Pantry Staple Meals

Easy Ways to Use a Pound of Ground Beef

Published 09/22/2026

A pound of ground beef is a grocery staple for many families. These recipes use this common ingredient to make spectacular, mouth-watering, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and easily. In fact, any one of these recipes would be a great answer to the never-ending question: “What’s for dinner tonight?”

Easy Homemade Chili
4.3 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 28 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 9
Servings: 4
This chili recipe is super simple and kid-friendly (not too spicy), and it comes together in just 30 minutes.
Smashed Tacos
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 1 reviews.
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 4
Inspired by the popularity of smash burgers, a smashed taco creates a crispy, flavorful filling that sticks to the tortilla for minimal mess.
Easy Crescent Taco Bake
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 423 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 6
With only five ingredients, you can make this recipe quickly and easily for a last-minute dinner that your family is sure to love.
Bacon Cheeseburger Biscuit Cups
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 10 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 11
Servings: 8
These cups are a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen—they can top their biscuits with their favorite burger fixings!
Tamale Pie (Casserole)
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 103 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 6
Making individual tamales can be time consuming, but this casserole makes them oh-so-easy.
One-Pan Loco Moco
3.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 2 reviews.
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 14
Servings: 4
A beloved lunch staple in Hawaii, this easy dish is comfort food at its finest.
20-Minute Smothered Beef Burrito Skillet
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 273 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 4
This skillet dinner has all of your favorite burrito ingredients and only takes 20 minutes to create.
Easy Slow-Cooker Lasagna
4.2 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 327 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 4 hr 50 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 8
No need to pre-cook any noodles in this easy slow-cooker lasagna recipe. Just dump, set, and forget!
Cheesy Nacho Beef Skillet
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 90 reviews.
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 6
Skillets truly take nachos to the next level. This recipe is simple, quick, and a great twist on taco night.
Nacho Crunch Crescent Ring
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 1 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 6
Love that soft, cheesy taco wrap you grab at the drive-through, the one with that satisfying crunch? Skip the takeout and make a homemade meal that’s just as easy.
Double Stack Cheesy Tacos
0.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 0 reviews.
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 6
This Mexican-inspired recipe gives you a soft shell and hard shell taco all in one. Give everyone what they want without sacrificing time and prep!
5-Ingredient Cheesy Beef Enchilada Crescent Cups
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 5 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 5
Servings: 8
Fifteen minutes of prep, five ingredients, and one muffin pan: That’s all it takes for this super easy spin on beef enchiladas to come together.
Goulash
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 2 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 13
Servings: 4
This easy goulash is as satisfying as it is simple.
Instant Pot® Spaghetti Bolognese
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 45 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 9
Servings: 6
Boring spaghetti? Not on our watch! This recipe is delicious and easy, perfect for those unexpectedly busy nights.
Chopped Cheese Runza
2.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 3 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 4
Originating in Nebraska, the runza combines seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty sauce wrapped in a flaky pizza crust.
Mini Meatloaves with Broccoli and Crescent Rolls
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 3 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 21
Servings: 6
When meatloaf is done right, there’s nothing more comforting and tasty to have on your plate! These mini meatloaves make the classic dish easier than ever.
Biscuit-Topped Cowboy Casserole
4.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 14 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 11
Servings: 8
Cowboy casserole gets a delicious twist in this extra cheesy version topped with flaky Pillsbury™ biscuits. It’s easy, delicious, and family-friendly.
Philly Cheesesteak Biscuit Bake
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 4 reviews.
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 9
Servings: 6
You’ll be surprised at how much this recipe tastes like the real deal—a decadent Philly cheesesteak hiding in a casserole dish.
Taco Bubble-Up Bake
4.4 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 61 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 8
This twist on tacos is hearty, flavorful, and the perfect filling meal after a long day.
Beef Tortilla Taco Casserole
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 309 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 hr 15 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 8
This recipe is a simple, freezer-friendly dinner you can prep and heat up on busy evenings.
Taco Crescent Cups
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 31 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 5
Servings: 8
These crescent cups make a great taco substitute AND a great last-minute appetizer!
Taco Crescent Ring
4.8 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 488 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 6
Servings: 8
This genius 5-star recipe is a fan favorite because it’s fun and easy to make.
Baked Rigatoni with Beef
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 137 reviews.
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 1 hr 5 min
Ingredients: 6
Servings: 8
With minimal ingredients and simple preparation, our baked rigatoni doesn’t sacrifice flavor or quality.
Sloppy Joes
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 45 reviews.
Prep time: 40 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 13
Servings: 6
Made with common ingredients and ready in under an hour, these flavorful dinner sandwiches can feed a hungry crowd quickly.
Beefy Nacho Soup
4.7 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 63 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 4
Can’t decide between soup and nachos? This recipe doesn’t make you choose!
Crescent-Topped Cheeseburger Casserole
4.2 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 146 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 12
Servings: 6
Think of this as your shortcut to burger night! No more individual patties—this recipe feeds everyone at once with no fuss.
Taco Skillet Dinner
3.9 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 97 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 4
This taco skillet uses noodles, ground beef, and your favorite pizza topping to create a delicious meal in under 30 minutes.
Sloppy Joe Meatloaf
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 29 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 9
Servings: 6
This recipe was a finalist in the 40th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest! It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing twist on two family favorites.
Tasty Taco Soup
4.5 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 196 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 6
Our easy taco soup recipe can’t be beaten. In fact, we would call it the best taco soup recipe you'll ever try!
Sloppy Joe Sweet Hawaiian Crescent Cups
5.0 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 5 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 8
Servings: 8
These sloppy joes have a Hawaiian twist (and are a little less messy than the original)!
Taco-Stuffed Pasta Shells
4.6 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 171 reviews.
Kitchen Tested
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 7
Servings: 8
You no longer have to choose between Italian or Mexican food for dinner, because this dish has it all.
Cheeseburger Crescent Casserole
3.3 out of 5 stars, average rating value out of 316 reviews.
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 10
Servings: 6
Eating a slice of this quick crescent casserole is just like biting into a fully loaded cheeseburger. Keep the grill turned off and the flavor turned on!