27 Hearty Dinners to Make With Less Than a Pound of Ground Beef
27 Hearty Dinners to Make With Less Than a Pound of Ground Beef
Read Time: 12 mins
27 Hearty Dinners to Make With Less Than a Pound of Ground Beef
My savory main-dish quiche tastes just like its burger counterpart
Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Roadside Diner Cheeseburger Quiche Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My savory main-dish quiche tastes just like its burger counterpart. Easy and appealing, this cheeseburger quiche is pretty enough to serve guests. —Barbara J. Miller, Oakdale, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 502 calories, 35g fat (19g saturated fat), 236mg cholesterol, 954mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. 3/27 Zucchini Boats 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Zucchini Boats Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time
1 hour Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After working hard all our lives and raising a family, we’re now enjoying a simpler life. Getting back to the basics means enjoying old-fashioned comfort foods like these stuffed zucchini boats. —Mrs. C. Thon, Atlin, British Columbia Nutrition Facts: 1 stuffed zucchini half: 312 calories, 20g fat (9g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 337mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. 4/27 Skillet Lasagna 66 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved One-Skillet Lasagna Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe
And with classic flavors and cheesy layers, it’s definitely kid-friendly
From the Recipe Creator: This is hands-down one of the best skillet lasagna recipes our testing panel has ever tasted. And with classic flavors and cheesy layers, it’s definitely kid-friendly. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 478 calories, 20g fat (8g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 1552mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 31g protein. 5/27 Ground Beef Stroganoff 24 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Easy Beef Stroganoff Recipe photo by Leticia Almeida for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I wanted to lighten my
mother-in-law’s wonderful recipe and came up with this tasty beef Stroganoff
mother-in-law’s wonderful recipe and came up with this tasty beef Stroganoff. In our home, we call it special noodles. —Jennifer Riordan, St. Louis, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup beef mixture with 3/4 cup noodles: 333 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 329mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 fat. 6/27 Easy Chiles Rellenos Casserole 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love to cook with tasty green chiles and use recipes
featuring them when I entertain
featuring them when I entertain. This hearty casserole has big pepper taste in every bite.—Nadine Estes, Alto, New Mexico Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 321 calories, 20g fat (11g saturated fat), 212mg cholesterol, 406mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 24g protein. 7/27 Pizza in a Bowl 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: On busy days, it’s a comfort to know that my family can sit down to dinner minutes after we walk in the door. Double it to wow at a potluck. This ground beef recipe
works in a slow cooker, too
works in a slow cooker, too. —Virginia Krites, Cridersville, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 495 calories, 25g fat (9g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 1056mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 30g protein. 8/27 Meatballs Sausage Dinner 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: One day I was having trouble deciding what to make for dinner, so I combined whatever was in the refrigerator and freezer. To my surprise, everyone loved it! —Elizabeth Martz, Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 289 calories,
Even our two young daughters enjoy the pleasantly mild flavor
19g fat (7g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 652mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 14g protein. 9/27 Tortilla Pie 23 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Tortilla Pie Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I especially like this delicious layered entree because it’s lighter-tasting than some of the traditional lasagnas made with pasta. Even our two young daughters enjoy the pleasantly mild flavor. —Lisa King, Caledonia, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 356 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 65mg cholesterol, 574mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate
(7g sugars, 5g fiber), 25g protein
(7g sugars, 5g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 medium-fat meat, 2 starch. 10/27 Traditional Italian Wedding Soup 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved ALEJANDRO MONFORT FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 9 servings (2-1/4 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You don’t have to be Italian to love this easy-to-make soup with tiny round pasta! Homemade meatballs pair beautifully with ready-made stock and rotisserie chicken. —Mary Sheetz, Carmel, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 253 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 797mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein. 11/27
Barley adds another dimension to an old-fashioned hamburger
Barley Beef Burgers 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Barley adds another dimension to an old-fashioned hamburger. My husband and I really enjoy these juicy patties with onion and barbecue sauce mixed right in. —Rosella Peters, Gull Lake, Saskatchewan Nutrition Facts: 1 burger: 395 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 625mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 5g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 2 fat. 12/27 Ramona’s Chilaquiles 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ramona’s Chilaquiles Recipe photo by
A dear neighbor shared this recipe
Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A dear neighbor shared this recipe. She used to make it from scratch, but my version takes a few shortcuts. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 573 calories, 35g fat (14g saturated fat), 110mg cholesterol, 1509mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein. 13/27 14/27 Hawaiian Beef Dish 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This elegant dish has been in my family since I
was a little girl, and when presented to guests, it brings rave reviews
was a little girl, and when presented to guests, it brings rave reviews. It was created by my dad, who still enjoys experimenting in the kitchen. Sometimes I prepare it the day before and warm it up while I’m cooking the rice. —Marilyn Taus, Mississauga, ON Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 515 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 440mg sodium, 75g carbohydrate (44g sugars, 4g fiber), 26g protein. 15/27 Black Bean and Beef Tostadas 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black Bean and Beef Tostadas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to
It’s also easy to double for company!
Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You only need a handful of ingredients to make one of our family’s favorites. It’s also easy to double for company! —Susan Brown, Kansas City, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 2 tostadas: 392 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 1011mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 10g fiber), 23g protein. 16/27 Beef Wellington Fried Wontons 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These tasty bites scale down classic beef Wellington. They feel fancy and fun! —Dianne Phillips, Tallapoosa, Georgia Nutrition Facts:
When I came across her recipe on an index card, I quickly copied it
1 wonton: 47 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 82mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein. 17/27 Sassy Southwest Stuffed Shells 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Sassy Southwest Stuffed Shells Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was a child, my mom made this dish quite often. When I came across her recipe on an index card, I quickly copied it. Over the years, I have made very few changes to retain that taste-of-home memory. —Kellie
It’s my best barley recipe
Braddell, West Point, California Nutrition Facts: 3 stuffed shells: 487 calories, 26g fat (10g saturated fat), 59mg cholesterol, 1181mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein. 18/27 Southwestern Beef Barley Stew 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Southwestern Beef Barley Stew Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 3 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Hearty and easy to fix, this thick stew has a comforting, chili-like flavor. It’s my best barley recipe. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a tasty dish. —Lisa Kolenicn, Regina, SK Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 269 calories, 7g
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Skillet Meat Loaf 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Skillet Meat Loaf Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Who says meat loaf has to bake in the oven for hours?
Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.
⭐ Expert Tips
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Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.
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Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.
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Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.
✅ Key Takeaways
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These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.
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Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.
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Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.
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