Print

Cozy Stretch Ground Beef Meals

cozy stretch ground beef meals - featured image
Print Recipe

Hearty, budget-friendly ground beef skillet meals designed to feed a family of five with simple ingredients and flexible variations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (30 g) tomato paste or canned tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (240 ml) beef or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup (165 g) canned beans, drained (kidney or black beans)
  • 1 cup (190 g) rice or quinoa (or other grains like bulgur, farro, pasta)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil for cooking
  • Optional: shredded cheddar or Parmesan cheese for topping
  • Optional: fresh parsley or green onions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Dice onion, mince garlic, and chop carrots and bell pepper.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook 6–8 minutes, breaking it up until browned with no pink spots.
  3. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Add onions, garlic, carrots, and bell pepper to skillet. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook 2 minutes to meld flavors.
  6. Pour in broth and add beans. Stir and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to thicken sauce.
  7. Cook rice or quinoa separately according to package instructions, or stir grain directly into skillet with extra 1/2 cup broth and cook until tender.
  8. Combine cooked grains with beef mixture or serve beef mixture over grains. Top with cheese and garnish if desired.

Notes

Drain excess fat after browning beef to avoid greasy sauce. Prepping veggies ahead saves time. Stir grains occasionally if cooking directly in skillet to prevent sticking. Add soy or Worcestershire sauce during simmer for extra umami. Leftovers store well in fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef, budget meals, family dinner, skillet meal, easy recipes, stretch ground beef, quick dinner, hearty meals

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/cozy-stretch-ground-beef-meals-easy-recipes-to-feed-5-on-a-budget/