The 13 Easiest Ground Beef Dinners Ever

Ground beef is a versatile, quick-cooking protein that builds the foundation of these 13 simple recipes. From a nostalgic take on Hamburger Helper to simplified "un"-stuffed peppers, the best thing about these recipes is that they require minimal prep, have relatively few ingredients, and require no special equipment to make. That means anyone can make them, and everyone will enjoy them!

Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

"This recipe calls for a whole 8-ounce block or about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. You can also swap the cheddar cheese for other melty cheese like Monterey Jack or provolone." —Simply Recipes Contributor Megan Splawn

Easy Taco Casserole

"To make this recipe work best, use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips." —Senior Editor Laurel Randolph

20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

"My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time. You can also use a more convenient, even quicker rice—like frozen, bagged, or microwave—if you really want time and effort to be minimized." —Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud

Salisbury Ground Beef

"Serve this Salisbury ground beef over freshly cooked tagliatelle, pappardelle, or egg noodles." —Simply Recipes Recipe Developer Jasmine Smith

5-Ingredient Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef

"I keep whole ginger in the freezer and grate just what I need for cooking. Frozen ginger is easier and safer to grate than fresh because the fibers don't get stuck on the blades. You don't need to peel the ginger and can grate it right over the wok." —Associate Editorial Director Myo Quinn

Baked Ground Beef Tacos

"Room-temperature tortillas are easier to work with, especially if you’re folding them in half like in this recipe. I typically pull mine out of the fridge about 30 minutes before I need them." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

Easy Beef Krapow

"This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available." —Simply Recipes Contributor Frank Tiu

Hamburger and Macaroni

"Up the veggie factor by adding finely chopped vegetables like carrots, celery, zucchini, or mushrooms, or canned or frozen vegetables like corn or peas." —Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer

Creamed Tacos

"To keep things most efficient, as the meat browns, prep the lettuce and fresh tomato." —Senior Editor Sara Bir

5-Ingredient Barbecue Meatloaf

"My mom usually tucks her meatloaf into her well-worn meatloaf pan, but I find that baking the meatloaf on a parchment-lined baking sheet is quicker and tastier. Using a sheet pan also allows for more air circulation during baking, which equals more browned bits around the edges." —Simply Recipes Contributor Ivy Manning

Homemade Hamburger Helper

"If you like some heat, spice things up with Creole or Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, or chili flakes." — Simply Recipes Contributor Jasmine Smith

Unstuffed Peppers

"Using microwavable rice means you don’t have to dirty a pot making a batch of rice. You don’t even have to microwave it—the rice will finish cooking and heating up in the skillet." —Senior Editor Laurel Randolph

5-Ingredient Pasta Bake

"Since the pasta will be cooked twice, it’s better to slightly undercook it during its initial boil. Check it two minutes before you expect it to be done to determine texture. It should still be a little hard." — Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas