Ground Beef Power
Ground beef drives tacos, chili, spaghetti, and stuffed pepper bowls. Bulk buying ground beef makes this plan especially economical.
Serves 4
4 recipes
182 min total cook/prep
Priced at Food 4 Less - Hammond Shopping Center
$78.29 combined ingredient estimate
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Dinner · Day 1
Beef Tacos Dinner$22.81
Seasoned ground beef tacos with fresh toppings.
Serves 4 · easy · 32 min
Ingredients & prices
- ground beef $8.00
- tortillas $2.59
- onion $1.25
- cheese $3.99
- salsa $4.99
- sour cream (optional) $1.99
How to prepare
About this recipe
Beef Tacos Dinner is seasoned ground beef in warm tortillas with cheese, salsa, and optional sour cream—a customizable family favorite for taco night. This mexican recipe serves 4 and is rated easy difficulty. Plan about 12 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 tortillas
- 1 onion
- 1 cup cheese
- 0.5 cup salsa
- 0.5 cup sour cream (optional)
Step-by-step
1. Dice 1 onion. Cook 1 lb ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium-high, breaking up beef, until no pink remains.
2. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir in chili powder and cumin if not already in your workflow—season to taste with salt.
4. Reduce heat to low; keep beef warm.
5. Warm 8 tortillas in a dry pan 15 seconds per side or wrap in foil in a 350°F oven 5 minutes.
6. Set out toppings: 1 cup cheese, 0.5 cup salsa, 0.5 cup sour cream.
7. Fill each tortilla with beef and toppings.
8. Fold or roll tacos; serve immediately.
9. Offer lime wedges if you have them.
10. Keep extra beef warm on the stove while everyone builds tacos.
Serving
Serve with rice and beans on the side if desired. Refrigerate beef up to 3 days; reheat before assembling.
Cook tips
- Drain fat so tacos are not greasy.
- Warm tortillas are less likely to tear.
- Season beef after browning for best flavor.
- Let each person customize toppings.
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Dinner · Day 3
Hearty Beef Chili$20.32
Slow-simmered chili with beans and warm spices.
Serves 6 · medium · 65 min
Ingredients & prices
- ground beef $8.00
- beans $1.00
- onion $1.25
- tomato paste $2.29
- chili powder $3.79
- cumin $3.99
How to prepare
About this recipe
Hearty Beef Chili is a slow-simmered pot of ground beef, beans, and warm spices—a filling dinner that tastes even better the next day. This american recipe serves 6 and is rated medium difficulty. Plan about 15 minutes of prep and 50 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 1.5 lb ground beef
- 2 can beans
- 1 onion
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
Step-by-step
1. Dice 1 onion. Brown 1.5 lb ground beef with onion in a Dutch oven over medium-high, breaking up meat.
2. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir in 2 tbsp chili powder and 1 tbsp cumin; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add 3 tbsp tomato paste; cook 1 minute, stirring.
5. Add 2 can beans with liquid and enough broth or water to reach desired consistency.
6. Simmer partially covered 40–50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust spices.
8. Skim fat from surface if desired.
9. Simmer longer for thicker chili if needed.
10. Serve hot in bowls.
Serving
Top with cheese and sour cream if available. Freezes up to 3 months; refrigerate up to 4 days.
Cook tips
- Bloom spices in fat for deeper flavor.
- Long simmer tenderizes flavors.
- Salt gradually—beans and tomato paste vary.
- Rest overnight for best flavor if you can wait.
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Dinner · Day 5
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce$17.01
Classic spaghetti topped with rich ground beef tomato sauce.
Serves 4 · easy · 40 min
Ingredients & prices
- pasta $1.99
- ground beef $8.00
- pasta sauce $2.49
- onion $1.25
- garlic $0.99
- tomato paste (optional) $2.29
How to prepare
About this recipe
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a family dinner staple: rich tomato sauce with browned ground beef and aromatics over al dente spaghetti. This italian recipe serves 4 and is rated easy difficulty. Plan about 10 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- 1 onion
- 3 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
Step-by-step
1. Dice 1 onion and mince 3 clove garlic.
2. Brown 1 lb ground beef with onion in a large pot over medium-high, breaking up meat, until no pink remains.
3. Add 3 clove garlic; cook 1 minute.
4. Stir in 24 oz pasta sauce and 2 tbsp tomato paste. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Meanwhile boil 12 oz pasta in salted water until al dente; drain.
6. Taste sauce and adjust salt and pepper.
7. Toss pasta with sauce or serve sauce over pasta.
8. Simmer uncovered if sauce needs thickening.
9. Keep sauce warm on low while pasta cooks.
10. Serve immediately in warm bowls.
Serving
Serve with garlic bread and salad. Sauce freezes well up to 3 months; refrigerate up to 4 days.
Cook tips
- Long simmer melds flavors—do not rush.
- Salt pasta water generously.
- Skim excess fat from beef if needed.
- Tomato paste adds depth—cook it 1 minute before adding sauce.
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Dinner · Day 7
Stuffed Pepper Rice Bowl$18.15
Deconstructed stuffed peppers with rice, beef, and tomato.
Serves 4 · medium · 45 min
Ingredients & prices
- rice $1.33
- ground beef $8.00
- tomato $1.29
- onion $1.25
- tomato paste $2.29
- cheese $3.99
How to prepare
About this recipe
Stuffed Pepper Rice Bowl is a deconstructed stuffed pepper: seasoned ground beef and tomato over fluffy rice with melted cheese— all the flavor without hollowing peppers. This mexican recipe serves 4 and is rated medium difficulty. Plan about 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
What you will need ready
- 1.5 cup rice
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tomato
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 0.5 cup cheese
Step-by-step
1. Cook 1.5 cup rice according to package directions; keep warm.
2. Dice 1 onion and 2 tomato. Mince garlic if you have it.
3. Brown 1 lb ground beef with 1 onion in a skillet over medium-high until no pink remains.
4. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and diced 2 tomato.
5. Simmer 10 minutes until thick and rich.
6. Season with salt, pepper, and cumin if desired.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Divide 1.5 cup rice among bowls.
9. Spoon beef mixture over rice.
10. Top with 0.5 cup cheese while mixture is hot so it melts.
Serving
Serve in wide bowls. Refrigerate components up to 3 days; reheat beef separately.
Cook tips
- Simmer until tomato mixture is thick, not watery.
- Salt rice lightly—it is the base layer.
- Shredded cheese melts faster on hot beef.
- Leftover rice works if refreshed with splash of water when reheating.