A common problem that a lot of cooks and bakers face is using up their leftover ingredients before they spoil.
There’s nothing worse than watching some of your leftover ingredients go bad because you don’t know what else to make with them – and you don’t want to end up making the same meal twice!
If you have a bunch of ground beef you need to use up soon, then here are 17 awesome recipes for you to try. Each one uses ground beef so check them out and find the right recipe for you!
1. Stuffed Bell Peppers
The first recipe we’d recommend for using up ground beef leftovers is stuffed bell peppers.
They’re perfect for serving at barbecues during the summer as they’re bright, vibrant, and deliciously flavored.
This recipe will show you how to make the perfect stuffed bell peppers.
With amazing flavors including tomatoes, onions, peppers, seasoning, and any additional cheese you want to add, this recipe will leave you with an amazing main meal!
2. Sloppy Joes
Whenever we think of ground beef recipes, there’s one that always jumps to the front of our minds – sloppy joes!
Sloppy joes are notoriously messy hamburgers which ditch the usual patty formula for something completely different.
They’re a classic American dish and a great way to quickly use up your leftover ground beef!
3. Cheeseburger Pizza
Cheeseburgers are great and all, but have you ever tried a cheeseburger pizza?
This unusual dish is a great way to use up your leftover ground beef if you only have a small amount.
This recipe shows you how you can cook it and scatter it over your pizza, combining it with several other ingredients to make a cheeseburger themed pizza!
4. Cottage Pie
If you want to make a cozy, comfort meal out of your leftover ground beef, then this recipe for cottage pie has you covered.
You get a balanced meal with meat, veggies, and carbs all in one! It’s super easy to make as you just throw everything into a dish and let it bake. Follow the recipe above and enjoy!
5. Spaghetti Bolognese
Another classic dish you can make using leftover ground beef is spaghetti bolognese.
Spaghetti bolognese is one of the most consumed Italian dishes around the world, and it’s super easy to make!
This means that you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to whip up this meal. Follow the recipe and you will have a filling, delicious dinner in no time at all!
6. Tacos
Tacos are a very popular Mexican dish because you can tailor each taco to suit your own tastes.
Some people prefer theirs to be spicy, others leave out dairy products like cheese – whatever you prefer, you can add it to your taco!
Ground beef is a key ingredient in tacos so just cook up what you have leftover and serve it up alongside plenty of other ingredients.
Everyone can then build their own tacos and use up a range of leftover ingredients.
7. Beef Casserole
Pasta and beef just go together, and so this recipe for a beef casserole is a great one to try out. You can add as much beef as you like and just add extra other ingredients to build it up.
It’s a great comfort food and super filling, thanks to its wide range of ingredients including pasta, tomatoes, cheese, and onion.
All of these different flavors come together to make an incredibly tasty meal which is sure to leave the whole family satisfied.
8. Chili
This dish is a classic American favorite and it’s the perfect way to use up leftover ground beef for those who love spicy food.
Not only is it hot and spicy, but chili is also very filling and a great meal to try out if you want to be left feeling satisfied and full.
It’s also super tasty thanks to all the spices and seasoning – as well as the extra tasty ingredients!
9. Beef And Potato Curry
If you love Asian cuisine, then this is the recipe for you.
You can turn your leftover ground beef into a delicious curry with plenty of ingredients like potatoes and onion to help give it even more body and flavor.
Not only that, but there’s plenty of great spices used in this recipe to help give it a kick and most of which you probably already have in your kitchen!
Serve it alongside some rice and naan bread, and you will have a delicious and authentic Pakistani curry!
10. Beef Stew
One super easy recipe to make whenever you have leftover ingredients is a classic stew. You can just throw all kinds of things into a pot, cook it, and you’re done!
The same goes with ground beef. You can throw it into a stew no problem and call it beef stew! For a more in-depth recipe, check out the one recommended above!
This will guide you through the steps to make a balanced beef stew with plenty of vegetables and flavor!
11. Meatloaf
Another classic American dish is the meatloaf. It’s considered to be an easy meal you can whip in no time, plus it’s great for using up a ton of leftover ingredients.
Ground beef makes up the body of this dish but is accompanied with other ingredients like onion and breadcrumbs.
Follow the above recipe to make your own, and serve it alongside one or two side dishes to help make a balanced meal!
12. Enchiladas
Enchiladas are like tacos as they are super tasty, easy to make, and inspired by Mexican cuisine.
They can also be made using a range of ingredients but if you have some leftover ground beef, it’s easy to add them in along with a ton of other ingredients.
This helps enhance the flavor and give the meal more body!
So, follow the recipe above to make your own ground beef enchiladas!
13. Moussaka
Moussaka is a traditional Greek dish that is kind of similar to a lasagna, but with additional ingredients like eggplant or red wine.
This makes the dish more rich and brings some variety to the flavor.
So, if you didn’t want to make a lasagna using your leftover ground beef, then moussaka is definitely a great alternative for you to try!
14. Spaghetti And Meatballs
Meatballs are super easy to make using leftover ground beef, and this recipe here will also provide you with a delicious marinara sauce too!
Once that’s done, you have done most of the work towards making a classic, traditional meal – spaghetti and meatballs!
Cook some spaghetti, slap it on a plate and top it with your meatballs and marinara sauce – then, voila! You will have made a delicious meal and used up the last of your ground beef!
15. Meatball Casserole
Using the above recipe to make the perfect meatballs from leftover ground beef, you can now use these meatballs to make another different main dish – meatball casserole.
A meatball casserole is super easy to make once you have your meatballs ready.
It’s thick and rich with a ton of different flavors that create a super filling meal. It’s perfect for cold, miserable nights – making it the ideal comfort food!
16. Cheeseburgers
Earlier we mentioned using ground beef to top a cheeseburger pizza, but why not make actual cheeseburgers using your leftover ground beef?
This recipe here will show you how to turn your ground beef into the perfect cheeseburger patties.
You can even make them gourmet by adding additional seasonings and ingredients such as fancy cheeses, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and more – so take a look and build your own cheeseburger using your leftover ground beef!
17. Cabbage Rolls
Our final recipe that you can try out to use up your leftover ground beef is this recipe for cabbage rolls.
Cabbage rolls are like a healthier alternative to usual wraps. Instead of a tortilla, you use cabbage leaves.
The ground beef is mixed with rice and onion and used to stuff the cabbage rolls. Then, they’re served with a delicious tomato sauce!
So, this final recipe is a bit unusual but it’s something fun and quirky for you to try out – and it hardly uses any ground beef.
This means that if you only have a small amount left (hardly enough to make any of the above recipes), then this is the one for you!
Can I Use Ground Beef in Cannelloni Recipes Instead of Leftovers?
Looking for cannelloni recipe ideas for every meal? Wondering if you can use ground beef in cannelloni recipes instead of leftovers? Absolutely! Ground beef is a versatile option that can be easily incorporated into cannelloni. Whether you have fresh ground beef or leftovers, it can be seasoned and cooked to perfection before being stuffed into cannelloni shells and baked to create a delicious and satisfying meal.
Conclusion
So, those were 17 amazing recipes you can try out to use up your ground beef. Pick out the best recipe for you, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
From fresh, refrigerated ground beef can last up to 4 days before it spoils. If you freeze your leftover ground beef, then it can last for much longer – up to 4 months!
So, always freeze your ground beef so you have more time to use it up. If you don’t have room in your freezer, then stick in the refrigerator and pick one of the above recipes to try out!
To add flavor to your ground beef, add some additional seasoning and ingredients. Salt and pepper are a given, but you can also add diced onions and garlic for even tastier results!
Milk is used to tenderize meats like beef. This is because milk is calcium-rich and this helps the enzymes in the meat to break down.
As a result, the meat becomes softer so if you ever see a recipe soaking beef in milk, then this is to help make the beef less tough.
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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