Stretch your grocery budget to the limit with these super-simple recipes with ground beef!
Ground beef is just about the most affordable cut of meat at the grocery store and while it might suck that you can’t afford the Filet Mignon or the lobster, there are many benefits to using ground beef. Not only is it affordable by the pound, but you don’t need as much of it per meal as you might a steak or seafood. Below are 4 recipes that you can make with just 1 pound of ground beef.
Yes, I said 4 recipes with 1 pound of ground beef!
All you have to do when you get home from the grocery store is split a 1 pound package of ground beef into 4 separate packages and throw it in the freezer until you’re ready to cook. Then, follow the easy recipes below to create four different dinner recipes that your family will love.
These recipes with ground beef are simple, require few ingredients and will serve a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) with leftovers!
4 Recipes With Ground Beef That Will Save You A Ton of Money
Spaghetti & Meatballs
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce (or 4 cups homemade spaghetti sauce)
- 1/4 lb. ground beef
- 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 lb. spaghetti noodles
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the ground beef, garlic and fresh basil in a bowl and mix together.
Create miniature meatballs, measuring approximately 1 inch in size.
Place the meatballs on a broiling pan and bake for 25 minutes.
Pour the sauce in to a large pot and add the cooked meatballs.
Turn the temperature on medium low and simmer for 30 minutes.
Cook the spaghetti noodles as directed on the packaging. Drain the spaghetti.
Top the noodles with sauce and serve warm with crusty Italian bread.
Taco Lasagna
- 1/4 lb. ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning
- 1 jar salsa
- 1 – 8 ounce package of shredded taco cheese
- 1 package of 8 flour tortillas
- 1- 8 ounce container sour cream
- Corn Salsa, optional
- Toppings, optional
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brown the ground beef and add the taco seasoning as directed on the package.
Layer the tortillas, ground beef, cheese and sour cream in a 9 inch pie dish, as you would lasagna.
Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Slice in to 4 large triangles and then add your favorite toppings.
Cheeseburger Macaroni Casserole
- 1/4 lb. ground beef, browned
- 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
- 1 (28 ounce) can tomatoes, diced
- 8 slices American cheese
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cook the elbow macaroni as directed on the packaging. Drain the water from the macaroni.
Place the diced tomatoes, American cheese, milk and butter in a large pot. Heat on medium low temperature until the cheese melts.
Add the elbow macaroni and the ground beef to the cheese mixture and combine until the noodles and meat are coated with cheese.
Pour the cheeseburger macaroni in to a large casserole dish and bake for 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Hamburger Soup
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 1 large can water
- 1/4 lb. ground beef, browned
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- Additional vegetables, as desired
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
Place all of the ingredients, except the macaroni, into a large pot.
Cook on medium temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
Add the elbow macaroni and cook for an additional 12 to 15 minutes.
Serve warm with crusty garlic bread or garlic knots.
Enjoy!
Have a Great Day!
Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links or links to my shop. Please read my policies page to learn more about how this works.

Vanessa Hamlin is the owner and founder of Food Life Design and VLHamlinDesign. With her passion for frugal living and homesteading, Vanessa loves to write about easy recipes, making money, gardening, home remedies and everything else that a good life entails! When she’s not writing for Food Life Design or creating products for VLHamlinDesign, you’ll find Vanessa reading, drawing, gardening, cooking or spending time with her family.
18 Ways to Save Money in 2018 - Food Life Design
Thursday 21st of December 2017
[…] Stretch Your Meat […]
Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe - Food Life Design
Wednesday 10th of May 2017
[…] Not only is it easy to throw together, but this Quick & Easy Shrimp Scampi recipe, easily, serves a family of 4 without spending a ton of money. Medium shrimp at the grocery store is usually around $10.00 a pound, which includes about 40 to 50 shrimp. Considering this recipe only requires a dozen or so, that’s only around $3.00 worth of shrimp! It’s almost cheaper than cooking with ground beef. […]
How to Make Homemade Tortillas - Food Life Design
Friday 5th of May 2017
[…] In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought today would be the perfect day to share this recipe for Homemade Tortillas. They go perfectly with my Spicy Chicken Tacos or Taco Lasagna. […]
Cinco de Mayo Dinner Menu - Food Life Design
Friday 5th of May 2017
[…] “South of the Border” style recipes at home, like my Cheesy Chicken Taco Soup and Taco Lasagna and those shown […]