cayenne is a terrific spice to use with beef.

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